State Medical Society Elects Officers

LITTLE ROCK, AR – April 17, 2026 – The Arkansas Medical Society, a physician group advocating for healthcare improvements statewide, recently elected new officers who will help lead the organization in 2026 and 2027. Naveen Patil, MD, MHSA, MA, FACP, FIDSA, of Little Rock, has been named the 2026–2027 AMS president. Dr. Patil is the deputy state health officer and the medical director for Infectious Diseases for the Arkansas Department of Health. He is passionate about the impact of public health on the citizens of Arkansas and equally dedicated to the mission of the Arkansas Medical Society to empower physicians and improve healthcare in Arkansas.

Newly elected executive leaders include AMS President-Elect Samuel Bledsoe, MD (Little Rock); Vice President Jerakaycia Smith, MD (Camden); Chairman Jacob Dickinson, MD (Mountain Home); Secretary James Hunt Jr., MD; Treasurer Jennifer Doyle, MD (Little Rock); Vice President Prasad Padala, MD; and Vice President Kathryn Stambough, MD.

Other newly elected and re-elected officers include District Trustee Members Shannon Cooper (Walnut Ridge); Shailendra Singh, MD (Searcy); Candace Franks, MD (Forrest City); Mark Ramiro, MD (White Hall); Ezinne Nwude, MD (El Dorado); Mark Wren, MD (Texarkana); Ahmad Yousaf, MD (Benton); Theresa Wyrick, MD (Little Rock); Amanda Novack, MD (Little Rock); Ahmed Abuabdou, MD (Little Rock); Amy Galdamez, MD (Little Rock); Jason Authur, MD (Little Rock); Anthony Davis, MD (Little Rock); and Ira Chatman, MD (Mountain Home).

The Arkansas Medical Society is a physician-led professional association representing more than 4,000 physicians, residents, and medical students in Arkansas. The mission of the AMS is to empower physicians and improve medicine through legislative advocacy, education, and day-to-day support.

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