HJAR May/Jun 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2026 33 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com Juan Pablo Rivera, MD, Joins Baptist Health On-Site Endocrinology Clinic Juan Pablo Rivera, MD, recently joined Bap- tist Health On-Site Endocrinology Clinic. Rivera specializes in general endocrinology and is board-certified by the American Board of Inter- nal Medicine. He earned a medical degree from Universidad Internacional del Ecuador and com- pleted his internal medicine residency at Stew- ard Carney Hospital/Tufts University School of Medicine. He finished a fellowship in clinical and molecular endocrinology at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. UAMS Offering Scholarships for Perinatal Mental Health Certification UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation is offering a limited number of scholarships to maternal healthcare workers seeking to become certified in perinatal mental health. The scholarships are open to qualified applicants with two years of experience working with moms or babies in a health- or community- related setting. Eligible candidates include mental health therapists, doulas, nurses, community health workers, physicians, lactation consultants, or other healthcare service workers. Participants will receive funding to complete Postpartum Support International (PSI) training and sit for the exam to become a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH- C). Training is available online through PSI, This initiative aims to improve health outcomes by providing free fruits and vegetables every month to residents who have a diet-related health condition such as diabetes or hypertension, and meet income requirements. Qualifying individuals who sign up for the pro- gram will receive $50 of fresh fruits and vegeta- bles each month. Items can be picked up each month on the participant's schedule from climate- controlled food lockers at Baptist Health Commu- nity Outreach, 10117 Kanis Road in Little Rock. Space in the program is limited. For more infor- mation, call (501) 202-1540 or visit: bit.ly/bhproducerx UAMS Enrolls 25 Doula Trainees in Latest Class The UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation will train at least 25 doulas this year after enrolling its latest class of trainees in January. The institute launched its comprehensive doula training program in 2025 in partnership with Ujima Maternity Network and Birthing Beyond, enrolling more than 50 participants across 28 counties. Trainees are required to attend classes with both Ujima and Birthing Beyond, receive 45 hours of Certified Breastfeeding Counselor training, attend multiple live births and receive hands-on mentorship. The newest class of 25 trainees started their program in January, representing 14 counties across the state: Benton, Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Garland, Hot Spring, Izard, Jefferson, Mississippi, Polk, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, and Washington. Five of those counties —Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Polk, and Van Buren — are newly represented by trainees this year. More training courses are expected to launch later this year. Interested parties should email doula@uams.edu for more information on the program and how to enroll. The training of the January cohort is supported through a $125,000 award from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development. The award from OSD joins funding the agency provided to the institute to train new community health workers (CHWs) across the state. Through that award, 75 additional CHWs will be trained this year. and recipients will be required to complete the program within 12 months. To apply for a scholarship, visit: redcap.link/PMHC UAMS and Youth Researchers Help Expose Illegal “Mini-Cup” and Toy-Shaped E-Cigarettes Promoted on Instagram A newly published study reveals that illegal e-cigarettes designed to resemble miniature boba tea cups, cola cans, and toy animals are being widely promoted on Instagram, often portraying young people using the products and marketing them in ways that may appeal to youth. The research, titled “#MiniCupVape E-Cigarettes Promoted on Instagram: A Youth Participatory Action Research Approach,” was led by Page D. Dobbs, PhD, of the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, in collaboration with colleagues and two middle school students participating in the Education Accelerated by Science and Technology (EAST) Initiative program at Hot Springs Junior Academy, who helped identify the issue, contributed to refining the codebook used in the content analysis, and provided insight into how these products might be perceived by adolescents. The team analyzed 199 public Instagram posts promoting miniature cup- and toy-shaped e-cigarettes that were posted between July and December 2022. Although some posts stated the products were intended for individuals over age 18, none of the miniature cup- or toy-shaped devices identified in the study are authorized for sale by the FDA, making them illegal in the United States. Despite FDA warning letters issued to retailers selling disguised e-cigarettes, the study demonstrates that promotion of these illegal products continues on social media platforms popular with youth. Researchers call for increased enforcement of federal and state tobacco control laws, enhanced platform oversight, and education for parents, educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers. An article about the study appears in the Amer- ican Journal of Preventive Medicine . The study was supported by funding from the National Insti- tutes of Health National Cancer Institute. n Juan Pablo Rivera, MD