HJAR Jan/Feb 2023

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JAN / FEB 2023 37 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The CHI St. Vincent Medical Group includes more than 300 physicians and medical provid- ers throughout Arkansas to connect primary care doctors with surgeons, cardiologists, and other medical specialists. The expanded network and available resources allow a patient’s primary care provider to stay fully connected with them throughout their experience at CHI St. Vincent. Mitchell Preston, MD, Joins Northwest Health Mitchell Preston, MD, board-certified family medicine physician, recently joined the active medical staff of Northwest Health, practicing at Northwest Medical Plaza – Eastside and is accept- ing new patients. The clinic is located at 2158 But- terfield Coach Road, Suite 100, in Springdale. Preston is a graduate from Central State Uni- versity in Edmond, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He earned a medical edu- cation at University of Oklahoma School of Medi- cine in Oklahoma City. He then completed family medicine residencies at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport and the University of Oklahoma. Preston is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Joshua Block, MD, Joins Northwest Health Joshua Block, MD, board-certified family medi- cine physician, recently joined the active medical staff of Northwest Health, practicing at Northwest Medical Plaza – Tuscany Square and is accept- ing new patients. The clinic is located at 2603 W. Pleasant Grove Road, Suite 109, in Rogers. Block is a graduate from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He completed a residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin – Columbia St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency Program. Block is board-certified by the Ameri- can Board of Family Medicine. Physicians Concerned About Virus Trends, Urge Vaccination Christine Hartford, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine at New York Institute of Technol- ogy College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkan- sas State University, recently expressed concern about trends with this flu season. “I worked two hospital shifts last week and every single pediatric admission I had was a respi- ratory virus infection,” said Hartford, also a pedi- atric hospitalist at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro. “They were all either RSV (Respira- tory Syncytial Virus), flu, or both. We anticipate an increase in COVID infections over the next couple of weeks as well. All things combined, it makes it as important as ever to get vaccinated to protect yourself and others.” According to the Arkansas Department of Health’s latest weekly influenza report, Arkansas reported “Very High” or 11 out of 13 for influenza- like illness (ILI) activity level indicators. Addition- ally, Arkansas has already reported nine influenza- related deaths this flu season after experiencing 30 total in the 2021-22 flu season. Following two years of relatively low flu and RSV numbers, Hartford believes we could be in for an unusual winter, especially considering what’s already happening this early in the season. She’s also concerned about the number of individuals Sherwood. Padilla graduated from the College of Nursing and earned a master’s in nursing science at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is a licensed nurse in Arkansas and is affiliated with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Karol Mudy, MD, Joins Baptist Health Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic in Little Rock Baptist Health Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic in Little Rock recently welcomed heart surgeon Karol Mudy, MD. Mudy, a native of Walbrzych, Poland, received a medical degree fromWroclaw Medical University in Wrocław, Poland. He completed a residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and a fellowship at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As a cardiac surgeon, Mudy performs many procedures, including heart transplantation, advanced heart failure surgery, minimally inva- sive valve surgery, valve repair, and more. Mudy is board-certified in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. Prior to joining Baptist Health, he served as a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Jeffrey Carfagno, MD, and Carfagno Family Practice inMaumelle Join CHI St. Vincent Medical Group CHI St. Vincent announced that Jeffrey Carf- agno, MD, and the Carfagno Family Practice in Maumelle has joined the CHI St. Vincent Medi- cal Group and its network of primary care and specialty clinics across Central and Southwest Arkansas. The Carfagno Family Practice, which has served the community since 2007, will now be known as CHI St. Vincent Primary Care - Mau- melle but remain at the same location at 1900 Club Manor Drive, Suite #105 in Maumelle. Carfagno will continue to build on his 34 years of experience and commitment to serving the Maumelle community with now increased access to a broad range of specialty providers in heart care, orthopedics, gastroenterology, and more. Carfagno earned a medical degree and com- pleted a residency in family practice at the Jeffrey Carfagno, MD Joshua Block, MD