The inaugural edition of Arkansas Money & Politics’ Outstanding Health Care Professionals features some of the state’s finest in the field of medicine. For the last three months, AMP has received hundreds of nominations and thousands of votes for those who would be considered the most outstanding hospital CEO, physician, nurse, small and large hospital, mental health facility, insurance provider, nurse practitioner, as well as women’s, men’s and children’s health provider, lifetime achievement, volunteerism, and best place to work. The following health care professionals and institutions represent the best in their respective category, as chosen by their peers from across the state of Arkansas.
Nurse Practitioner
Cassidy Estes
Arkansas Heart Hospital
Little Rock
When Arkansas Heart Hospital opened in 1997, its goal was to rival world-renowned names, like Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Lennox Hill, through innovation that would separate it from the competition. Today, it operates 30 clinics statewide, seven catheterization labs, three heart-operating suites and a 24-hour Heart Emergency Center and is a nationally recognized and award-winning 112-bed hospital dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The hospital has been recognized for being in the Top 1 percent of hospitals in the United States for patient satisfaction.
Outstanding staff, like nurse practitioner Cassidy Estes, DPN, APRN, FNP-BC, have helped set the hospital apart. Cassidy Estes is a doctorally prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in May of 2015, as part of the College of Nursing’s inaugural class at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).