You Belong at Arkansas Children's

Arkansas Children’s is made up of more than 5,000 unique individuals who join together to provide high-quality care for children into adulthood. Nationally, we are revered as one of the best children’s healthcare systems in the country, providing lifesaving treatments and procedures, life-changing interventions and care, and generation-shaping research.

The Arkansas Children’s team drives our success. Our wide-ranging talent, strengths, perspectives and experiences create the foundation of who we are. Our mission fuels our passion each day, and our compassion for the patients and communities we serve is our added mark of excellence.

Arkansas Children’s strives to create a workplace where each employee can do their best work, respects and learns from their fellow team members and appreciates the variety of roles, talents and experiences it takes to deliver exceptional care. This is why our employees say we are one of the best companies in the nation.

When successful, we create a healing environment where every child feels like we made this place for them, because we did. It is then that we will fulfill our promise to help each child achieve their best health outcome.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is a standing committee of Arkansas Children’s, Inc. (collectively Arkansas Children's) System Operations Council. It was established to support Arkansas Children's in the commitment to build and sustain a diverse and inclusive environment for employees and the patients and families it is privileged to serve.

The Arkansas Children’s, Inc. Diversity and Inclusion Committee focuses on five critical business components:

Leadership engagement
Diverse workforce
Inclusive workplace
Healthcare equality
Supplier diversity

Our focus on these critical business components helps us ensure we have great inclusion experiences for our diverse population of employees, patients and families. Arkansas Children’s strives to maintain a culture where everyone feels valued and actively participates in achieving the mission of championing children by making them better today and healthier tomorrow.

Tammy Diamond-Wells, RN, MSN, NE-BC
Co-Facilitator/Member
Vice President, Clinical & Diagnostic Services | Arkansas Children's

Nicole Huddleston
Co-Facilitator/Member
Director of Operations | Arkansas Children's Northwest

Colleen Abbott
Member/ERG
Respiratory Therapist | Arkansas Children's Northwest

Cristina Ambriz
Member
Business Operations Manager | Arkansas Children's Northwest

Erin Argo
Member
Content Development and Marketing Director | Arkansas Children's

Tracy Bradley-Simmons
Member
Business Operations Director | Arkansas Children's

Cory Davis
Member
Director of Child Life & Patient Experience | Arkansas Children's

Vanessa Delgadillo, CFRE
Member
Philanthropy Executive Director | Arkansas Children's Auxiliary

Marcy Doderer, FACHE
Member
President and CEO | Arkansas Children's

Chad Dugger, MSN, RN, CPN
Member
Nursing Excellence Director | Arkansas Children's Northwest

Neemah Esmaeilpour, JD
Member
Assistant General Council | Arkansas Children's

Grace Gephardt
Member/ERG
Simulation Center Director | Arkansas Children's

Susan Goolsby
Member/ERG
Clinical Nutrition Assistant Director | Arkansas Children's

Halley Hamon
Member/ERG
Volunteer Engagement Manager | Arkansas Children's

Sarah Harlan
Member/ERG
Community Engagement Coordinator | Arkansas Children's

Lara Otten
Member/ERG
HR Communications Specialist | Arkansas Children's

V.P. Parker
Member
DEI Director| Arkansas Children's

Matt Pinkerton
Member/ERG
System Support Manager | Arkansas Children's Northwest

Donna Rayford-Graves
Member/ERG
Development Officer | Arkansas Children's Foundation

April Shepard
Member/ERG
Manager | Arkansas Children's

Vontifany Smith
Member
Senior Organizational Development Consultant | Arkansas Children's

Carla Sparks
Member
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist | Arkansas Children's

Lauren Widmer
Member/ERG
Registered Dietician | Arkansas Children's Northwest

Donnell Williams
Member-At-Large
Senior Administrative Assistant | Arkansas Children's

Ben Wingfield
Member/ERG
Supply Chain Operations Director | Arkansas Children's

Pele Yu
Member/ERG
Pediatric Section Chief | UAMS

Employee Resource Groups

Learn about Employee Resource Groups at Arkansas Children's and how they are impacting patients, employees and the culture of our health system.

