HJAR Jul/Aug 2019

30 JUL / AUG 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs joined the cancer care practice at CHI St. Vincent. Baltz joins Dr. Peter Emanuel, who came to CHI St. Vincent as the hospital group’s new director of oncology services in September, and Dr. Joseph Beck, a medical oncologist who joined the oncol- ogy clinic in Little Rock this January. Baltz is now seeing patients in Suite 815 of the doctors build- ing at 500 S. University Ave. in Little Rock. Baltz has 25 years of professional oncology experience, most recently at Baltz Hematology Oncology. He previously served at CARTI Can- cer Center, Hematology Oncology Services of Arkansas, Arkansas Oncology Associates, and Little Rock Hematology-Oncology Associates. Baltz attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where he later completed a residency and fel- lowship training. “Dr. Beck and I are pleased to welcome Brad to the group,” said Emanuel. “We have all known each other for many years, but now the three of us will work together to form the nucleus of the new cancer program at CHI St Vincent. We look forward to adding additional specialists as we develop the program into a comprehensive can- cer center.” Dr. Ben Bordador Joins CHI St. Vincent Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic Dr. Ben Bordador, an internal medicine physi- cian, has joined the CHI St. Vincent Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic. Bordador, a hospitalist with the CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs’s medical staff since 2011, also served as the co-medical director for the Christus Dubuis Hospital of Hot Springs from December of 2014 through November of 2015. After medical school at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Manilla, Philippines, he completed a rotating internship at Makati Medical Center, Makati City, Philippines before completing his internship and residency at Columbia University College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital Center in New York City. Bordador is board-certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine. He joins the CHI St. Vincent Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic at 10001 Lile Drive. Free Health Screens Offered at Barber, Beauty Shops in Pulaski County The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), community partners, and numerous volunteers hosted the seventh annual Arkansas Minority Barber & Beauty Shop Health Initiative at locally- owned minority barber and beauty shops, col- leges, and salons in Pulaski County. Free blood pressure checks, blood glucose, body mass index, cholesterol screenings, and other health education information will be available to cus- tomers and employees. Participating salons and barbershops included: • AR College of Barbering & Hair Design, Little Rock • AR College of Barbering & Hair Design, North Little Rock • Erick’s Barber Shop, Little Rock • Fresh & Tight Styles, Little Rock • GoodFellas Barber College, Little Rock • New Image Salon, Little Rock • New Tyler Barber College, North Little Rock • Velvatex College of Beauty Culture, Little Rock The mission of the Arkansas Minority Barber & Beauty Shop Health Initiative is to increase pub- lic awareness about heart disease and stroke. The goal is to empower minorities to better under- stand hypertension (high blood pressure) pre- vention and management. The initiative aims to reach at least 500 African American and Hispanic individuals every year. “Barber and beauty shops are important and trusted information sources within the minority community,” said Dr. Michelle Smith, director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Dispari- ties at ADH. “We want to reduce the high blood pressure and stroke rates in Arkansas. The more people talk about this with their friends, family, neighbors, and clients, the more lives we can save. This is what public health is all about.” In 2017, heart disease and stroke were the first and fifth leading causes of death in Arkansas. In the same year, there were 9,882 deaths due to heart disease and stroke in Arkansas. African Americans are more likely to die from heart dis- ease and stroke than Whites and Hispanics. This greatly contributes to lower life expectancy in the African American population. Arkansans can lower their risk of heart disease and stroke by maintaining a healthy weight, eat- ing a diet high in fruits and vegetables, reducing the amount of salt in food, getting regular exer- cise, and not smoking. Sponsors and partners for this initiative include The National Office of Minority Health, Baptist Health, Harding University College of Pharmacy, Arkansas Minority Health Commission, American Heart Association, and Be Well Arkansas. NYITCOMat A-State Names Dr. Steve Pu Director of Physician Relations Dr. Steve Pu, who has practiced medicine in the Mississippi Delta for more than 35 years, was recently named director of physician rela- tions at New York Institute of Technology Col- lege of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University. In his role, Pu will work to create new partner- ships and grow existing ones with hospital sys- tems, clinics, and physicians in support of NYIT- COM’s third- and fourth-year clinical education Brad Baltz, MD Ben Bordador, MD