NWA Health Summit 2026

Dr. Bri Morris Gilbert is the executive director of the Arkansas Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network, a clinically integrated network of more than 170 community pharmacies working together to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care across the state. Dr. Gilbert works with healthcare providers, health plans and policymakers to advance value-based pharmacy care, demonstrate measurable results and expand access to care. A native of DeWitt in the Arkansas Delta, she is passionate about improving health outcomes and expanding healthcare access in rural communities.

Cara Osborne is a nurse midwife who holds a master’s in nursing from Vanderbilt, and a master’s and doctorate in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health. She spent her early career as a clinician, nursing professor and perinatal epidemiology researcher. She has spent the past three years as a professor of practice in entrepreneurship at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business. She is a technical advisor to Diana Health, a venture backed comprehensive maternity care solution based in New York and is a maternal health subject matter expert for Ingeborg Initiatives.

Carol Silva Moralez is the Executive Director of Upskill NWA, a mission-driven nonprofit that helps lower-income workers access education and pathways to high-demand, high-paying healthcare careers. A seasoned executive and leadership coach, she brings more than 20 years of experience in operations and leadership, including senior roles at Walmart and work in leadership development and diversity initiatives. Under her leadership, Upskill NWA has supported hundreds of participants in advancing their careers, with strong persistence, job placement, and income gains among graduates. In 2023, Upskill NWA and the Excellerate Foundation received the national HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships, recognizing the program as a model for regional workforce transformation.

Cassie Cochran has dedicated more than 20 years to advancing public health. She began her career in South Texas as part of a bioterrorism response team before bringing her expertise to the Arkansas Department of Health. Over the years, she has served in several leadership roles focused on improving the health of communities across the state. Today, Cassie serves as the Deputy Director for Public Health Programs at the Arkansas Department of Health, where she oversees the department’s five centers, as well as its faith-based outreach program and the Spinal Cord Commission. She is deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of Arkansans everywhere.

Dr. Eliza Short is a research scientist at the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact, and a research collaborator with UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation. She started her career as a clinical dietitian in both hospital and outpatient clinic settings, including working with families to improve nutrition and health behaviors. Using her background as a clinician and now engaged in research, she focuses primarily on understanding the impact of community-led food is medicine programs on eating patterns and health outcomes. Ultimately, she is committed to advancing nutrition-focused programs that address community needs and meet individuals where they are, to support lasting improvements in nutrition and health.

Dr. Erin Jefferson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UAMS, where she specializes in reproductive psychiatry. Her clinical work focuses on the complex mental health conditions that can emerge or worsen during the perinatal period, and she provides care for patients during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Dr. Jefferson leads the Women’s Mental Health Program, Northwest Arkansas’s first clinic dedicated to perinatal mental health. The program offers specialized care for individuals during pregnancy, postpartum, and for those planning to become pregnant or experiencing infertility, providing comprehensive evaluation and treatment for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and other psychiatric conditions that can arise during this critical time.

Jenny Bogard has more than 32 years of experience in health behavior change, strategy development, and program design across the managed care, nonprofit, and public sectors. She has held leadership roles in health insurance at Humana, in worksite wellness at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in community health as Director of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthcare Access and Equity Strategy. Jenny is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Commonality, Inc., a boutique women-owned strategy consulting firm. She also currently serves as Executive Director of the National Hypertension Control Roundtable, a national coalition funded by the CDC that works to improve hypertension control rates across the United States.

Dr. Kay Chandler was appointed in 2023 to serve as Arkansas’s Surgeon General. Dr. 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, and 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 is passionate about helping women of all ages feel and function at their best by helping them navigate health care with an integrative approach and, even more importantly, by educating and encouraging them in self-care.

Dr. Lanita Shaverd provides overall leadership and strategic direction for the Community Health Centers of Arkansas, a statewide association representing 12 federally qualified health center organizations. Together, these centers operate more than 230 clinic sites and serve over 320,000 Arkansans each year. Under her leadership, CHCA fosters strong collaboration with member centers, policymakers, and partners across the state. She oversees programs and initiatives that strengthen Arkansas’s community health centers and expand access to high-quality, meaningful care for communities statewide.

Lisa Stafford is the Senior Vice President of Research & Outreach for the Center for Research, Education, and Outreach at Community Clinic, where she leads a multidisciplinary team advancing community-engaged research and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery. Her work focuses on developing and scaling initiatives that connect patients and families to healthier behaviors and improved care. Lisa champions cross-sector collaboration, bringing together clinical care, academia, philanthropy, and community partners to design solutions that enhance the healthcare experience, strengthen systems of care, and build healthier communities. With more than 25 years of experience in the health and wellness field—including her early work as a counselor—she brings a holistic perspective to healthcare transformation and the role of community voice in driving meaningful change.

Mellie Boagni is the President, CEO, and Founder of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, Executive Director of the Rural Health Association of Arkansas, and Regional Director for the UAMS Office of Strategy, Management, and Administration. She brings more than 23 years of experience in rural health strategy, collaboration, grant development, and large-scale program implementation. Under her leadership, the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership has secured more than $92 million in funding to expand workforce training, strengthen rural hospital sustainability, improve behavioral health services, and increase access to care in underserved communities. Her work has earned national recognition, including honors from the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association.

Dr. Pearl McElfish is the founding director for the Institute for Community Health Innovation at UAMS. She is a national and international leader in rural health and health equity research, particularly in the fields of Maternal and Child Health; Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Diseases; and Food is Medicine. She is also an expert in community-based participatory research, working with communities across Arkansas to achieve UAMS’s mission to create a better state of health for all.

