Clare C. Brown, PhD, MPH, serves as Assistant Professor and Vice Chair for Education in the Health Policy and Management Department of the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She additionally serves as a Senior Research Fellow for the Institute for Medicaid Innovation in Washington, DC. Dr. Brown’s research focuses on reducing racial/ethnic health disparities in adverse perinatal outcomes, with first-author publications in leading journals such as Health Affairs, JAMA, Pediatrics, Women’s Health Issues, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Her work has been highlighted by national news outlets such as CNN, Washington Post, and Vox, and her findings have been used in policy-related materials like the White House Blueprint for addressing adverse maternal outcomes as well as March of Dimes, ACOG, and MACPAC materials. Dr. Brown has received multiple national and local awards, including the Alice S. Hersh Emerging Leader Award (Academy Health), the UAMS Chancellor’s Award for Community and/or Institutional Service, a Dr. Edith Irby Jones Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award, induction into the Arkansas Business 20 in their 20s, the Lyon College Patterson Decade Award, and teaching and service awards from multiple colleges at UAMS. 

Dr. Jennifer Callaghan-Koru is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), with appointments in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is a core faculty member of the UAMS Center for Implementation Research. Dr. Callaghan-Koru co-founded the Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative and serves as its Director of Evaluation. She received a Doctoral degree and Master of Health Sciences degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and completed the NIH’s Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health. Her research is focused on improving maternal and child health through the application of implementation science methods to support quality improvement and innovative service delivery. Dr. Callaghan-Koru's work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Agency for International Development. She is the PI/Co-PI of $20 million in active research and program grants, including a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of enhanced postpartum care delivered through telehealth, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. 

Nicolle Fletcher is a native of San Diego, CA. She is the wife of Dr. Phillip D. Fletcher and mother of 3 amazing adult children. The Fletcher family moved to Conway, Arkansas, in April 2007 after her husband served in the US Army for 7 years. Since residing in Arkansas, Nicolle has helped establish two nonprofit organizations (City of Hope Outreach, aka CoHO, and Ujima Maternity Network, Inc.), has trained over 30 doulas in Arkansas, and has attended over 700 births in homes and in Arkansas hospitals. Nicolle is a founding member of Ujima Maternity Network, Inc., and serves as the Executive Director for the organization. Nicolle is a certified birth doula since 2010, childbirth educator since 2011, doula trainer & doula mentor since 2012, trained postpartum doula since 2013, certified dancing for birth instructor since 2016, certified lactation counselor since 2017, certified health coach since 2019, apprentice midwife since 2020, and regenerative health coach since 2021. Nicolle seeks to use her trainings and certifications to improve birth for ALL women through information, nutrition, support, empowerment, and community! She believes that silence and complacency are some of the reasons we are in a maternal health care crisis. Maternal health care in the United States as a whole continues to decline, even though it is a first world country with all modern conveniences and technology. We must be the solution to healing and helping ourselves. While Nicolle is clear that one Black doula living in Conway, Arkansas, will not improve this issue alone, she knows her participation is essential. She has three specific focuses to do her part: Increase Knowledge, Increase Black Birth Workers, and Build an Empowering Supportive Community that will no longer remain silent and complacent around birth injustice for any woman. 

Dr. Zenobia Harris is a native of Newport, Arkansas. A graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, she spent most of her professional nursing career working in various clinical and administrative roles at the Arkansas Department of Health. She has provided care and support to families in the community in varying roles: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Public Health Nurse, Community Advisor, Nursing Administrator, and Regional Director. Over the years, Zenobia has worked to establish new Birthing Projects in various locations across Arkansas. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Arkansas Birthing Project, a mentoring program for pregnant women of color. She is a Fellow of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Research Scholars Program and is a recent contributor to the publication, “Taking Action: Top 10 Priorities to Promote Health Equity and Well-Being in Nursing". She also serves on several maternal and child health advisory groups both locally and nationally.

