HJAR Jan/Feb 2024

DIALOGUE 10 JAN / FEB 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Dianne Hartley, Editor Congratulations on being named secretary of health. How were you notified, and how did it feel to learn it was official? Secretary Mallory In a meeting with Governor Sanders in August, she asked if I would consider the permanent secretary role. I responded that it would be an honor to represent ADH and Arkansas as the secretary of health. Although I had been in the interim secretary position for almost a year and a half, it felt good to be asked to remain in the permanent role. To me, it meant the Governor and her staff had the confidence in me to be able to serve the administration and the citizens of the state in a public health capacity. Editor Tell us about the journey of your professional life. Secretary Mallory I grew up in rural Pike County and graduated high school in Delight. I always make a point to let people know this tidbit because even though the Delight school district no longer exists, the teachers, coaches, and staff helped mold me into who I am. For college, I went a little way down the highway to Henderson State where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Editor What inspired you to become a nurse? Secretary Mallory I lived with my paternal grandmother growing up, and she worked as an aide at the Pike County Hospital on the 3-11 shift. When I was old enough to drive, I would go to the hospital to spend time with her and sit in the breakroom with her and the other staff working, which was usually an RN, an LPN, and a couple of other aides. Once in a while, if things were really busy, I would go into a roomwith my grandmother to “turn” a patient. I loved the camaraderie between the team and listening to them talk. However, when I started college, I wanted to be everything but a nurse. Then the summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I was hired on as an aide at the same local hospital. By the end of that summer, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. Editor What sparked your interest in public health administration? Secretary Mallory After college graduation, I went to work at Twin Rivers Medical Center, now Baptist Arkadelphia, on the med-surg floor. I wasn’t happy with floor nursing, so I eventually followed a fellow graduate to a local nursing home where she served as director of nursing (DON), and I served as assistant DON. Long-term care was a lot more enjoyable to me. While working at the nursing home, I also began contracting with theADH local health unit in Clark County to do home health visits. Doing home health was a joy. When the decision was made to move to Little Rock, I applied withADH for a home health surveyor position and was eventually hired, and the rest, as they say, is history. I know it sounds syrupy, but I feel so grateful to have pretty much lucked into a career and a place where I learn, feel fulfilled, and for the most part, enjoy every day. Editor The majority of health secretaries are bureaucrats or physicians. You are a nurse, the most trusted profession in America. How do you think bringing a nursing perspective will influence health policy or the way the department is run? Secretary Mallory I’m not sure that it’s a case of not being a bureaucrat or physician, or being a nurse, that gives me a different perspective, as much as it is coming up through the ranks at the department. I’ve been at the department long enough to observe how things work, both from an agency and state perspective. I’ve also been able to observe successful individuals and learn from many. To influence health policy, or to be able to influence anything or anyone, there has to be trust. Just being in a trusted profession is not enough. I hope those who have worked with me over the years see me as trustworthy and will work with me and others at ADH to make a difference in health in our state. Editor Please share your vision, as secretary, and the top priorities for the department in 2024. Renee Mallory, RN, BSN, was named Arkansas secretary of health in August 2023. She is a member of the Governor’s cabinet and provides senior executive leadership for the agency. Mallory began her career at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) in 1988 as a nurse surveyor for Health Facility Services. Throughout the years, she has served in various roles, including the deputy director for public health programs from 2018 to 2021, the chief of staff from 2021 to 2022, and the interim secretary of health from 2022 to 2023. She has previously served as a designee on the Tobacco Settlement Commission and the Arkansas State and Public School Employees Life and Health Insurance Board. She currently serves as a member of the state Board of Health. The ADH delivers over 100 services through the main office in Little Rock and over 90 local health units in each of the state’s 75 counties. These services include immunizations, WIC, outbreak response, vital records, chronic disease prevention, preparedness and emergency response, injury and violence prevention, and suicide prevention. The ADH also includes the Arkansas Public Health Laboratory, which tests for safe food and drinking water, detects inherited genetic disorders in newborns, and provides early identification of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Local, state, and federal partnerships help the ADH to advance its mission and best serve the people of Arkansas.