Kelly Gardner

August, 2025 – Paula Medina

The August MVP of the Month from the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line is Paula Medina. Paula is a Senior Business Manager with Primary Care and Population Health for Regional Programs. She has been at UAMS for twelve years.

Paula was recognized for her actions as follows:

Paula recognized an issue with Regional Programs Enhanced Medicaid payment issue was not correct and dug into reasons behind the problem.
Paula was able to identify the solution and work with appropriate individuals to correct the payment issue and resume the Enhanced Medicaid payment revenue.
Her nominator stated: Paula is absolutely one of the most stellar employees I have ever had the opportunity to work alongside. We are extremely lucky to have her on the team!

Paula will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift bag. She also will be honored during the Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence ceremony during the annual DFPM Research Symposium.

Congratulations Paula!

July, 2025 – Kara Jones

The July MVP of the Month from the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line is Kara Jones. Kara is a Clinical Pharmacist for Rahling Road and Internal Medicine Clinics and has worked at UAMS for eight years.

Kara was recognized for her actions as follows:

Kara goes above and beyond for our patients, providing education and follow up, advocating with local pharmacies to ensure patients receive medications prescribed by their physicians.
She is enthusiastic about educating patients on new technologies like continuous glucose monitors that help them better understand and control their diabetes.
Kare has compassionately served our refugee population at Rahling Road. She has developed and driven guideline-directed immunization practices for these patients.
She not only helps educate our residents during their ambulatory experience but also educates students from the College of Pharmacy during their month-long rotations.
Kara brings joy and encouragement to all her colleagues. We are all better clinicians because of her effort, attitude and willingness to serve others.

Kara will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift bag. She also will be honored during the Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence ceremony during the annual DFPM Research Symposium.

Congratulations Kara!

Self-Care

This month let’s look at Self-Care and why it is important as a health care provider. We all know that working in the health care field is stressful. A 2022 study conducted in Minnesota found that 70% of frontline healthcare workers experienced some level of depression and 99.2% reported high levels of stress.

It’s easy to lose focus on self-care with our busy lives. But an absence of self-care can harm us both physically and emotionally, often resulting in struggles with compassion fatigue and professional burnout.

But we CAN prevent this from occurring. Here are some ideas for self-care. Try a few and see if they help.

Set Boundaries

Try saying NO. Especially to protect family and alone time. Don’t get involved in other people’s drama

Practice Mindfulness

Try a meditation video,
Write in a journal
Practice breathing skills
Sit in quiet for a few moments

Maintain a Work Life balance

Limit how much work you take home
Connect with family and friends during outside work time
Use your paid leave time
Take a lunch break – leave your desk, talk with co-workers, move around, sit in a quiet area

Take Care of yourself

Hydrate
Eat – don’t be Hangry
Exercise
Sleep

Disconnect

Put down your phone, especially one hour before bedtime
Don’t check work emails after hours
Reduce time spent on social media

Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.

June, 2025 – Alison McFarlin

The June MVP of the Month from the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line is Alison McFarlin. She has worked as an Assistant Program Administrator at Jonesboro FMC for 20 years. Comments made in her letter of nomination include:

Alison is so amazing. She is caring, thoughtful, helpful and kind.
She is never too busy to assist anyone in need, no matter what program or department they may be in.
She is a morale booster!

Alison will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift bag. She also will be honored during the Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence ceremony during the annual DFPM Research Symposium..

Congratulations Alison!

May, 2025 – Elizabeth Dobbins

The May MVP from the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line is Elizabeth Dobbins.

She is a RN Care Manager at FMC in Little Rock and has worked for UAMS for 35 years. Comments made in her letter of nomination include:

Beth has a sweet and compassionate demeanor, always has time to listen to a patient and demonstrate genuine concern on what is happening.
Every day that Beth is on duty at the FMC, she is quietly helping a patient or staff member make this place shine.
Beth is a bright spot of light in our work culture at FMC and serves as a professional role model to us all.

Elizabeth will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift bag. She will also be honored during the Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence ceremony during annual DFPM Research Symposium..

Congratulations Elizabeth!

April, 2025 – Christine Taylor

The April MVP of the Month from the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line is Christine Taylor. She has worked as an LPN at Springdale FMC for 25 years. Comments made in her letter of nomination include:

Christine has been the leader behind the scenes for many years. She has a comprehensive knowledge of how the clinic runs and can find what we need.
She constantly gets high praise from our patients for her compassionate care.
Christine manages the ADH Vaccine for Children program at Springdale and keeps it in superb condition.
Christine stands out as one of our very best.

Christine will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift bag. She also will be honored during the Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence ceremony during the annual DFPM Research Symposium.

Congratulations Christine!

March, 2025 – Amber Beamon

The MVP of the Month from the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line is Amber Beamon. She has served as a Housekeeper for the past 3.5 years at the Texarkana FMC. Comments made in her letter of nomination include:

Amber is an example of unwavering teamwork. She is always willing to help anywhere she can. We are lucky to have her on our team.
She is a rock star, juggling two people’s jobs.
So very deserving! Thanks for all you do!

Amber will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift bag. She also will be honored during the Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence ceremony during the annual DFPM Research Symposium..

Congratulations Amber!

Are you taking a Spring Break? It’s Time to Unplug

If so, have you considered taking a break from your phone as well? Can you really disconnect from work while on vacation?

According to a 2024 JAMA study of 3024 physicians, 70% of doctors work during a typical vacation day and around a third spend at least 30 minutes per vacation day on work-related correspondence.

If this feels familiar, take a moment to reference this article from Medscape for tips to help you unplug.

And….its not just not just for physicians! Everyone can benefit from a break from our phones and social media. According to the Mayo Clinic, slimming screen time frees up more time to connect with family and friends – which can help ward off symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety.