HJAR Jul/Aug 2026

56 JUL / AUG 2026  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds UAMS Researchers Find Smart Food Lockers Expand Access to Healthy Food in Arkansas Using smart food locker technology is an innova- tive and promising approach to addressing food insecurity in Arkansas, according to researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sci- ences Institute for Community Health Innovation. Food insecurity, defined as the limited or uncer- tain access to enough nutritious food, continues to affect communities across Arkansas at high rates. In 2023, nearly 19% of households experi- enced food insecurity, significantly exceeding the national average of 13.5%. Many families rely on food pantries and other charitable food organizations to meet their needs and supplement their grocery budget. How- ever, households experiencing food insecurity often face additional barriers to accessing these resources, including stigma associated with receiv- ing food assistance, transportation challenges, work and childcare obligations, and limited pan- try hours. To address these challenges, UAMS researchers partnered with a faith-based food pantry in Fay- etteville to pilot a smart food locker system. This emerging technology provides a secure, temper- ature-controlled locker compartment that allows individuals to order groceries online and pick them up at their convenience. “This innovative approach to addressing food insecurity is about meeting people where they are,” said Pearl McElfish, PhD, director of the Insti- tute for Community Health Innovation. “By creat- ing access points outside the typical 9 to 5, we can remove barriers like limited pantry hours and stigma and improve access to healthy food.” Participants of the pilot program used the smart locker system to order a variety of foods, including fresh produce, dairy, proteins, and culturally rele- vant items tailored to the community. With 24/7 access, families were able to pick up food at times that fit their schedule. To learn more about the institute’s initiatives to improve nutrition and advance Food is Medicine approaches in Arkansas, visit: communityhealth.uams.edu Baptist Health Nurses Honored Eight nurses from Baptist Health were recently honored by the Arkansas Center for Nursing (ACN). Rhonda Finnie, DNP, MBA, APRN-CNP, AGACNP-BC, ANVP-BC, ASC-BC, director of advanced practice at Baptist Health, received an Arkansas Nursing Legacy Award from the ACN, while seven others were recognized as part of the organization’s annual “40 Nurse Leaders Under 40” list. The ACN recognizes outstanding nurses across Arkansas who demonstrate leadership, innova- tion, and dedication to advancing healthcare in their communities. Honorees were recognized during an April 20 ceremony. The Baptist Health nurses recognized as “40 Nurse Leaders Under 40” this year include: • Whitney Eagle, MSN, RN, CPN — Baptist Health College Little Rock • Zena Hill, RN, CMSRN — Baptist Health Medical Center–Little Rock • Cynamon Johnson, MSN, RN, CEN, NREMT — Baptist Health Medical Center–Hot Spring County • Ann Marie Mahan, RN, CMSRN, OCN — Baptist Health Medical Center–North Lit- tle Rock • Lea Meserole MSN, RN, CCRN — Baptist Health Medical Center–Little Rock • Jennifer Smith, MSN, RN— Baptist Health– Fort Smith • Taylor Starks, RN — Baptist Health Medical Center–Stuttgart Arkansas Children’s, Lyon College School of Dental Medicine to Partner Lyon College School of Dental Medicine and Arkansas Children’s have established a new part- nership to support patient care, clinical educa- tion, and research. The affiliation will coordinate the delivery and oversight of pediatric dental ser- vices at Arkansas Children’s. Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, the state’s first and only dental school, welcomed its first class of students last fall. The fully accredited school educates dental students and residents and employs licensed dental professionals and faculty capable of providing pediatric dental ser- vices and supervising clinical training programs. Arkansas Children’s operates a hospital-based dental program that provides complex dental and craniofacial care, as well as fixed-site clinics, mobile dental units, and school-based oral health programs. In this new partnership, Lyon College School of Dental Medicine will provide administrative over- sight and faculty services to support the dental program at Arkansas Children’s. Arkansas Chil- dren’s will support clinical training and educa- tion of Lyon dental students. The organizations will jointly promote and support collaborative research, continuing education, and academic ini- tiatives, and will continue to provide and expand high-quality pediatric dental services to Arkansas Children's patients. The affiliation begins July 1, 2026. Both insti- tutions remain solely independent, freestanding nonprofit entities. UAMS NowOffering Histotripsy Treatment for Liver Tumors UAMS is now offering a noninvasive treatment option for some patients with liver tumors. Called histotripsy, the procedure uses focused ultrasound waves to destroy tumors without surgery, radiation, or incisions. “With this technology, our specially trained doctors can target and destroy one or more tumors in a single, noninvasive outpatient procedure with little to no pain,” said Michelle W. Krause, MD, MPH, senior vice chancellor of UAMS Health and CEO of UAMS Medical Center. During a histotripsy procedure, which takes about an hour while the patient is under general anesthesia to remain still, a machine directs high-intensity sound pulses toward one or more tumors. The alternating pressure created by the pulses creates a cloud of tiny gas-filled bubbles within the diseased tissue. As the “bubble cloud,” which is about the size of a grain of rice, moves through the tissue, it causes the targeted tumors to liquify. The liquid is then eliminated by the body over the following weeks and months. Three physicians at UAMS have completed training in histotripsy: transplant surgeon Lyle Burdine, MD, PhD; interventional radiologist James Meek, DO; and surgical oncologist Sonia Orcutt, MD. Orcutt said the procedure appears to strengthen the patient’s immune system. She referred to the