HJAR Mar/Apr 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAR / APR 2025 39 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com Baptist Health Comprehensive Women’s Clinic-North Little Rock Holds Ribbon Cutting, Open House Baptist Health Comprehensive Women’s Clinic- North Little Rock held a ribbon cutting with tours on Jan. 28 to celebrate the clinic’s opening. Ijanae Allgood, MD, MPH, and Sarah Beth Hol- comb, MD, will see patients at the clinic. They specialize in primary care, pediatrics, pregnancy, and childbirth. Allgood received a Master of Public Health from St. George’s University, where she also earned a Doctor of Medicine from the St. George's Univer- sity School of Medicine. Allgood completed residency training in fam- ily medicine via the UAMS Northwest Family Medicine Residency Program in Fayetteville and a Obstetrics Maternal Child and Reproductive Health Fellowship in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Holcomb attended the University of Arkansas as an undergraduate majoring in microbiology. She obtained a Doctor of Medicine from Ross Univer- sity School of Medicine and went on to complete residency training in family medicine at UAMS West Regional Programs. Holcomb joined the faculty at UAMS Northeast Regional Programs in 2013, where she provided inpatient and outpatient care, as well as full-spec- trum obstetrical care within the residency along with her duties as faculty. Baptist Health Comprehensive Women’s Clinic- North Little Rock is located at 4625 JFK Boule- vard, Suite 210, in North Little Rock. Arkansas Hospice Names NewPresident, CEO The board of directors of Arkansas Hospice has named Brian W. Bell, MD, FAAHPM, to be the next president and CEO for Arkansas Hospice’s Family of Care. Bell, who currently serves as the organization’s CMO, will step into his new role in March. Bell replaces current Arkansas Hospice Presi- dent and CEO Judith Wooten who announced her retirement last year. Wooten will remain on staff through the end of April to ensure a smooth transition. Bell joined Arkansas Hospice in August 2016 as vice president and chief medical officer. He is board certified both in family medicine and hos- pice and palliative medicine, and he is one of only a few in the state with the designation of fellow from the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Med- icine. Working in hospice care since 2006, Bell is currently on the faculty at the University of Arkan- sas for Medical Sciences where he teaches hos- pice and palliative medicine fellows. Currently, he serves on the Professional Education Committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Orga- nization, which is now part of the National Alli- ance for Care at Home. Arkansas Hospice provides care in 44 counties with an average daily census of 650. Baptist Health Family Clinic-White Hall Welcomes TerraMcGuire, APRN Terra McGuire, APRN, recently joined the team of providers at Baptist Health Family Clinic-White Hall. McGuire received a medical education and res- idency training from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Baptist Health Family Clinic-White Hall, at 7500 Dollarway Road, Suite 104, in White Hall, is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. UAMS, Partners Offer Comprehensive Doula Training The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innova- tion will train 80 doulas over the next year through a program administered by the institute and other partners, including Ujima Maternity Network and Birthing Beyond. The program is available to individuals through- out Arkansas through a scholarship that covers the full cost of the training, which is spread across six months. Doulas are trained birth coaches who provide continuous emotional support, advocate for and aid informed decision-making during labor and delivery, assist with breastfeeding initiation and support, promote positive maternal men- tal health, and advocate for culturally sensitive care within healthcare systems. The use of dou- las has been strongly advocated by the institute and other partners to improve maternal mortal- ity rates across the state. With support from the Arkansas Blue & You Foundation and the Arkansas Community Foun- dation, the institute is offering $3,295 scholarships for participants to complete the six-month, hybrid training program. The program includes 40 hours of in-person training with Ujima Maternity Net- work —which will be held on select dates in Con- way, Jonesboro, Springdale, Arkadelphia, and a southeast Arkansas location still to be determined — as well as a scheduled three-day virtual training with Birthing Beyond. Participants will also com- plete a 45-hour Certified Breastfeeding Coun- selor course and will train in HIPAA and CPR. Training will also be offered to help participants navigate self-employment to help equip them to serve as doulas professionally after they complete the program. The institute is accepting applications from Arkansans across the state. Eligible trainees must be at least 18 years of age, be proficient in Eng- lish, have a valid driver’s license, and have reliable internet access. Arkansas currently has fewer than 50 trained Brian W. Bell, MD, FAAHPM Terra McGuire, APRN