HJAR Mar/Apr 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAR / APR 2021 29 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com specialists, researchers, and clinicians from 10 countries. “Unicentric Castleman disease is more com- mon than the multicentric form and the majority of people with UCD can be treated with surgical removal,” van Rhee said. “The problem is with the ones who can’t be treated with surgery. “If it cannot be removed surgically and you have symptoms because the mass is pressing on something vital, treatment can be much more dif- ficult. A classic example is a mass in the chest that is near one of the major airways like the wind- pipe or the two main branches of the windpipe. Sometimes the only way to remove the mass is to remove one of the lungs and obviously you want to try to avoid that.” In those cases, the guidelines recommend partial surgical removal or treatment with other agents, including corticosteroids, antibodies or radiation. “Radiation can have long-term side effects and can cause delayed problems so the patient’s age needs to be taken into consideration,” van Rhee said. “You want to try to avoid radiation for a benign disorder in a young patient. In selected patients a ‘watch and wait’ approach is justified. Still other treatment options include sealing off the vessels feeding the lymph node mass by embolization.” Castleman disease occurs when an abnor- mal overgrowth of cells occurs in the lymph sys- tem, which serves as the main part of the body’s immune system. The disease, which affects 5,000 to 6,000 patients across the nation, was identified by Benjamin Castleman, MD, in 1954. F. Levi Hudson, PA-C, Joins Washington Regional East Springdale Family Clinic F. Levi Hudson, PA-C, is now seeing patients at Washington Regional East Springdale Fam- ily Clinic, where he works with Matthew Totten, MD, to provide primary care services for older children and adults, including preventive care, treatment for acute illnesses, and management of chronic conditions. Hudson earned a Master of Science in Physi- cian Assistant Studies from Harding University and holds a Bachelor of Science from the Uni- versity of Arkansas. He has been with Washington Regional for over six years, providing urgent care and primary care services. Arkansas Hospice President, CEOReceives 2020 ACHE Regent’s Award Arkansas Hospice President and CEO Judy Wooten has received the 2020 ACHE Regent’s Award for Senior Level Healthcare Executive. The recognition is given by the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international profes- sional society of more than 48,000 leaders who oversee hospitals, healthcare systems, and other healthcare organizations. The award recognizes an Arkansas senior-level healthcare executive who has displayed inno- vative and creative management skills, contrib- uted to the development of others in the health- care profession, demonstrated leadership in local and state hospital and health association activi- ties, and participated in community activities and projects. Wooten is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is active in its local chapter, the Arkansas Health Executives Forum. She is also a certified hospice administrator. She joined Arkansas Hospice, the state’s larg- est nonprofit provider of hospice services, as vice president and chief operating officer in 2002, and was named president and chief executive officer in 2011. In addition, Wooten currently serves as president of the Hospice and Palliative Care Asso- ciation of Arkansas and was elected to the board of directors for the National Hospice and Pallia- tive Care Organization in 2019. Wooten was also instrumental in influencing the Arkansas Department of Emergency Man- agement to allocate a portion of its PPE supply to hospice care providers throughout Arkansas. In addition, Wooten was inspired to introduce the Cards of Kindness program to Arkansas Hos- pice, that has placed more than a thousand greet- ing cards in the hands of Arkansans residing in long-term care facilities who are isolated due to COVID-19 related visitation restrictions. Wooten also spearheaded the organization’s Cans of Kindness food drive. Wooten said she was honored to receive the award, especially during a year consumed by a worldwide pandemic. “I am deeply humbled by this recognition and share it with all our wonderful Arkansas Hospice employees who have gone above and beyond to bring comfort and peace to our patients and families, and support to our communities, dur- ing this difficult year,” Wooten said. “Put simply, we are Arkansans helping Arkansans. While 2020 put us to the test, it also deepened our commit- ment to each other and to our mission, so I am proud and grateful to be a part of such a caring organization.” Jason Froeschle, APRN, JoinsWashington Regional Crossroads Medical Clinic Jason Froeschle, APRN, recently joined the Washington Regional Crossroads Medical Clinic where he provides care for adults and children of all ages alongside Stacy Armstrong, DO, Victor Armstrong, DO, Victor Chu, MD, Kevin Jackson, MD, and Amanda Winford, APRN. Froeschle earned a Master of Science in F. Levi Hudson, PA-C Jason Froeschle, APRN