Kalena Jones, DHSc, recently joined Baptist Health as system director of Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME), a health program through the Arkansas Department of Human Services that focuses on improving the lives of three at-risk populations: High-risk pregnant and new moms, and babies; Arkansans living in rural communities facing mental health and substance use disorders; and young adults that are at greatest risk for poor health outcomes. Dr. Jones comes to the role with an extensive career in health care, including most recently as a regional group administrator at DaVita overseeing the operations and clinical performance of multiple dialysis facilities. Prior to DaVita, she served a five-year stint with Baptist Health, leading organizational development initiatives focused on employee experience and leadership development. Dr. Jones, an Arkansas native, graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and has a Doctorate in Health Sciences from A.T. Still University College of Graduate Health Studies in Kirksville, Missouri. She and her husband, Cory, have three children. In her free time, Jones enjoys being outdoors, crafting, and listening to music.

Laura Kellams joined Arkansas Advocates as its first Northwest Arkansas director in 2008. In this role, she works to call attention to challenges facing children and families in the region and to build support for policy solutions that can help all families thrive. Before joining Advocates, she was a newspaper reporter for 15 years, mostly covering politics and government for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. During that time, she served as a journalism fellow on the staff of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee as part of the American Political Science Association’s Congressional Fellowship Program. She is a past recipient of the Georgetown Center for Children and Families’ national “Bulldog of the Year” award for her advocacy to extend health coverage to immigrant children in Arkansas. She is a longtime board member of the Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County as well as the League of Women Voters. Laura has a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas, and she and her husband Kyle have lived in Fayetteville for more than 30 years. 

Meagan Thompson received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Sociology, with certificates in American Indian and Gender Studies. She worked as a reproductive health educator for several years prior to getting her Master of Nursing (MN) from the University of Minnesota. During her MN program, Meagan trained as a labor and birth doula and provided volunteer doula services around the Twin Cities. After graduation, Meagan worked at a large hospital in the Twin Cities metro as a labor and delivery nurse caring for low and high-risk obstetrical patients. Meagan graduated with her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Minnesota in the Nurse Midwifery specialty in 2019 and worked at the University of Iowa as a full-scope Certified Nurse-Midwife and Clinical Assistant Faculty in the Carver College of Medicine for three years. During her time at the University of Iowa, Meagan was part of a team that created the Maternal Substance Use Disorder Clinic, an interdisciplinary clinical team that focused on enhancing obstetrical outcomes for pregnant people with addiction disorders. In August of 2022, Meagan graduated with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate that broadened her scope to provide care for people with perinatal mood disorders. 

As a highly dedicated, compassionate provider, SaraBeth Askins believes practicing as a midwife creates opportunities to better serve women, mothers, and girls throughout their lifetime. She believes the intersection of her faith and passion for compassionate, person-centered care uniquely equips her to not only care but also advocate for her patients. After working at the bedside as a registered nurse in Women’s Health for 8 years, Ms. Askins felt called to do more to better serve her patients. After completing her graduate education through Georgetown University’s dual track Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program, Ms. Askins is more equipped to care for her patients throughout their lifespans. Collaborating with physician care to manage multiple health concerns, she is able to provide that compassionate, holistic, patient-centered care. Everyone, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, deserves access to reliable, safe, comprehensive care.

Ashley Bearden Campbell serves as the Executive Director of Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health (AIM), a nonprofit organization that strives to raise public awareness, cultivate champions for change, and spur action around the issue of maternal health in Arkansas. For nearly 15 years, Ashley has provided strategic counsel and executed advocacy campaigns to support a wide range of clients at the local and state levels. Her extensive experience in media relations, digital media, crisis communications, coalition building, and issue campaign management is key to crafting well-rounded communications strategies that resonate with media, policymakers, and consumers. Ashley also serves as a political consultant, providing counsel, digital media management, and strategic communications for candidates at the local, state, and federal levels. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ashley is passionate about serving her community and has served on numerous nonprofit boards. Ashley graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a B.A. in Communication and Writing. She resides in Little Rock with her husband, Alex, and their daughter, Aubrey. 

