On this episode of Wonks at Work, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. talks about the challenges and successes of leading a city amid a public health crisis. Little Rock was one of the first cities in Arkansas to issue a mandatory mask ordinance, which was recently extended in light of the state lifting its mask mandate. Mayor Scott also discussed the importance of healthcare to an economy and how health disparities played a major role in policy efforts over the course of the last year.

Leading a City During a Pandemic: Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.

A little over half of Arkansans have dental coverage, and even among those with coverage, only 30% of adults and 50% of children used any services, according to an ACHI analysis. Forgoing oral health care can lead to infections, chronic pain, tooth loss, and exacerbation of other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Patients who do not have access to or cannot afford regular dental care are often left to seek emergency care in the hospital or access low- or no-cost services in charitable settings. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we speak with Dr. Terry Fiddler, executive director of Arkansas Mission of Mercy, which organizes volunteers to host free, pop-up dental clinics.  

Arkansas Mission of Mercy’s next free dental clinic is April 11-12 at the Conway Expo Center. 

Mercy Mercy Me: Dr. Terry Fiddler

As disturbing as the reported opioid overdose death toll has been over the past decade, a 2018 study suggested that many states were likely underreporting those deaths. The reason was that coroners and medical examiners were not specifying the drug contributing to the cause of death on death certificates. To better understand drug overdose deaths in Arkansas, state lawmakers passed a law in 2023 addressing this challenge. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we speak with Dr. Ted Brown, director of the Arkansas State Crime Lab and the state’s chief medical examiner, to discuss the impacts of the law and his work to answer questions about how Arkansans have died. 

These Are the Reasons: Dr. Ted Brown

In Arkansas and around the country, private equity groups have a growing financial interest in health care. While private equity investment can revive struggling hospitals or reinvigorate stagnant ones, critics accuse some of loading hospitals with debt, stripping their assets, and leaving communities to deal with the aftermath. That’s what happened in Hope, Arkansas, last year when the owner of Wadley Regional Medical Center, Dallas-based Steward Healthcare Group, declared bankruptcy. The hospital was immediately at risk of closing, but fortunately there were leaders in the community who would not let that happen. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we learn more about this cautionary tale from Clay Hobbs, chief operating officer of Pafford Medical Services, which partnered with the community to save their local hospital. 

Redemption Song: Clay Hobbs

Although essential to overall health and well-being, not every Arkansan has access to fresh, healthy food. A working group appointed by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson found food deserts in 62 of Arkansas’s 75 counties in 2022. Filling some of those gaps, farmers markets and other community-focused solutions have evolved to serve areas that don’t have a supermarket, and, in some cases, simply can’t support one. In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we learn more about efforts to re-introduce local food to Arkansas communities, schools, and families from Dan Spatz, the proprietor of a 400-acre farm in Conway named Healthy Flavors Arkansas.

Leading a City During a Pandemic: Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.

Wonks at Work

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