The Arkansas Medical Society, a physician group advocating for healthcare improvements statewide, recently elected new officers who will help lead the organization in 2026 and 2027. Naveen Patil, MD, MHSA, MA, FACP, FIDSA, of Little Rock, has been named the 2026–2027 AMS president. Patil is the deputy state health officer and the medical director for Infectious Diseases for the Arkansas Department of Health.
Newly elected executive leaders include AMS President-Elect Samuel Bledsoe, MD (Little Rock); Vice President Jerakaycia Smith, MD (Camden); Chairman Jacob Dickinson, MD (Mountain Home); Secretary James Hunt Jr., MD; Treasurer Jennifer Doyle, MD (Little Rock); Vice President Prasad Padala, MD; and Vice President Kathryn Stambough, MD.