Rep. Mary Bentley is serving her fifth term in the Arkansas House. She represents District 54, which includes portions of Yell, Pope, Perry, Saline, and Conway counties. For the 94th General Assembly, Rep. Bentley serves on the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee and the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. Rep. Bentley also serves on the Arkansas Legislative Council. Rep. Bentley is a 1983 graduate of Harding University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Bentley practiced for over a decade in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, working with some of the first echmo units. Currently, Rep. Bentley is the owner of Bentley Plastics in Perryville, Arkansas, where she has been the CEO since 2000. Rep. Bentley has three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren where she resides in Perry County. She is an active member of Perry County Right to Life. Rep. Bentley is one of the founding members of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers and currently serves as the president of the NACL Legislative Council.

John Burris is a partner at Capitol Advisors Group. He is a term-limited member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he represented parts of Boone County for three terms. During that time, John served as the House Republican Leader from 2010-2012, as the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor from 2013-2014, and authored numerous pieces of legislation. He is recognized as a thought leader on insurance and Medicaid policies, regularly consulting leaders at a state and federal level. He has served as Senator Tom Cotton’s political director and senior advisor in campaigns for both the U.S. House and Senate. Additionally, John is a frequent political contributor and opinion columnist for several major publications. He is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University. He resides in Little Rock with his wife, Katherine Vasilos.

Iris Lizet Calderon, AA, has been managing Taqueria El Molcajete in Rogers for the last 12 years with her family. Iris has three children ages 8, 5, and 2 months. She earned associate degrees in Child Advocacy Studies and Liberal Arts and Sciences from Northwest Arkansas Community College in 2018, along with her Certificate of Proficiency in Child Advocacy Studies. Iris translates for pregnant family, friends, and neighbors during prenatal appointments, the birth, and pediatric appointments. She wants to continue serving her community in this way.

Dr. Shannon Case has been practicing general OB/GYN for the past 17 years. Twelve of those years have been in a rural health setting in her hometown, Clarksville, AR, with Johnson Regional Medical Center. She is currently on the Board of Directors for JRMC as well as a member of the Physician Credentialing committee and the Physician Advisor for Infection Control. Dr. Case is a member of the American College of OB/GYN and the North American Menopause Society. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa and attended medical school and residency training at UAMS in Little Rock. She has been married to Lee Tackett, M.D., for 18 years and has one teenaged son, Braxton.

Dr. Kay Chandler has served as an OB-GYN at Cornerstone Clinic in Little Rock since 1997 and has been named Best OB-GYN by Little Rock Family Magazine and AY Magazine. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Hendrix College, received her M.D. from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, and completed her residency training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Chandler has been included on the national Best Doctors, Inc., list since 2005. She is dedicated to promoting health and wellness through true lifestyle change and has served as Medical Director of Ideal Health NOW! since 2011. She shares new women’s health care information on the Medical Monday segment on THV11’s morning show, “THV This Morning.” She also currently serves on the board for the Pulaski County Medical Society and on the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Medical Society. She is married to her husband of 30 years, Jeffrey K. Chandler, DDS, who serves the Little Rock area at Chandler Family Dentistry.

Cassie Cochran has worked in some form of public health for over 17 years. She started her public health career in south Texas on a bioterrorism response team and eventually made her way to Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). During her career at ADH, she has worked in the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Response located within the Division of Health Protection in various positions, including program design and development, federal grants, special projects on both the state and federal levels, federal liaison positions, community, hospital, and volunteer programs, and various leadership roles. In 2017, she joined the Division for Local Public Health, which oversees the local health units in each county, and the Environmental Health Services, Engineering, and Hometown Health Initiative sections. This division allowed her to be more involved in the day-to-day work of educating and helping the citizens of this state obtain needed services at the local level, which is very important to her. When Cassie first moved to this division, she started as a Health District Manager in the Central Region, progressed to Central Region Director, then became the Northwest Region Director, and finally, the Division for Local Public Health Director. In 2021, she became the Deputy Director for Public Health programs, overseeing all five Divisions at the ADH, along with the faith-based outreach program and Spinal Cord Commission. Cassie is passionate about the services they provide at the ADH and the many ways they can help improve the lives of those they serve.

