HJAR Mar/Apr 2020

24 MAR / APR 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs CHI St. Vincent’s Dr. Brad Baltz Among Top Oncologists in Central Arkansas Dr. Brad Baltz of the CHI St. Vincent Oncology Clinic has been voted among the Top Oncolo- gists in Central Arkansas by the readers of Arkan- sas Life magazine. The award signifies Baltz and CHI St. Vincent’s commitment to provide the best cancer care in Arkansas. “This recognition is a true honor because it comes directly from the incredible patients we work with each and every day,” said Baltz. “They come to us at an especially challenging time in their lives seeking an ally in their fight against can- cer. That we can make such a difference and have the opportunity to aid them in that battle is the real reward.” Arkansas Life readers nominated doctors in 25 categories and the magazine featured Baltz and the other doctors with the most nominations in its list of Top Doctors. The full list of Top Doctors appeared in the Winter issue of Arkansas Life. UAMS’ José R. Romero, MD, Named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science José R. Romero, MD, of the University of Arkan- sas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers to recognize scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. Romero is one of 442 scientists, nationwide, receiving the honor for the year 2020. They will be announced in Science magazine and recog- nized Feb. 15 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2020 AAAS Annual Meeting in Seattle. An internationally known expert on enterovi- ruses and childhood immunization, Romero is being honored in the Medical Sciences category for his efforts in controlling infectious diseases; particularly enterovirus research and service on national panels the ensure safety and effective- ness of vaccines. Romero is chief of the Pediatric Infectious Dis- eases Section in the Department of Pediatrics in the UAMS College of Medicine. He is a profes- sor of pediatrics at UAMS and holds the Horace C. Cabe Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Infectious Disease Specialist Kristine Patterson, MD, Joins UAMS Kristine Patterson, MD, an infectious dis- ease specialist and well-known expert on HIV in women, has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Patterson is an associate professor in the Divi- sion of Infectious Diseases, Department of Inter- nal Medicine, UAMS College of Medicine. She sees patients through UAMS’ Infectious Diseases Clinic. She earned a medical degree from Emory Uni- versity School of Medicine in Atlanta, followed by residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and subspecialty training in infectious disease at the University of North Car- olina at Chapel Hill. Patterson comes to UAMS from Columbia Uni- versity Medical Center and New York Presbyte- rian Hospital. She previously spent 14 years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her clinical, research, and teaching port- folios were directed towards the prevention and treatment of HIV in women. Erwin Receives National 2019 Adoption Excellence Award The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded Christie Erwin, execu- tive director of Little Rock-based Project Zero, an adoption excellence award for helping chil- dren in foster care find permanency through adoptive families. Erwin is a long-time supporter and valued partner of the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), which is committed to the vision that every child deserves a safe, stable, and strong family. Arkansas DCFS staff nominated Erwin for the award. The 2019 adoption excellence awardees were announced recently at an HHS ceremony as part of National Adoption Month in Washington, D.C. Vice President Mike Pence, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson, and other leaders addressed adoption advocates, parents, and others in the field. “We are extremely grateful to individuals for helping our youth achieve permanency through adoption,” HHS Assistant Secretary Johnson said during the ceremony. “Families and state and local child welfare agencies play an essen- tial role in finding permanent connections for our José R. Romero, MD Brad Baltz, MD Kristine Patterson, MD