HJAR Mar/Apr 2022

36 MAR / APR 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs Mercy Sleep Center - Fort Smith Expands Programs Mercy Sleep Center-Fort Smith opened new additions at the sleep center as part of a more than $2 million investment made by Mercy over the past five years to expand its sleep medicine program. Mercy Sleep Center – Fort Smith recently opened two additional bedrooms designed for sleep studies, bringing the total to eight. The additions increase capacity for the center, mean- ing eight additional sleep studies can take place each week at the Fort Smith location. The pro- gram will now also offer weekend study options for patients for the first time. Mercy’s sleep cen- ter locations in Booneville and Ozark remain avail- able to patients as well, with two bedrooms for sleep studies at each center. The expansion also includes the creation of a home sleep test program. The program, which will get underway in early 2022, is designed for patients who meet certain criteria for an at-home study. Not all patients will qualify, but adding the at-home option will help Mercy accommodate more sleep patients than ever before, said Juli Stec, vice president of operations at Mercy Fort Smith. UAMS Names Richard Turnage, MD, Vice Chancellor of Regional Campuses The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has named Richard Turnage, MD, as vice chancellor for Regional Campuses. He succeeds Amy Wenger, MHSA, who became vice chancellor of the Northwest Regional Campus on Dec. 1. Turnage currently serves as executive associate dean for clinical affairs in the College of Medicine and is a professor in the college’s Department of Surgery. He is also the interim chair of the Depart- ment of Family and Preventive Medicine in the college and will continue in that role. He has held a variety of leadership roles at UAMS, including vice chancellor for clinical programs, CEO of the Medical Center, chief service line officer for the Integrated Clinical Enterprise, and chair of the Department of Surgery. Turnage earned a bachelor’s degree at Louisi- ana Tech University in Ruston, and then received a medical degree from the Louisiana State Uni- versity School of Medicine in Shreveport in 1983. He completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Michigan Medical Center, serv- ing as chief resident and completing a research fellowship before joining the faculty. He went on to hold faculty and clinical leadership posts at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Cen- ter and Dallas VA Medical Center, and later at LSU Shreveport, where he served as chair of the department of surgery for seven years prior to joining UAMS. Elisabeth Brown, APRN, JoinsWashington Regional Harrison Family Practice Elisabeth Brown, APRN, recently joined Wash- ington Regional Harrison Family Practice where she works alongside Stacy Armstrong, DO, Shan- non Brownfield, MD, Jean Ann Thompson, APRN, and Hannah Wilburn, APRN, to provide medical care for adults and children 13 years and older. Brown earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the Maryville University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkan- sas. She most recently worked as a nurse practi- tioner in pulmonology and sleep medicine and has experience in critical care. SHARE Foundation Pledges $1.5 Million for UAMS Regional Campus in El Dorado The University of Arkansas for Medical Sci- ences (UAMS) has received a $1.5 million pledge from the SHARE Foundation as a commitment to establish a UAMS family medicine residency pro- gram in El Dorado. “This generous gift represents a significant investment in the future of health care for El Dorado and the surrounding area,” said Cam Pat- terson, MD, MBA, UAMS chancellor, and CEO of UAMS Health. “We are extremely grateful to the SHARE Foundation for this gift, which will benefit countless patients of our future family medicine resident physicians.” SHARE Foundation’s mission is to identify, develop, and foster programs and services that further the health and well-being of the people of El Dorado and surrounding areas. They achieve this mission through eight unique programs, including scholarships and grants. “SHARE Foundation is excited to partner with UAMS,” said Steve Cousins, chair of the founda- tion’s board of directors. “The investment was made to bring doctors and their families here for medical training, economically provide more jobs for our area and ultimately help produce physi- cians who will live and practice in El Dorado. We believe this is the first step in helping UAMS make a long-term presence in our community, so we can continue to grow medical services and pro- grams in Union County.” “SHARE Foundation has a responsibility to pro- mote health in Union County,” said Brian Jones, DHSc, the foundation’s president. “It’s our mis- sion. That’s why we believe access to quality healthcare is extremely important for our com- munity to thrive. We are excited about this oppor- tunity and look forward to what is to come.” The El Dorado campus represents a joint effort by UAMS and the Medical Center of South Arkan- sas to increase medical access throughout south Elisabeth Brown, APRN Richard Turnage, MD