Dr. Deschamps was born and raised in Orem, Utah. He attended Brigham Young University where he earned an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems. Upon graduation, he took a position as a Systems Programmer for Walmart. This position moved him and his wife to Bentonville, Arkansas. There, his desire to pursue medicine was rekindled, and he returned to school. Dr. Deschamps attended the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for medical school in Little Rock. He then moved to Oklahoma, where he completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and his Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Deschamps joined The Perinatal Center in July 2017. He has continued to develop software in addition to his clinical activities. He has served on the Informatics Committee for SMFM and been an informatics consultant for the Perinatal Quality Foundation. He has designed and built mobile apps, including the ”SMFM Preterm Birth Toolkit” and “Perinatal Calculators,” both free, downloadable apps to be used as tools for obstetrical providers. In his spare time, Dave enjoys biking, running, and spending time with his family. He also has a passion for Diet Dr. Pepper and gas station nachos. Most importantly, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jen, and their three children, Olive, Elle, and Emerson.

Toni Emrich is a 35-year-old mom of two and a proud Arkansas native. Originally from Little Rock, Toni graduated high school from Mount St. Mary Academy in 2007. Toni’s dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom was fulfilled in 2016 after the birth of her first son. At 30 years old with two small tots at home, Toni returned to college to complete a bachelor’s degree in criminology. She then went on to complete a master’s degree in school counseling. Toni is a resident of a rural farm community 30 minutes north of Memphis called Tyronza. She lives on a crop farm with her husband of 10 years, Steven, and their two sons, Rhett, 8, and Bear, 6, along with their two dogs. Toni enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing on the lake, dabbling in photography, fishing, eating Mexican food, and coaching her sons’ baseball team. Aside from raising her children, Toni enjoys raising chickens, turkeys, and ducks.

Senator Ben Gilmore was elected to the Senate in November 2020 and represents District 1, which includes Ashley, Bradley, Chicot and Cleveland Counties and parts of Drew, Grant, Jefferson, and Lincoln Counties. Senator Gilmore is Vice Chair of the Arkansas Legislative Council and the Joint Energy Committee. He is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, the Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth, the Joint Budget Committee, and the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. During the 93rd General Assembly in 2021, Senator Gilmore was a member of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development. He also served on the Joint Performance Review Committee and the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. Senator Gilmore was the Senate sponsor of legislation allowing pharmacists and their technicians to administer vaccinations and flu shots. He also co-sponsored legislation that exempts state income taxes on any unemployment insurance benefits to a person claimed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the Senate sponsor for House Concurrent Resolution 1002, to encourage greater collaboration among health care providers, law enforcement officers, educators, elected public officials, and community leaders in reducing the abuse of prescription drugs in Arkansas.

Dr. William Greenfield completed his medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, completed an internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Before attending medical school, he received a pharmacy degree from Auburn University. His clinical interests are in obstetrics and gynecology. He is trained in daVinci Robotic Surgery. He has made presentations nationally, regionally and locally on topics in his field. Dr. Greenfield currently serves as the Arkansas Section Chair for the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a member of several professional organizations including Arkansas Medical Society, American Medical Association, and American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. Dr. Greenfield enjoys both his obstetric and gynecologic patients. He likes to help educate his patients and guide them to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Dr. Mary Pat Hardman is in her 15th year practicing as an OB/Gyn at Her Health Clinic at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. She is also the Director of Labor and Delivery at Washington Regional and serves on the Physician Advisory Committee. Dr. Hardman received her undergraduate degree from Hendrix College and her completed her medical degree and OB/Gyn residency at UAMS. She is married to her husband John Hardman and has two teenage daughters, Emma and Abby. 

Mabel Ijimakinde is a graduate of Delta State University Abraka, West Africa, holding a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in business accounting from Edo State University, Nigeria. She moved to the United States thirteen years ago, and she works at the University of Arkansas’s Compass Groups. She is now pursuing her social work degree at the University of Arkansas. She has a wonderful husband and two children. Mabel’s goal in taking part in this initiative is to raise awareness of the need for improved medical facilities and facilitations, as well as safe childbirth. She also hopes to empower women in Arkansas by teaching them the value of being safe during childbirth.

