HJAR Jan/Feb 2020

26 JAN / FEB 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs Individualized medicine, also called precision or personalized medicine, is the idea that advances in genetic testing, advanced computational abili- ties and other scientific tools are improving medi- cal treatment by enabling it to be tailored to the individual. The study was funded by the Arkansas Biosci- ences Institute, the Jonty Foundation (St. Paul, Minnesota), the Autism Research Institute (San Diego), the Gupta Family Foundation (Atherton, California), the Jane Bostford Johnson Founda- tion (New York City), the Jager Family Founda- tion (Chicago), and the Phoenix Children’s Hospi- tal Foundation (Phoenix). HLA typing was in part funded by research funds from the Department of Pathology in the UAMS College of Medicine. Methodist Family Health Hires Beller as Batesville ProgramCoordinator Methodist Family Health welcomes Karen Beller, MS, LPE-I, who recently joined the Meth- odist Counseling Clinic in Batesville as program coordinator. Beller provides direct supervision, consultation and training to employees of Meth- odist Family Health working in the Batesville outpatient program. In addition to these duties, Beller will provide psychological testing services. She is available to speak about Methodist Fam- ily Health programs and provide professional pre- sentations and other in-services to community groups and schools. A graduate of Batesville High School and Hen- drix College, Beller earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology at the University of Cen- tral Arkansas in Conway. She is a licensed psycho- logical examiner with more than 20 years’ expe- rience working with children and families. Most recently, Beller worked with the Batesville School District Special Services conducting psychoedu- cational assessments. Dr. Thao Nguyen Joins Mercy in Fort Smith As a young child, Dr. Thao Nguyen – a first-gen- eration Vietnamese-American – recalls the chal- lenges her parents and family members expe- rienced navigating the healthcare system in southern Louisiana. “I still remember how difficult it was to go to a physician’s office as a child because of language barriers between my parents and providers,” said Nguyen, a family medicine physician who recently joined Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Free Ferry in Fort Smith. Nguyen decided to pursue a career in medi- cine so she could help bridge that gap for others. “Growing up, I only saw a doctor when there was a medical concern,” she said. “As a physi- cian, I am a big proponent of preventive care. I encourage patients to stay up-to-date on their immunizations, get cancer screenings, come in for an annual check-up and make lifestyle changes to improve their overall health.” She is also happy to care for patients from all backgrounds. The clinic has access to interpreter services by phone for patients whose first lan- guage is not English. “I am aware of the barriers we have in medicine and I am trying to limit those barriers,” she said. Nguyen received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of New Orleans and a medi- cal degree from American University of Antigua. She completed a family medicine residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – West in Fort Smith. Dr. Dina Epstein Joins Baptist HealthWomen’s Clinic-North Little Rock Dina Epstein, MD, recently joined Baptist Health Women’s Clinic-North Little Rock as an obstetrician-gynecologist. Epstein received her medical education from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed a residency at Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge. “As an OB/GYN, I have the pleasure of provid- ing care to women through many exciting and challenging stages of life,” she said. “My goal is to empower my patients to feel comfortable making medical decisions. I strive to be an advo- cate for my patients and provide the best care possible.” Plastic Surgeon Joins Mercy in Fort Smith Dr. Aniket Sakharpe, a plastic surgeon, has recently joined Mercy Clinic Plastic and Recon- structive Surgery in Fort Smith. “My job is to provide guidance and answer my patients’ questions so they are informed about all their options, including surgery,” said Sakharpe. “I want patients to know we are partners in their journey.” Sakharpe and the team specialize in a broad range of surgeries and treatments. They can help patients restore function and form after a cancer surgery or trauma. They can also perform aes- thetic surgeries to improve a patient’s appear- ance and self-esteem. “It gives me immense satisfaction and joy to help people feel whole again after a disfiguring event or to boost their self-confidence through surgery,” he said. Sakharpe completed medical training at Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. He earned a master’s degree in epidemi- ology from the University of Texas School of Pub- lic Health in Houston. He completed a general surgery residency at Easton Hospital in Easton, Karen Beller, MS, LPE-I Dina Epstein, MD

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