HJAR May/Jun 2022

36 MAY / JUN 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs DHS Launches ‘Me Over Meth’ Prevention Campaign While the opioid epidemic earns a great deal of attention, methamphetamine is currently Arkan- sas’s greatest drug threat. That’s why the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is launch- ing the “Me Over Meth” prevention campaign. “Methamphetamines have a devastating impact on the body,” said Arkansas State Drug Director Kirk Lane. “Repeated use of the drug can cause major physical changes that accumu- late over time. We have to take action now and focus on prevention to stop this cycle.” Lane wants everyone to understand the scope of the issue and the negative impact metham- phetamine use is having on Arkansans in all walks of life. “Since 2014, the number of methamphet- amine overdose deaths has quadrupled,” noted Lane. “In 2020, 142 lives were taken by meth in Arkansas.” By itself, methamphetamine use is dangerous and deadly enough. But the common practice of using methamphetamine along with other illicit substances like fentanyl has made it even more damaging. “Because of the rise of fentanyl, co-occurring opioid and methamphetamine use has doubled from 2011 to 2017,” Lane noted. The issue is not unique to Arkansas. According to information from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAM- HSA), roughly two million people in the United States aged 12 years or older use meth in any given year. Every day, 500 people in the United States try meth for the first time. In response, the Department of Human Ser- vices’ Division of Aging, Adult, and Behav- ioral Health Services (DAABHS) and the Arkan- sas Drug Director have created the “Me Over Meth” campaign to raise awareness of the threat to Arkansas. “Life in its natural state is full of gifts,” said DAABHS Prevention Manager Tenesha Barnes. “The focus of the ‘Me Over Meth’ campaign is to encourage everyone to commit to choosing the things that matter most — like your family, your future, and your community — over meth.” As part of the “Me Over Meth” campaign, DHS will: • Hold a “Me Over Meth” prevention- focused conference on May 9 at the Wyn- dham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock offering practical, useful information and best practices on educating Arkansans and preventing meth use in local communities. • Provide a downloadable toolkit that includes graphics, flyers, and social media content promoting the “Me Over Meth” message. • Launch a website dedicated to providing more information and resources about meth use, prevention, and recovery. To download the toolkit or to learn more, visit www.meovermeth.org . Arkansas Health Secretary Jose Romero, MD, Resigns Arkansas Health Secretary Jose Romero, MD, has announced that he is resigning from the posi- tion. He has accepted a job with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respi- ratory Diseases. The resignation be in effect beginning May 6. A replacement has not been announced. Romero will work alongside Nathaniel Smith, MD, MPH, who is the acting director for the Center for Global Health (CGH) where he leads CDC’s efforts to protect and improve health glob- ally through science, policy, partnership, and evi- dence-based public health action. Smith pre- viously served as secretary of health and state epidemiologist for the state of Arkansas and vol- untary professor of epidemiology at the University of Arkansas College of Public Health. R. Jonathan Henderson, MD, Joins Arkansas Urology Practice Arkansas Urology announced that R. Jonathan Henderson, MD, has joined its central Arkan- sas practice. The nationally recognized urologist started serving patients in North Little Rock, Con- way, and Little Rock March 14, 2022. Before joining the Arkansas Urology team, Hen- derson worked at Regional Urology in Shreveport, Louisiana, and also practiced in Birmingham, Ala- bama. He is certified by the American Board of Urology and focuses primarily on robotic surger- ies and the treatment of prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers. Throughout his career, he has also specialized in laparoscopy and treating disorders of the female bladder. “One of the main aspects that drew me to the urology field is the fact that we treat patients long term, both sexes, all ages, procedures in both medical treatment and surgical treatment,” said Henderson. “The work urologists do every day affects men, women, children, adults, and the elderly. In this field, we treat our patients and their families not just for one procedure, but for a life- time. I get to be a part of my patient’s life and more often than not, their family’s life. I look for- ward to joining the AU team and utilizing my skills to serve central Arkansas. This is a well-respected practice, and it is an honor to now be a part of one of the most talented groups of physicians in the country.” During his time in Alabama, he served as a rep- resentative of Alabama to the Southeastern Sec- tion of the American Urology Association and as an assistant clinical professor of Urology at the University of Alabama. Other involvement includes memberships in the American Urologic Association, Shreveport Med- ical Society, Louisiana State Medical Society, the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Hender- son was chosen at LUGPA’s 12th Annual Meet- ing in November of 2021. Prior to being elected LUGPA president, Henderson served as presi- dent-elect and secretary and has been a mem- ber of the LUGPA Board of Directors since 2011. Henderson obtained a Bachelor of Science at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge in microbiology. After receiving a medical degree at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, he completed an internship and residency in urology at LSUMC Hospital where he authored several papers and presentations. Harding University Offering Master of Science in Cardiac Function and Interventional Technology Degree Harding University has created the first Mas- ter of Science in Cardiac Function and Interven- tional Technology (CFIT) degree program in the nation. Beginning in the fall of 2022, accepted students will begin a 10-month cohort program