Over the last decade or so, a serious epidemic has emerged in Arkansas. It’s not COVID, the flu, or even RSV. Pregnant women in Arkansas have experienced a fivefold increase in congenital syphilis rates since 2017, well surpassing the number of perinatal HIV cases seen at the height of the HIV epidemic. Nevertheless, providers and healthcare specialists can help moms fight this uphill battle through education and preventive care initiatives.

Stroke is often called a “brain attack”—and for good reason. When it strikes, every second is critical. According to Dr. Bala Simon, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Arkansas Department of Health, stroke remains one of the leading causes of death in Arkansas and across the US. Thankfully, stroke is largely preventable with the right preventive strategies.

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.