2016-2017 AMS Leadership

The Arkansas Medical Society met recently at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain to elect new officers, attend educational programs and plan advocacy efforts.

Rogers Orthopedic Surgeon Scott Cooper, MD, was named president of the group. Dr. Cooper, who practices at Mercy Clinic Orthopedics, has been a member of the society since 1996 and has also served as a district trustee representing the physicians and patients of 10 Northwest Arkansas counties.

During his inaugural address, Dr. Cooper stated that to him, “the greatest value of the Arkansas Medical Society is in its advocacy in public policy.” Dr. Cooper went on to note the importance of physicians taking the lead to control health care spending and advocating for the best and most fiscally responsible public health initiatives. Dr. Cooper also reiterated the need to continue working to combat prescription drug abuse, a topic that was echoed throughout the organizations weekend long meeting.

Other newly-elected leaders include President-Elect Amy Cahill, MD (Pine Bluff); Treasurer Brad Bibb, MD (Jonesboro); AMA Delegates Scott Ferguson, MD and G. Edward Bryant (West Memphis), AMA Alternate Delegates Omar Atiq, MD (Pine Bluff) and Alan Wilson, MD (Crossett); and District Trustees Matthew Haustein, MD (Jonesboro), Doug Coleman, MD (White Hall), Michael Hickman, MD (Hot Springs), Angelo Coppola, MD (Little Rock), Blake Scheer, MD (Little Rock), Toby Vancil, MD (Little Rock), Stacy Zimmerman, MD (Clinton), Kristie Gast, MD (Ft. Smith), and medical student, Ashleah Courtney (originally from Pine Bluff, attending UAMS).

In addition to the specific duties of each office, these physicians will work to continue the medical society’s mission of improving Arkansas health care through legislation, education and the day-to-day support of patients and medical practices.

Other officers include:

Re-elected

Vice President: William Dedman, MD, Camden

Secretary: Chad Rodgers, MD, Little Rock

Speaker: Michael Saitta, MD, Fayetteville

Vice Speaker: Gene Shelby, MD, Hot Springs

District 2: Seth Barnes, MD, Batesville

District 3: George Conner, MD, Forrest City

District 5: Erin Goss, MD, Camden

District 6: George Covert, MD, Ashdown

District 8: Kristen Leinhart, MD, Little Rock

District 8: Renee Montgomery, MD, Sherwood

District 9: Curtis Hedberg, MD, Rogers

District 9: Robert Gullett, Jr., MD, Fayetteville

Currently Mid-Term

District 1: Shane Smith, MD, Jonesboro

District 1: Larry (Jack) Johnson, MD, Jonesboro

District 2: Shannon Swift, MD, Batesville

District 3: Dennis Yelvington, MD, Stuttgart

District 4: Calvin Bracy, MD, Pine Bluff

District 5: Johnathan Lewis, MD, Camden

District 6: John Hearnsberger, MD, Nashville

District 7: Robert Breving, MD, Hot Springs

District 8: Lee Archer, MD, Little Rock

Mangaraju Chakka, MD, Little Rock

Josh Chance, MD, Little Rock

Jim Ingram, MD, Little Rock

David King, MD, Little Rock

Balkrishna Singh, MD, Little Rock

Joseph Thompson, MD, Little Rock

Danny Wilkerson, MD, Little Rock

Amir Qureshi, MD, Little Rock

District 9: Jacob Dickinson, MD, Mountain Home

District 10: Robert Sanders, DO, Lavaca

AMA Delegate: Michael Moody, MD, Salem
AMA Delegate: Joe Stallings, MD, Jonesboro