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2022 Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting 2022
After two years on hiatus due to COVID-19, it was especially invigorating to finally come together face-to-face at the AHA’s Annual Meeting on November 9-10. Health care professionals from all parts of the state gathered in Hot Springs to advance their skills, network with fellow hospital leaders, and re-inspire their work.
ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Dr. Tom Atchison kicked things off with “Employee Engagement: A Guide to Rediscovering Purpose and Meaning in Health Care,” a full-day workshop that gave us a new model for creating sustainable engagement. We all know that burnout is a major issue in hospitals today and that finding new ways to keep employees engaged is essential to every hospital’s viability. Exploring the psychology of why and how people deeply commit to their work gave us new insight. And exposing the myths about what cements engagement was both surprising and helpful. We’re grateful to Tom for sharing his expertise and experience.
After the workshop on the first evening, attendees enjoyed a member reception, where we congratulated the incoming AHA board members and mingled with friends and colleagues both new and old.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
You don’t need a wake-up call when The Rodney Block Collective is performing bright and early! The band kicked off day two of the meeting with some foot-tapping jazz, launching us into our welcome from AHA President and CEO Bo Ryall and Board Chairman Ron Peterson, President and CEO of Baxter Health care in Mountain Home.
We always enjoy having the state’s hospital volunteers join us for the Keynote Session, and a highlight of the morning was the announcement of the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association’s (AHAA) Administrator of the Year Awards, presented for both 2021 and 2022. Peggy Abbott, President and CEO of Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden, introduced AHAA President, Carol Evans, who made the four presentations.
Congratulations to Kevin Storey, Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs, the recipient of the 2021 award for hospitals under 100 beds, and to Samuel Lynd, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, Jonesboro, the recipient of the
2021 award for hospitals over 100 beds. Congratulations to Brian Miller, DeWitt Hospital & Nursing Home, the recipient of the 2022 award for hospitals under 100 beds, and to Dr. Doug Ross, CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, recipient of the 2022 award for hospitals over 100 beds. The awards were presented by Carol Evans, 2021-2022 President of AHAA, representing North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison.
Because she was dispatched unexpectedly at the last minute, Chief Meteorologist and Managing Editor of the Climate Unit for ABC News Ginger Zee made her presentation virtually while tracking Hurricane Nicole in Florida. Her presentation included a remarkable openness about her struggles with mental health combined with her determination to enjoy life and share her adventures with her viewers.
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
Hot Topics for the morning educational sessions included diversity and equity, trauma and resilience, and AI Copywriting Tools for Hospitals. Afternoon sessions focused on human trafficking, the “No Normal,” and crucial conversations for mastering dialogue, which was the ACHE face-to-face workshop for 2022. Our thanks to Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, Dr. Tania Glenn, Beth Ziesenis, Holly Austin Gibbs, Ryan Colaianni, and Dr. Stacy Nelson for sharing their knowledge and expertise with us.
AWARDS LUNCHEON
Presentation of the AHA’s awards for outstanding service is always a highlight of the Annual Meeting. This year’s Awards Luncheon also saw the presentation of the Diamond Awards for excellence in hospital marketing and public relations; the Guido Ritchie Duo provided musical entertainment.
A. ALLEN WEINTRAUB MEMORIAL AWARD 2022 Brian Thomas, President/COO, Jefferson Regional, Pine Bluff
ACHE REGENT’S AWARDS 2022 April Bennett, MSN, CHFP, RN, Early Career Executive, President, Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway
Peter G. Austin, FACHE, Senior Career Executive, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Jefferson Regional, Pine Bluff
C.E. MELVILLE YOUNG ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Cody Walker, President/Administrator, Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock
Top: Peter Austin (left) with Greg Crain (right). Austin is the 2022 ACHE Regent's Award for Senior Career Executive. Bottom: Greg Crain (center) with Cody Walker, C.E. Melville Young Administrator of the Year, and April Bennett, ACHE Regent's Award recipient for Early Career Executive.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS Barney Larry, Vice President of Business Development and Executive Director of Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation, Baxter Regional Medical Center, Mountain Home
Erin Bolton, Director, Quality Management/Regulatory, Jefferson Regional, Pine Bluff
NARMC COVID Committee,
Jennifer Sadler, MD, Brent Rosson, MD, Brandon Hicks, MD, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Harrison
STATESMANSHIP AWARD
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
DIAMOND AWARDS
Arkansas Hospice, North Little Rock Baptist Health, Little Rock The BridgeWay, North Little Rock CHI St. Vincent, Little Rock Conway Regional Health System, Conway Howard Memorial Hospital, Nashville Jefferson Regional, Pine Bluff McGehee Hospital, McGehee Mississippi County Hospital System, Blytheville North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Harrison St. Bernards Five Rivers, Pocahontas Stone County Medical Center, Mountain View UAMS Medical Center, Little Rock Unity Health, Searcy Unity Health, Newport White River Health System, Batesville
From top: Diamond Awards were presented to hospital marketing and public relations teams for excellence in health care marketing. Brian Thomas with Erin Bolton. Thomas is the 2022 A. Allen Weintraub award recipient, and Bolton received a Distinguished Service Award at this year's awards luncheon. Barney Larry (left) with Ron Peterson. Larry earned a Distinguished Service award at the 2022 AHA Awards Luncheon.
Below: CEO Sammie Cribbs (left) with the NARMC COVID Committee, which earned a Distinguished Service Award.
