Arkansas summers are brutal. Temperatures soar well above 100, and hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses rise. Extreme heat leads to nearly 235,000 emergency room visits and over 56,000 hospital admissions in the U.S. annually. According to the National Weather Service, more people die annually from excessive heat than from any other weather event.

While MRSA and cellulitis are common in Arkansas communities, diagnosing and treating them appropriately—especially in outpatient settings—can be more complex. Dr. Amanda Novack, infectious disease specialist at Baptist Health, covers key tips, treatment pitfalls, and evolving approaches to care.

There’s nothing like working with a medical student to remind you how much you know—and how much you take for granted. I once had a student shadowing me in general pediatrics when we saw a 9-month-old with a fever and ear infection. I prescribed amoxicillin. The student asked, “Why Amoxil?” I responded instinctively: “It’s first-line treatment for otitis media.” She wasn’t satisfied. “But why?”

Being a new parent comes with so many positive emotions—it also comes with some anxiety, uncertainty, and for some, fear. Medical professionals take steps to prepare 1 in 8 new mothers for postpartum depression. But 1 in 10 fathers can also experience postpartum depression that may go unrecognized or untreated. Dr. Chad Rodgers, pediatrician and AFMC’s chief medical officer, explains more about this quiet experience for new dads.

A patient comes in with a small cut on their leg. At first, it doesn’t look like anything serious. But a few months later, they’re back—now the area is red, painful, and swollen. The cut has become infected. What started small turned into something more serious: cellulitis, a skin infection that can be hard to see coming.

For 150 years, the Arkansas Medical Society (AMS) has been the voice of Arkansas physicians and a champion for patient care. From its start in the late 19th century to its current initiatives and future vision, AMS continues to shape Arkansas healthcare with professionalism, advocacy, and compassion.