HJAR May/Jun 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2021 29 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com Sanford, MD, the institute’s director. “From this grant we will also give policymakers needed data and analyses to advance digital health in rural America.” In August, the institute received a four-year $3.8 million grant to establish the Rural Telehealth Resource Center. With the additional funding of $1.5 million, the center will evaluate the use of digital health technologies to reduce the risk of COVID-19, assess the readiness to respond to COVID-19 using them, and analyze their effective- ness in limiting the spread of the disease. Led by Hari Eswaran, PhD, the institute’s direc- tor of research, the institute’s researchers will examine how well digital health works in four communities which are combatting COVID-19. Their research findings about digital health and the pandemic will help to focus funding where it can be of the most help in underserved rural areas. In its research, the center will work in collab- oration with the university’s College of Medi- cine, College of Pharmacy, and College of Pub- lic Health. The grant funding is provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Secu- rity (CARES) Act. “Because of longstanding disparities in access to health care in rural areas, especially access to specialists, wisely using the financial resources we have in digital health to close those gaps is vital to improving care there,” Eswaran said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the need to improve access in rural settings.” Radiation Oncologist David Pruitt, MD, Joins CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Cancer Center CHI St. Vincent announced that radiation oncol- ogist David Pruitt, MD, has joined the team of board-certified cancer specialists, nurse practi- tioners, and nurses at the CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Cancer Center. Pruitt brings more than 25 years of professional radiation oncology experience. Pruitt most recently served as medical direc- tor of radiation oncology and co-research direc- tor at St. Joseph’s Mercy Cancer Center in Hot Springs. He previously served as medical direc- tor of radiation oncology and radiation safety offi- cer at Mount Carmel Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kansas. After attending medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Pruitt completed a residency at the University of Wyo- ming and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where he served as chief resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology. In addition to providing radiation therapy ser- vices, the CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Cancer Center houses a cancer registry, consultation area, physician offices, chemotherapy, commu- nity and education rooms for classes and support groups, and a dedicated American Cancer Soci- ety resource area. Methodist Family Health Hires NewCounselor at Hot Springs Clinic Methodist Family Health has hired Kayla Dick- erson as a licensed associate counselor (LAC) for the Hot Springs Methodist Family Health Clinic. Dickerson is a graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and has previously worked as an intern at Hillcrest Children’s Home. Kayla has had training in play therapy and sand tray and incorporates music and art in her ther- apy. She is also bilingual in English and Spanish and has undergone training in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Tackett Named Deputy Director of UAMSWinthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Cancer researcher Alan Tackett, PhD, has been named deputy director of the Winthrop P. Rocke- feller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkan- sas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Noted for his research in cancer biomarker dis- covery, Tackett is a professor in the UAMS Col- lege of Medicine Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He previously served as associate director of basic research for the UAMS Cancer Institute and holds the Scharlau Family Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. Tackett is principal investigator for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R24) National Resource for Quantitative Proteomics and the NIH (P20) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in systems biology. His National Cancer Institute- funded research program focuses on the use of cutting-edge systems approaches to identify bio- markers and novel pathways of resistance to can- cer therapies. UAMS Receives $3M to Reimburse Facilities ProvidingMedication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently received $3 million from the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) to compensate facilities across the state provid- ing medication-assisted treatment to opioid use disorder patients. The money will allow medical providers to offer treatment for opioid use disorder to patients with- out insurance or the ability to pay for services. This new effort is an offshoot of MATRIARC (Medication Assisted Treatment Recovery Initia- tive for Arkansas Rural Communities), a partner- ship between UAMS’ Psychiatric Research Insti- tute and DHS. The funds will cover expenses including the cost of medication, hiring peer support specialists, Alan Tackett, PhD David Pruitt, MD