Who is your Health Care Hero? Is there a special nurse, doctor or healthcare professional who made a lasting impact in those first few hours, days or months? Show your appreciation by nominating them for the 2026 Mamie’s Health Care Hero Award. All nominees will be recognized on our website and social media.
*Award Recipient will be announced May 27th.
Past Recipients
OUR 2026 NOMINEES
Cindy Wilson
Veteran Home
Goes above and beyond with compassion and care. Is respectful and honors my dignity.
-Robert Gore-
Dr. Adam Sandlin
UAMS
Dr Sandlin helped my family navigate the unimaginable. During my first pregnancy, we found out at our 20 week anatomy scan that our baby boy was not going to survive long after birth. After finding that out, we were referred to Dr Sandlin as a maternal fetal medicine doctor. As soon as he came into our lives, we knew we could never let him leave. Dr Sandlin advised, advocated for, and comforted my husband and I for the rest of our pregnancy. He preformed my C-section flawlessly, and was there passing of our son Nolan. He has continued to support us emotionally and physically in the months since. He never once made an appointment feel rushed, he listened to all of our questions and concerns, and validated all of the tears we cried. The advice and words he shared with us during the worst days of our lives were the only things that got us through it. I would not be here today if it wasn’t for Dr Sandlin. I will never use another OBGYN as long as I can help it!
-Abby Barker-
“There are truly no words that can fully capture how incredible Dr. Sandlin is. He walked beside our family through the terminal diagnosis of our son, Noah, with extraordinary compassion, kindness, and grace. Throughout every step of our journey, he made us feel seen, cared for, and supported. He never minimized the value or importance of Noah’s life, and because of his care, we were able to experience many meaningful and redeeming moments in the midst of heartbreaking circumstances.
Even after Noah was born sleeping at 36 weeks, Dr. Sandlin continued to care for our family with genuine empathy and support. He is not only an exceptional physician, but an exceptional person. It is clear in every interaction that he is living out his calling with humility, compassion, and love for others.
We will always be deeply grateful for the care Dr. Sandlin provided to Noah, his twin sister, and our family. His impact on our lives will never be forgotten.
- Mary Kate Vogel -
Dr. Sara Peeples
UAMS
IMy husband and I met Dr Peeples after receiving the news that our son was going to pass shortly after birth. She was the one to center us while we were spiraling, bringing us back to focusing on our son and how we wanted to spend our short time with him. Dr Peeples gave us the facts of the situation and made sure we understood the severity of our son’s prognosis, but in the most gentle and attentive way possible. She allowed us to ask all of the questions we needed, and did not judge us when all we could do was sit in silence and cry. A week before we were due to give birth, Dr Peeples called and asked how my husband and I wanted the day to go; it really seemed like she cared about us having the best experience possible, all things considering. She was present at our son’s birth, being the first to hold him; she was in constant communication with us, letting us know how our son was doing it. He came out with a very low heart rate and Dr Peeples was able to raise it back up, giving my husband and I precious time with him that we probably wouldn’t have had without her. After our son had passed, Dr Peeples said “you did the right thing” and in that moment, that was the only thing I needed to hear, and I will never forget that.
- Abby Barker -
Julie Turner - Nurse Practitioner
Baptist Health Breast Center
I am nominating my sister, Julie Turner, for this award and I truly believe she deserves it more than anyone. She is a breast cancer specialist at Baptist Health in Little Rock, a former Registered Nurse at St. Jude, former cancer specialist at CARTI, a wife, and a mom to two littles with one on the way. I believe she has helped saved thousands of lives by being knowledgeable about and passionate at her job and being there for women in need. Not only does she do a fantastic job of caring for her patients, she also regularly speaks on the news and at women's symposiums throughout Arkansas about the importance of regular mammograms and women's health screening. Most recently she was an honored guest and speaker at the 2026 Women's Leadership Symposium for Little Rock Soiree Magazine. She is a wonderful friend, Christian, sister, daughter, and mother. She dropped everything in her life to drive to Texas and be with me the day I had a pulmonary embolism in 2023. The very reason I resonated with your organization and the reason I thought of my sister was because not only is she a Healthcare Hero, she has also gone through two miscarriages in the last couple of years. She is currently pregnant with her third child (who was a twin but she lost one of the twins). So she is a mom to 6 babies- two here on earth, three in heaven, and one coming in October. It has been an extremely challenging past few years for her and she continues to save lives and dedicate herself to her job and family. She is selfless, humble, and deserving, and I think she absolutely embodies what this award means. Please consider her.
-Jessica Henn-
In the first week of 2026 we unfortunately went through the experience of loss and the surgery associated with that loss due to the gestational time period. My wife is a nurse and part of the L&D team at LR Baptist and I can't begin to put in words the amount of love, respect, thoughts and prayers her teammates provided us with. There were multiple people who went out of their way to be in the surgery with her that day and many more who physically checked in with her post-op and during our overnight stay. Others who were and still stay in contact outside of working hours for Sam's mental sake. It is so hard to describe everything that each team member has done for us which is why I feel compelled to nominate the entire unit because they absolutely deserve it.
- Kyle Drake
Baptist Little Rock L&D Unit
Hannah Voegele, APRN
The Children’s Clinic of Conway and Greenbrier & Central Baptist College
It is a privilege to nominate Mrs. Voegele for the Healthcare Hero Award, as she embodies the very best of the medical profession. Beyond her exceptional clinical skills, she possesses a rare and genuine compassion that transforms the patient experience, ensuring that every individual under her care feels seen, heard, and deeply valued. She consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty, treating her patients with a level of kindness and dedication that is truly inspiring. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her incredible heart make her a pillar of our healthcare community and a true hero in every sense of the word.
- Raegan Hill -
I am nominating this APRN for the Healthcare Hero award because she has perfectly balance high-level clinical expertise with a genuine, heart-led approach to pediatric care. In a fast-paced clinic environment, she never make us feel like just another appointment on the schedule; instead, she takes the time to listen to every concern and explain things in a way that provides immediate peace of mind. Whether it’s her intuitive ability to catch subtle health changes or the way she goes above and beyond to advocate for her young patients, her dedication is evident in everything she does. She is a vital pillar of support for our families, and her commitment to excellence makes her a true hero in our community.
- Autumn Hill -