Judith Wooten
President & CEO
Arkansas Hospice
Judith S. Wooten, MHA, FACHE, joined the Arkansas Hospice team as vice president and chief operating officer in 2002. She was named president and CEO in 2011. Her health care career began as a patient representative in a large, tertiary-care teaching hospital in 1980, where she “fell in love with health care.”
Wooten earned a Master of Health Administration degree from Washington University School of Medicine in 1985. Since then, she has been a hospital administrator, a managed-care executive and a management and health care consultant. She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and a Certified Hospice Administrator, is the current president of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Arkansas and serves on the board of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. In recognition of her health care leadership and service, Wooten was named the 2020 recipient of the ACHE Regent’s Award for Senior Level Healthcare Executive.
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Life begins at 50, the saying goes, to which the incomparable Phyllis Diller once replied, “Maybe it’s true that life begins at 50. But everything else starts to wear out, fall out or spread out.” (The women and men included on the following pages, at least, will find that funny … not to mention, they actually know who Phyllis Diller is.)
Fifty is the new 40, or something like that, but in this Ponce de Leon age of youth worship, we at AMP thought it would be nice to recognize those business leaders in Arkansas who aren’t under 40 or in their 20s. Once one hits the milestone age of 50, life doesn’t stop, after all. For many, it speeds up. Nominated by readers, the leaders recognized in AMP’s inaugural Fifty Over 50 list haven’t slowed down — they have realized more success, achieved new goals and even launched entirely new chapters. And we salute them.
The vigor of youth is a beautiful and necessary thing. But so is the wisdom and discernment of age. Besides, like the saying goes, 50 is nothing more than the new 40, right?
The members of AMP’s inaugural Fifty Over 50 list were nominated by readers. They represent a broad spectrum of Arkansas business, industry and politics. They are former state legislators, business owners, CEOs
and more who represent industries ranging from farming and construction
to restaurants and retail.
Some of them started on an upward trajectory early in their careers and haven’t slowed down. Others began new chapters later in their journeys and achieved success — and made profound impacts on their communities — in new ways.
We’re proud to recognize these women and men-… experienced, seasoned Arkansas leaders whose collective journey is just beginning.
Click here to see the full list of 2022 AMP Fifty Over 50!
