Meet Bernice. At Arkansas Heart she’s an experienced PCCU nurse and so much more — a masterful baby bootie creator, coffee maker and resource for nursing wisdom, which she shares in her native New Zealand accent.

Her journey into healthcare began at only 15 years old when her family was involved in a car crash that left a child injured. Driven by instinct, Bernice leaped to tend to the child.

“I realized that if I could assist in such a tragic accident, perhaps I could extend that help to others as a critical care nurse, providing the care I would wish for myself,” she says.

In her nearly five decades-long career, with 25 years dedicated to Arkansas Heart, Bernice has earned the admiration of her colleagues and physicians, who refer to her as “Mrs. Coffee,” because she’s “always good for a hug and a cup of coffee.”

Outside of Arkansas Heart, she also thrives in her passions: embroidery, needlepoint, knitting, beading, gardening and painting.

“I started stitching as a child, and as a nurse, I’ve found it to be stress reliever in a lot of ways,” she says. “You never know what you’re going to walk into as a nurse. You hold families that are going through the most stressful times.”

Looking at her beautiful, detailed work, especially her baby booties cherished by coworkers and their newborns, it’s evident that Bernice infuses each piece with her heart and soul.

Our exceptional team members are more than just experts in cardiac care—they are individuals with vibrant lives and passions that extend far beyond the walls of Arkansas Heart. Join us in celebrating and recognizing their dedication to our patients and their personal passions. After all, it’s not just about the hearts we care for; it’s the hearts of those who care.

Meet Kelvin. His journey from a professional baseball player to medical assistant in Arkansas Heart’s Intensive Cardiac Rehab program is nothing short of inspiring.

After playing baseball throughout his childhood in the Dominican Republic, he came to the U.S. in 2017 to play on college teams in Texas and as a Mustang at Conway’s Central Baptist College. He then moved to Puerto Rico’s professional team, Tainos.

Wanting to use his 24 years of athletic experience and exercise physiology education to help others, he stepped out of the baseball diamond and into our Strong Hearts Cardiac Rehab team in October 2023 as a medical assistant.

“My baseball skills and determination play an important role in my life in general and in cardiac rehab because the game is more than about baseball,” he says. “There is a lot of dedication and respect for others. I like to be a team player and I use that in my job, too.”

The most rewarding aspect of his career is watching cardiac and bariatric surgery patients reach their health and weight loss goals.

“I like to give encouragement and motivate patients to do their exercises and answer their questions or concerns,” he says. “Seeing them reach their goals and feel much better fills me with satisfaction.”

Our exceptional team members are more than just experts in cardiac care—they are individuals with vibrant lives and passions that extend far beyond the walls of Arkansas Heart. Join us in celebrating and recognizing their dedication to our patients and their personal passions. After all, it’s not just about the hearts we care for; it’s the hearts of those who care

Charlie, RN, is not the type to shy away from danger. In fact, you will find him running to some of the most desperate situations: fires and medical emergencies. With years of experience as both a firefighter and an EMT, Charlie’s instinct to save lives led him to nursing in a hospital setting.

He first arrived at Arkansas Heart as a nursing student to complete his clinicals. After graduation, he enrolled in the Arkansas Heart Hospital New Grad Nurse Program and then joined the nursing team in the Progressive Critical Care Unit (PCCU).

“I like the patients, my workers and management team,” he said. “My mission is to develop my knowledge and skills in a critical care setting and apply that experience in my day-to-day.”

Charlie’s devotion to his career, he also applies to his other passion: photography. Initially, he dipped his toe into photography to document his hikes and travels, activities that nourish his soul.

“My journey in photography started as my own personal diary, a way to disconnect and connect at the same time,” he said. “Working in healthcare led me to seek nature harder than ever before.”

He started small – just his phone. Eventually, he learned the ins and outs of a professional, mirror-less camera.

“I saw some neat things when I was out on the trails, and I started just taking pictures with my phone,” he said. “My first pictures were pretty bad, but I eventually figured out what worked and what didn’t and started getting compliments.”

You can find Charlie regularly on a remote hiking trail or even across the country capturing nature and wildlife in some of his favorite spots like Big Sur and Glacier National Park.

While he loves grand landscape shots, he expanded his skills to capture the details of everyday life.

“I like to showcase some of the smaller mundane things and turn them into something really beautiful.”

See Charlie’s work.

Our exceptional team members are more than just experts in cardiac care—they are individuals with vibrant lives and passions that extend far beyond the walls of Arkansas Heart. Join us in celebrating and recognizing their dedication to our patients and their personal passions. After all, it’s not just about the hearts we care for; it’s the hearts of those who care.

Meet Angela. She began as an administrative assistant at Arkansas Heart in 2019 and soon moved to Progressive Cardiac Care Unit (PCCU) staffing coordinator, where she supports nurses and staff to enhance efficiency and patient care.

It was in this role that Angela connected with Kayla, who at the time was a patient care partner at Arkansas Heart. Kayla had been a nurse in Venezuela before moving to Arkansas. She dreamed of returning to a nursing career but struggled to navigate the complexities of gaining her licensure as an internationally trained nurse. Angela stepped in to help Kayla obtain and translate the necessary documents and guide her through the application process. Today, Angela is extending that passion and expertise to assist even more internationally trained nurses across Central Arkansas return to their calling.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the positive response from the Hispanic community,” she said. “They appreciate our efforts to reach out and acknowledge their potential in healthcare.”

Angela has another passion: baking. Her skills and creativity in the kitchen, which she developed as a young girl at her family’s cake decorating school in Peru, inspired her to open A&M Cake Designs LLC and even earned her a feature on Food Network.

“My clients are at the heart of my business, and it’s a joy to create amazing memories for them through my cakes,” she said.

Our exceptional team members are more than just experts in cardiac care—they are individuals with vibrant lives and passions that extend far beyond the walls of Arkansas Heart. Join us in celebrating and recognizing their dedication to our patients and their personal passions. After all, it’s not just about the hearts we care for; it’s the hearts of those who care.

Knowing the difference between allergies, influenza and COVID-19 can feel like navigating a maze when they all target the respiratory system. However, they do have distinctive causes, symptoms and treatments, which are crucial to know for effective treatment. Dr. Peyton Card, an internal medicine physician, covers the differences below.

Allergies

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance, such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or certain foods. This reaction triggers the release of histamines and other chemicals, leading to symptoms.

Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itching of the eyes, nose, or throat, watery eyes, and sometimes coughing or wheezing. These symptoms are typically not accompanied by fever. They are usually not life-threatening, although they can significantly affect quality of life and productivity.

Treatment for allergies often involves avoiding triggers when possible and using medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, nasal corticosteroids, or allergy shots (immunotherapy) to alleviate symptoms.

Influenza

Influenza is caused by the influenza virus, which has different strains (such as influenza A and B). It is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets.

Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. It can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, it can lead to serious complications in high-risk individuals such as young children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Treatment for the flu may include antiviral medications if started early, supportive care (rest, fluids, over-the-counter pain relievers), and in severe cases, hospitalization.

Should you get a flu shot?

COVID-19

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is a novel coronavirus that emerged in late 2019. Like the flu, it spreads primarily through respiratory droplets.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can vary but commonly include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.

COVID-19 can also range from mild to severe. While many people experience mild symptoms, others may develop severe respiratory illness, pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), especially those with underlying health conditions or older adults.

Treatment for COVID-19 varies depending on the severity of symptoms but may include supportive care, such as rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications for fever and pain. In severe cases, hospitalized patients may require oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, or other supportive measures.

COVID has long-term effects on heart.

If you’re unsure about the cause of your symptoms, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.