Employee Resource Groups (“ERGs”) are voluntary, employee-driven groups at Arkansas Children's organized around a particular shared interest, characteristic or experience. They serve to build an inclusive work environment, increase employee satisfaction and engagement, encourage connection and mentorship among team members and support Arkansas Children's by reinforcing the value of diversity.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Origins
Bookmark Asian American and Pacific Islander Origins
The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Origins Employee Resource Group serves to inspire cultural inclusion, diversity and well-being for the AAPI community, their friends and families at Arkansas Children’s. We welcome all team members committed to strengthening AAPI voices and establishing inclusion, acceptance and a sense of community within the health system and beyond.

Leaders: Romi Wang and Feliciano "Pele" Yu

More Information:
Romi Wang, WangR@archildrens.org
Feliciano "Pele" Yu, Pele.Yu@archildrens.org
Black/African American
Bookmark Black/African American
The purpose of the Black/African American Employee Resource Group is to create a safe space for Black/African American employees and allies to problem-solve, increase awareness of Black/African American cultural norms and cultivate Black/African American employee engagement. Our goal is to promote education by providing a platform for open conversations about the African American community at Arkansas Children's.

Leaders: Donna Rayford-Graves and April Shepard

More Information:
Donna Rayford-Graves, rayfordgravesd@archildrens.org
April Shepard, shepardAM@archildrens.org
Caregivers
Bookmark Caregivers
The Caregivers Employee Resource Group at Arkansas Children’s supports team members who are primary caregivers of a loved one. Whether you’re caring for an elderly parent, partner, spouse or child (young or old) with special needs, this group is a hub for information, shared experiences and mutual support. Our goal is to provide a space for learning and connection as we navigate the caregiving journey together.

Leaders: Grace Gephardt and Matt Pinkerton

More Information:
Grace Gephardt, GephardtGA@archildrens.org
Matt Pinkerton, PinkertonMG@archildrens.org
Latino/a
Bookmark Latino/a
This group promotes diversity and equity for Latino employees, allies and patients and families to experience an inclusive environment. This group focuses on ensuring Spanish-speaking patients and families have ready access to services while also enhancing cultural awareness and celebration about the Latino community at Arkansas Children’s.

Leader: Cristina Ambriz and Elena Glover

More Information:
Cristina Ambriz, AmbrizC@archildrens.org
Elena Glover, RabagoEC@archildrens.org
LGTBQ+ Allies
Bookmark LGTBQ+ Allies
Our common interest is to promote and enhance Arkansas Children’s culture to be inclusive and respectful to sexual and gender minorities, LGBTQ+ employees, patients, and families. Through the diverse makeup of this employee resource group, we strive to make the Arkansas Children’s system and our community an accepting and affirming space for all to thrive.

Leaders: Colleen Abbott, Halley Hamon, Maggie Taylor and Donnell Williams

More Information:
Collen Abbott, AbbottCS@archildrens.org
Halley Hamon, HamonHG@archildrens.org
Maggie Taylor, HicksMT@archildrens.org
Donnell Williams, WilliamsLD@archildrens.org
SAFE (Special Diets, Allergen-Free Environmental) Foods
Bookmark SAFE (Special Diets, Allergen-Free Environmental) Foods
The SAFE Employee Resource Group stands for Special Diets, Allergen Free Environment Foods. Our goal is to influence Arkansas Children’s administration decisions that directly impact those with food allergies, food intolerances or Celiac disease so all employees and patients/families can safely eat in the cafe and have safe and similar food options for special occasions. We strive to increase awareness of the struggles faced by those with special dietary needs.

Leaders: Lane Hume and Charli Thomas

More Information:
Lane Hume, HumeLE@archildrens.org
Charli Thomas, LinesCM@archildrens.org
Veterans, Friends and Family
Bookmark Veterans, Friends and Family
The Veterans, Friends & Family Employee Resource Group serves each other and the community with issues unique to our military team members – whether deployment, career development or career transitions. We share our collective knowledge, experience and time to support each other through service projects and mentoring opportunities. We are also a network to help recruit and embrace new Veteran team members into the Arkansas Children’s family.

Leaders: Kim Prescott

More Information:
Kim Prescott, PrescottKB@archildrens.org
Working Mothers
Bookmark Working Mothers
This group provides mentorship and encouragement to Arkansas Children’s working mothers of young children. There is a shared goal to improve processes that will positively impact employee and patient engagement while ensuring the safety and attention of all of our employees. This group works toward enhancing the employee experience at Arkansas Children’s as one that builds loyalty and trust for all team members.

Leaders: Sarah Harlan, Elizabeth Hayes

More Information:
Sarah Harlan, HarlanSE@archildrens.org
Elizabeth Hayes, HayesER@archildrens.org