Rep. Aaron Pilkington is serving his 5th term in the Arkansas House. He represents District 45 which includes portions of Johnson and Pope counties, and serves on the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee and the House City, County, and Local Affairs Committee. Rep. Pilkington also serves on the Joint Budget Committee. Rep. Pilkington earned his master’s in healthcare administration from UAMS, and he works in administration for Sparks Health.

Rep. DeAnn Vaught is serving her 6th term in the Arkansas House of Representatives. She represents District 87, which includes Little River County and portions of Sevier and Howard Counties. Rep. Vaught chairs the House Management Committee. Rep. Vaught, and also serves on the House Education Committee and the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, the Arkansas Legislative Council, and the House Rules Committee. Rep. Vaught graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business and is currently a farmer in Horatio.

Rep. Lee Johnson is serving his fourth term in the Arkansas House. He represents District 47 which includes a portion of Sebastian County. Rep. Johnson serves as Vice-Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, and also serves on the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee, the House Insurance and Commerce Committee, and the Joint Energy Committee. Rep. Johnson is a Physician. He graduated with his M.D. from the University of Arkansas Medical School, and has also served on the State Board of Health.

Rep. Mary Bentley is serving her sixth term in the Arkansas House. She represents District 54 which includes portions of Yell, Pope, Perry, Saline, and Conway counties. Rep. Bentley serves as Vice-Chair of the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee. She also serves on the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee and the Arkansas Legislative Council. Rep. Bentley is a 1983 graduate of Harding University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She practiced for over a decade in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital working with some of the first ecmo units. She is one of the founding members of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers and currently serves as the president of the NACL Legislative Council.

Rosalinda Medrano-Green is a certified Community Health Worker and serves as Director of Programs at the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation. Over the past three years, she has supported the training and mentorship of more than 200 CHWs and works closely with supervisors, healthcare organizations, and community partners to support effective CHW integration into care teams across rural and urban settings throughout the state. As a board member of the Arkansas Community Health Worker Association, she contributes to statewide workforce advancement efforts and is committed to ensuring CHWs are prepared and supported for long-term success in Arkansas’s health systems.

Janet Mann has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and healthcare finance. She is the Secretary for the Arkansas Department of Human Services and is also the State Medicaid Director. Janet has worked in the public and private sector for multiple states and clients, and previously served as the Deputy Secretary for Programs. She also served as 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.

Jim Hudson was appointed Chief Financial Officer for the State of Arkansas and Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in August 2023. He oversees the state’s budget, taxation, motor vehicle services and the regulation of several industries, leading a department of more than 2,200 employees that includes divisions for Child Support Enforcement, Assessment Coordination, Intergovernmental Services, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, Information Services, and more. Previously, Hudson served as Chief of Staff for the Arkansas Department of Commerce and spent more than 25 years in executive leadership roles in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations across Arkansas. He holds degrees from Hendrix College, the University of Arkansas Bowen School of Law, John Brown University and Southern Seminary.

Renee Mallory began her career with the Arkansas Department of Health in 1988 as a nurse surveyor for Health Facility Services. Since then, she has served in various roles, and was appointed as the state’s Secretary of Health by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023. Throughout her career, Secretary Mallory has been instrumental in setting policy and programmatic direction for the Arkansas Department of Health, working to ensure all Arkansans can access health care.

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 is the chair of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. She is a member of the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee, the Joint Energy Committee, the Senate Rules, Resolutions and Memorials Committee, the Joint Budget Committee and the Arkansas Legislative Council. She is a member of the Legislative Facilities Committee. Senator Irvin is a founding board member of the Human Rights for Kids Organization. Sen. Irvin has worked as a news editor, a marketing director, and held roles with the Department of Dance at Hendrix College. In 2008, she was awarded the Presidential Award for her extensive volunteer activities in her community.

Dr. Shona Ray-Griffith is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the UAMS. She is board-certified in both psychiatry and addiction medicine. Dr. Ray serves as the Ambulatory Director of the Women’s Mental Health Program, Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and Assistant Program Director of the Women’s Mental Health Fellowship. Her clinical expertise includes the management of mental illness and substance use disorders throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Stefanie Pawluk leads the Northwest Arkansas Council’s Health Care Transformation Division, driving the implementation of the Vision 2030: Northwest Arkansas Health Care Report. With 15 years of experience in health policy and government relations, she has worked with health systems, payors and state governments to advance health reform and value-based care. Stefanie’s leadership focuses on building partnerships and innovative solutions to address the unique health care challenges of Northwest Arkansas. Her vision and expertise are shaping a resilient, future-ready health care system that supports the region’s growth and ensures healthier communities for generations to come.

Dr. Susan Ward-Jones is the CEO and practicing physician at East Arkansas Family Health Center, a leading community health center serving more than 22,000 patients across multiple counties in eastern Arkansas. At the East Arkansas Family Health Center, she oversees a multidisciplinary team delivering comprehensive primary care, dental services, school-based health programs, HIV/AIDS case management, and mobile health services. Her dual role as CEO and physician reflects her commitment to patient-centered care, balancing leadership, advocacy, and hands-on clinical practice.

Dr. Wendy Davis is the President and CEO of Postpartum Support International, a global leader in advancing pregnancy and postpartum mental health. She provides strategic leadership for PSI’s international network of chapters and experts, overseeing education, support services, and research that connect families and providers to the resources needed for the healthiest possible start. Dr. Davis founded Oregon’s first perinatal peer support organization, Baby Blues Connection, and is a strong advocate for the role of peer support and lived experience in mental health care. She collaborates with healthcare systems, community organizations, and government agencies nationwide and leads PSI’s Mind the Gap Initiative, a national effort to make perinatal mental health a policy priority.