HJAR Jul/Aug 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JUL / AUG 2024 33 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com Baptist Health Family Clinic-Maumelle Adds Jalesia Austin, APRN Jalesia Austin, APRN, recently joined the team at Baptist Health Family Clinic-Maumelle. Austin received a Bachelor of Science in nurs- ing from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Baptist Health Family Clinic-Maumelle is at 1701 Club Manor Drive, Suite 2, and is open Monday- Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. UAMS Graduates 1,134 Healthcare Professionals The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently conferred degrees and certifi- cates to 1,134 students in its five colleges and graduate school. UAMS awarded 175 degrees or certificates to students in the College of Medicine, 172 in the College of Nursing, 583 in the College of Health Professions, 78 in the College of Pharmacy, 86 in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, and 78 in the UAMS Graduate School. Thirty- eight students earned dual degrees. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic-Little RockWelcomes AdamKessler, DO Adam Kessler, DO, recently joined the team of providers at Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic-Lit- tle Rock. Kessler received a medical education from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Med- icine. He later completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at Ascension Genesys Hospi- tal in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and a fellowship in orthopedic trauma surgery at University of Louis- ville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic-Little Rock is located at 9500 Baptist Health Drive, Suite 210. The clinic is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ARPQCWebsite Provides Information About Maternity Care Services, Initiatives The Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ARPQC) — a partnership launched last year between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the Arkansas Department of Health, and 34 birthing hospitals across the state — launched its new website recently, creating a hub for patients and healthcare providers alike to access pivotal information related to maternal healthcare in Arkansas. The site, arpqc.org , houses information about the collaborative, provides education to help patients make informed healthcare decisions, and includes resources for healthcare providers. Since its launch last year, the ARPQC has facili- tated trainings with hospitals and clinicians across the state aimed at reducing cesarean delivery rates and providing better pathways to optimal health for Arkansas’ mothers. “The ARPQC has brought all the state’s birth- ing hospitals together to work as a collaborative group committed to improving outcomes for maternity patients across the state,” said Dawn Brown, MSN, program director for the ARPQC. “Hospitals are sharing their successes with one another and also seeking each other’s advice on best practices. We’re excited to see our state’s doctors and nurses collaborate to create a bet- ter state of health for all mothers in Arkansas.” Baptist Health Behavioral Health Clinic-North Little Rock Welcomes Puru Thapa, MD, MPH Psychiatrist Puru Thapa, MD, MPH, recently joined Baptist Health Behavioral Health Clinic- North Little Rock. Thapa received a Bachelor of Medicine, Bache- lor of Surgery (MBBS) from King George’s Medical University in Lucknow, India, and a Master of Pub- lic Health (MPH) in epidemiology from the Univer- sity of Washington in Seattle. He completed resi- dency and fellowship training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Thapa is a pharmacoepidemiologist and a pro- fessor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, much of his research has focused on improving care for individuals with mental illness in the pub- lic mental health sector. Thapa is board-certified by The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Baptist Health Behavioral Health Services in North Little Rock is located at 3401 Springhill Drive, Suite 490. The clinic is open Monday-Fri- day from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. UAMS, ACHPediatric Mental Health ProgramPresents School-BasedMental Health SymposiumJuly 31 The Arkansas Mental Health Access for Pediat- ric Primary Care (ARMAPP) program is presenting the 2024 School-Based Mental Health Sympo- sium from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 31 at Arkan- sas Children’s Hospital. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Children’s Hospital are part- nering to improve access to mental health educa- tion and resources in pediatric primary care set- tings and schools. The symposium is offered free of charge and is geared for such school personnel as administra- tors, education paraprofessionals, teachers, coun- selors, principals, school nurses, special educa- tion teachers, and intervention specialists. To register, visit redcap.link/ARMAPP24. n Jalesia Austin, APRN Adam Kessler, DO