Senator Missy Thomas Irvin represents Senate District 24, which includes Searcy, Stone, and Van Buren Counties and parts of Cleburne, Faulkner, and Newton Counties. Senator Irvin was first elected to the Senate in 2010, as the first Republican to hold the seat since Reconstruction in 1874. She was also the first woman and the first resident of Stone County to hold the seat. At the time, she was the youngest woman ever elected to the Arkansas Senate, at the age of 39. Senator Irvin is Chair of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, Co-Chair of the Hospital and Medicaid Subcommittee and Vice Co-Chair of the Administrative Rules Subcommittee. She is a member of the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee, the Joint Energy Committee, the Senate Efficiency Committee, the Senate Ethics Committee, the Joint Budget Committee, the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, the ALC Executive Subcommittee, the Employees Benefits Division Oversight Subcommittee, the Game and Fish / State Police Subcommittee, the Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) Subcommittee, and the Review Subcommittee. Her professional background includes working as a news editor for KATV-Channel 7 News, as Marketing Director for Tipton & Hurst, and Marketing Director and Director of Research & Development for Stone County Ironworks and Calico Rock Ironworks. She was an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Hendrix College and Director of the Department of Dance at Hendrix College her final year at college. She currently works with her husband and is the Marketing Director of Irvin-Dibrell Clinic in Mountain View.

Mell Jacklick is from the Marshall Islands. She first migrated to United States in summer of 1996. She went to Anaheim Business College in California and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in business in 2000. Mell is a Marshallese community member and has worked as a community health worker and clinical translator in Arkansas for over 7 years. She is fluent in Marshallese and English and has extensive experience as a project manager. As a certified CHW, certified interpreter/translator, and certified facilitator, she has been responsible for the recruitment and retention of Marshallese patients, family members, and health care providers. She has taught health education, family involvement, and parenting education courses. She currently facilitates Fatherhood Fire Parenting Classes in both English and Marshallese as well as classes for couples and mothers.

Rep. Lee Johnson is serving his third term in the Arkansas House. He represents District 47 which includes a portion of Sebastian County. For the 94th General Assembly, Rep. Johnson serves as Chair of the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee. He also serves on the House Insurance and Commerce Committee and the Joint Budget Committee. Rep. Johnson is a Physician. He graduated with his M.D. from the University of Arkansas Medical School. He also attended Hendrix College where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts. He attended Boy’s State while he attended Greenwood High School. Rep. Johnson was previously elected to the Greenwood City Council from 2008 to 2018. He has also served on the State Board of Health. 

Renee Mallory, RN, BSN, served as Chief of Staff for the Arkansas Department of Health. In this role, she oversaw all aspects of financial management, information technology, governmental affairs, human resources, policies and procedures, legal services, health communications, internal audit, and facilities support services. Ms. Mallory also advised and assisted the Secretary of Health in setting policy and programmatic direction for the ADH as a whole to ensure programmatic responsibilities were met. Ms. Mallory began her career at ADH in 1988 as a nurse surveyor for Health Facility Services. Throughout the years, she has served in various roles and most recently was the Deputy Director for Public Health Programs from 2018 to 2021. She was a past designee of the Secretary on the Tobacco Settlement Commission and the Arkansas State and Public School Employees Life and Health Insurance Board, where she previously served as Chair.

Janet Mann has over twenty years’ experience in health care and health care finance. She has worked in the public and private sector for multiple states and clients. Janet has served as the Division Director for DHS’s Division of Medical Services, overseeing the Medicaid operations before and during the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency until April 2021. She also served as DHS’s Chief Financial Officer for a year in 2017. In addition, Janet was a Deputy Administrator for Medicaid in Mississippi during Governor Haley Barbour’s administration, 2006-2010. Janet has worked in the private sector focused on health care and public sector for several entities throughout her career but most recently at Horne LLP in Ridgeland, Mississippi. While consulting, Janet worked closely with other states implementing public policies and programs in areas of program integrity, managed care, audit and compliance, and financial processes. Janet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama and is a Certified Public Accountant. Janet has been married to Doug for over 29 years and has 2 grown children, Sydney and Will.

