HJAR Nov/Dec 2024

48 NOV / DEC 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds Arkansas Children’s Celebrates Honorees at Fall Investiture Arkansas Children’s celebrated the investiture of three physicians in a ceremony at CALS Ron Rob- inson Theater on Oct. 2. The honorees included Maya Liza C. Lopez, MD, as recipient and steward of the Harvey and Bernice Jones Endowed Chair in Developmen- tal Pediatrics; Ron Sanders Jr., MD, MS, as recipi- ent and steward of the Morris and Hettie Oakley Endowed Chair in Pediatric Critical Care Medi- cine; and David Spiro, MD, MPH, as recipient and steward of the Log A Load For Kids of Arkansas Endowed Chair in Pediatric Emergency Medicine/ Trauma. “Arkansas Children's is committed to fostering an environment of excellence, and these physi- cians — through their research, dedication and hard work — reflect a profound commitment to advancing pediatric health and ensuring the chil- dren of Arkansas and the region receive the high- est level of care,” said Marcy Doderer, FACHE, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. An endowed chair is one of the highest aca- demic honors for the holder and assists Arkan- sas Children’s, in partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in attracting and retaining strong clinicians, scientists, and other caregivers who are leaders in their field of pedi- atric healthcare. Lopez, who serves as section chief of develop- mental and behavioral pediatrics, sees patients at the James L. Dennis Developmental Center. As part of the Arkansas Autism and Developmen- tal Disabilities Monitoring program, Lopez has secured more than $6.4 million in federal grants focused on public health surveillance of children with autism spectrum disorders and/or intellec- tual disabilities. Sanders, who is section chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, has served patients and families at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) since 2008. He has dedicated his career to the safe management of pediatric airways. Sanders’ academic work also includes respiratory failure and life-threatening influenza in children. He serves as the site investi- gator at ACH, evaluating new therapies for pedi- atric septic shock. Spiro, chief of pediatric emergency medicine at ACH, has a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of medical professionals. He is an accomplished researcher, who has served as a principal investigator and co-investigator on numerous funded projects, which span various topics, such as COVID-19 prevalence, appendi- citis markers and asthma severity. Four Community Members Join Arkansas Children’s Foundation Board of Directors Arkansas Children’s Foundation has announced four new members to its board of directors: Trav Baxter, Fadil Bayyari, Angie Staley Johnson, and Katie Stephens. They join the 36-member board that represents statewide communities served by Arkansas Children's. Baxter, Bayyari, and Johnson were elected to three-year terms that began on Jan. 1, 2024. Stephens, also elected to a three- year term, began her service on July 1, 2024. Baxter recently started his own firm, Baxter Law Group. He provides counsel to individuals and business entities in the areas of estate planning, taxes, trusts, formation and operation of business entities and succession planning. He is a fellow in The American College of Trust and Estate Coun- sel and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America in trusts and estates. Bayyari is the founder and CEO of Bayyari Prop- erties and Construction, a real estate develop- ment company in northwest Arkansas. He has operated the business for more than 30 years and is a longtime supporter of Arkansas Children’s. Johnson served as president of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) Auxiliary Board of Direc- tors in 2022-2023. She is a board-certified pedi- atric occupational therapist, serves as comptrol- ler for her husband’s company, JPJ Consulting, and previously served on the board of directors of Staley, Inc. Stephens, a lifetime member of the ACH Auxil- iary, has been a supporter of Arkansas Children’s for several years. During her years as an attorney, her passion for public service led her to provide pro bono legal services through the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. She maintains a com- mitment to helping others, currently serving on the board of trustees for Episcopal Collegiate School and the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute after previously serving as a board member for several other esteemed organizations across Arkansas. “We are thrilled to welcome these new board members,” said Fred Scarborough, executive vice president and chief development officer at Arkan- sas Children's. “Their diverse backgrounds, exper- tise and community service leadership are invalu- able as we advocate and promote a culture of philanthropy throughout Arkansas and beyond. With their passion and dedication, we look for- ward to achieving even greater success together as we fundraise to support Arkansas Children’s historic expansion.” Arkansas Children's is building a multimillion- dollar expansion project, announced in 2023. The plan will expand bed capacity, transform inpa- tient and outpatient surgical approaches with the addition of an ambulatory surgery center, rede- sign clinical spaces to promote multidisciplinary care, and create an inviting and accessible cam- pus experience. CHI St. Vincent North Recognized with AHA Stroke Quality Achievement Award CHI St. Vincent North, the home of the CHI St. Vincent Arkansas Neuroscience Institute, has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement Award recognizing its commitment to stroke care and diabetes management. The hospital received the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus award and three additional honor roll distinctions. “This recognition from the American Heart Association validates our team’s tireless efforts to deliver the highest standard of care to our stroke patients,” CHI St. Vincent North President Megan Bonney said. “It’s a testament to our staff’s dedication and the cutting-edge protocols we’ve implemented to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.” Baptist HealthMedical Center-North Little Rock Earns Primary Stroke Center Certification FromDNV Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock announces that it has received certification from DNV Healthcare USA Inc. as a Primary Stroke Center.