Dr. Nirvana Manning graduated from UAMS in 2003 and completed her residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UAMS in 2007. She is an elected member of the Arkansas Medical Society’s Board of Trustees, serving her second two-year term, and as an inaugural member of the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee appointed by the Governor of Arkansas. She also serves as a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Council of University Chairs in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and North American Menopause Society, to name a few. In conjunction with her many years of experience as a physician, Dr. Manning serves as Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Service Line Director for Women’s Health at UAMS. Each role gives her the knowledge to care for her patients and advocate for their needs within the clinical setting. Her dedication to advocacy can be seen through the projects she has implemented to educate young girls and caregivers about puberty and self-care. She has been active in education regarding access to long-acting reversible contraception for all women in our state. She recently participated in a significant grant to improve postpartum maternal outcomes in populations experiencing health disparities.

Amir Masoud Forati is an experienced geospatial data scientist with a focus on health research. He has a strong background in data science, machine learning, visualization, time series analysis and spatial analysis. He serves at a Health Researcher with Heartland Forward. With a Doctoral degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Amir has conducted research on precision epidemiology, population health, and the opioid crisis. He has also worked as a lecturer and research assistant and has industry experience in utility data analytics and precision agriculture. With his diverse background and expertise in health research, data science and geospatial analysis, Amir continues to make valuable contributions in leveraging data-driven insights to address pressing health challenges and shape community responses.

Dr. Pearl McElfish serves as the founding Director Institute for Community Health Innovation at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Dr. McElfish holds a PhD in public (health) policy, a master’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in community and economic development. She is a certified Project Management Professional and a Certified Community Developer. Dr. McElfish is a national and international leader in rural health and health equity research and methodological research related to the best methods for conducting community-based participatory research and disseminating research results to participants and communities. In addition to her research, Dr. McElfish has led large inter- and intra-institutional efforts to develop academic programs, graduate medical education, clinical programs, and population health efforts. Dr. McElfish has a history of funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and other private foundations. She has been awarded more than $180 million in federal, state, and private foundation grants, and she has published more than 260 peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Creshelle Nash provides oversight and guidance on public programs and products to improve health equity for all Arkansans. This role includes a position on the leadership committee for the Vaccinate the Natural State initiative, a combined effort from a diverse set of organizations working to increase the adoption of COVID-19 vaccines across Arkansas and ensure equitable access and distribution. Dr. Nash is passionate about addressing health disparities in Arkansas’ most vulnerable communities and takes action as a leader throughout the state. In addition to her role at Arkansas Blue Cross, Dr. Nash serves as a consultant for Community Engagement and Social Determinants of Health and Equity at the University of Arkansas College of Public Health, where she is also the co-director of the Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Service Learning Course. Prior to her work with Arkansas Blue Cross, Dr. Nash served as the medical director for the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, where she developed and implemented community outreach programs and partnerships. Dr. Nash completed medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, and served her residency in the Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Training Program at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. She received a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University School of Public Health and completed a fellowship in Minority Health Policy from Harvard University School of Public Health, also in Washington, D.C.

Jacob Oliva was appointed as secretary for the Arkansas Department of Education in January 2023. The State Board of Education also selected Oliva as commissioner of ADE’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prior to being named secretary and commissioner, Oliva served in numerous senior leadership roles at the Florida Department of Education, including interim commissioner. In this role, he supported more than 2.8 million students in approximately 3,600 Florida public schools. Oliva is a graduate of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. He began his educational career more than two decades ago as an elementary teacher for students with special needs. He later served as a principal at both the elementary and high school levels and as a superintendent at Flagler County Schools.

Dr. Serena Pierson is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist who has been practicing in Northwest Arkansas for ten years. She is currently practicing at Willow Creek Women’s Clinic located on the campus of Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson. Dr. Pierson says, “The most important thing a doctor can offer is their knowledge and experience as a practitioner. It’s also important for a doctor to be compassionate and respect her patients as human beings.” Dr. Pierson received her medical education at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Twin Cities campus, in Minneapolis, MN. She then completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Pierson’s experience in caring for pregnant women is extensive. She commonly treats preterm labor, twin and multifetal pregnancies, diabetes in pregnancy, high blood pressure in pregnancy and other high-risk pregnancies. She offers patient centered pregnancy, postpartum care, and breastfeeding support. She also provides patient centered gynecological care for women throughout all stages of their lives. A mother herself, Dr. Pierson enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, and spending time with her husband, children, dogs, and family outside of work.

Rep. Aaron Pilkington is serving his fourth term in the Arkansas House.  He represents District 45 which includes portions of Johnson and Pope counties. For the 94th General Assembly, Rep. Pilkington serves on the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee and the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee. Rep. Pilkington also serves on the Arkansas Legislative Council. Rep. Pilkington earned his master’s in health care administration from UAMS. He works in administration for Sparks Health. 

Kristi Putnam became the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services in January 2023. She has more than 20 years of policy and hands-on experience in human services, early childhood services, education, workforce development, and health policy, including implementation of Kentucky’s Medicaid transformation and several other innovative statewide policy and process initiatives. Kristi provided policy and strategy guidance to several legislative leaders, including House leadership in the Kentucky House of Representatives, federal agencies, and many state Health & Human Services agencies. Kristi first served in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) in the child welfare and family assistance office. After serving with CHFS for two years and leading Medicaid Section 1115 waiver innovation efforts, she was appointed as Deputy Secretary of CHFS, where she served until December 2019. In this role, Kristi led impactful and collaborative cross-cabinet reforms in health policy, public benefits delivery, human-centered design and workforce strategies, operational technology improvements, child welfare, and education supports. After CHFS, Kristi co-founded Connecting the Dots Policy Solutions, a policy consulting group focused on driving government innovations in the intersection of health, human services, education, workforce development, and economic growth. Kristi also served as the Child Welfare Services Manager, Chief of Community-Based Care, and Statewide Foster Care Licensing Specialist in Florida’s privatized community-based system of foster care and adoption. Her prior experience in Florida included policy and legislative development and implementation in the Department of Education, Department for Children and Families, the Florida Partnership for School Readiness, and Executive Office of the Governor. Most recently, Kristi served as the Chief People Officer for AppHarvest, a publicly traded agtech startup in Kentucky.

Maria Rodriguez-Alcala applies a holistic approach to health and wellness and takes a proactive angle aiming to balance the reactive model that still dominates in the Heartland. She previously worked for the University of Missouri as a researcher, instructor, and, more recently, a field faculty in Extension. She also worked in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for Icone – an applied economics-based think tank – and Washington State University. Her multi-disciplinary background, combined with her international, statewide and local community-level experiences, allows Maria to bring unique tools to the table to help change the approach on how to improve health in the mid-states. When compared to the coast states and other developed economies, it is clear to her that innovative ideas and strategic partnerships are needed. She has a B.S. in applied economics from Texas A&M University, M.S. in applied economics from University of Missouri, and a PhD in Sustainable Development from University of Missouri. When asked about why she chose to stay in the heartland, she says that after living for many years in Missouri, hiking in the Ozarks, and building relationships at the community level, her heart belongs here.

Olivia Walton is an advocate for the arts, women’s economic empowerment and maternal health in America’s Heartland. Olivia is the Chairperson of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and serves on the Momentary Council. She is the founder of Ingeborg Investments and is a co-founder of the Heartland Summit. In her personal philanthropy, Olivia focuses on promoting the arts as an economic driver, improving maternal health outcomes in Arkansas and empowering mothers through economic security and policies that support families. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree from the London School of Economics. Olivia lives in Bentonville, Arkansas with her husband, Tom, their three children and the world’s friendliest Labrador.

Since joining Heartland Forward in 2019, Ross DeVol has raised the profile of Heartland Forward through media engagement with quotes in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Economist and Axios and op-eds in the Dallas Morning News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chicago Tribune and Des Moines Register as well as TV appearances throughout the heartland. DeVol is a former chief research officer for the Milken Institute, an economic think tank headquartered in California, where he spent nearly 20 years overseeing research on international, national, and comparative regional growth performance, access to capital and its role in economic growth and job creation and health-related topics. He has been ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine.