At the UAMS Milk Bank, our Board of Directors is united by a shared commitment to improving child and maternal health across the state of Arkansas. With a deep passion for supporting breastfeeding and fostering healthy communities, they work tirelessly to build a robust network that empowers families and healthcare providers. By advancing the cause of milk banking, our board members are dedicated to enhancing neonatal health outcomes, ensuring that every baby receives the nourishment they need to thrive. Together, they strive to create a lasting impact on the future of our children and the health of our communities.
I am so proud and honored to be a part of the board. I am a NICU mom of two and a loss mom. From these experiences, I have had the privilege of donating breast milk twice within the past few years. I have also worked as a registered dietitian in the NICU at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where I have seen firsthand the necessity and the impact that donor breast milk has. Currently, I have a small baking and garden business. I specialize in gluten-free and dairy-free items, and when in season, I have fresh produce and flowers available. In my free time I enjoy hiking, gardening and being with my family. I am excited to see all that the milk bank does for our community!
Dr. Gwenevere White is a General Pediatrician with a passion for education, health equity, and serving vulnerable populations. She currently works as a neonatal hospitalist at Arkansas Children's Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).Dr. White’s primary research interests lie in congenital syphilis and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, working to increase understanding and addressing critical issues affecting newborns and their families. Additionally, Dr. White serves as the Treasurer of the Arkansas State Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. White’s dedication and impact have been recognized through various accolades. In 2023, she was honored with the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Member of the Year Award and the American Academy of Pediatrics Special Achievement Award, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to pediatric care and advocacy. Within UAMS, her passion for education has been celebrated with the Department of Pediatrics Undergraduate Medical Educator of the Year Award and the Red Sash Award for her leadership and dedication to advancing medical education and healthcare equity.
Dr. White is married to Dr. Tremayne White and they have 3 children- Eli, Nola, and Noah, two of which are NICU graduates. In addition to her healthcare duties, Dr. White and her husband are licensed insurance agents and own the White Insurance Agency, where they serve as independent insurance agents.
Emily Paul has over 15 years of professional experience in Health Education and Promotion. She has a Master's of Science in Health Education, is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), a Certified Childbirth Educator (CCE), a Certified Breastfeeding Educator (CBE), and a certified Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor. Her past professional experience incudes 10 years as a patient education specialist for the maternal/infant service line at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her current professional experience includes: 14 years as an adjunct instructor at University of Central Arkansas and 3 years at HD Nursing (1 year as the Clinical Education Coordinator and 2 years as a Sustainability Coach).
Pamela Royal is a is a dedicated and accomplished Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) currently serving at the Arkansas Children's Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. With 18 years of neonatal intensive care nursing experience, she has spent the last four years refining her skills and knowledge as an NNP. Her academic prowess is evidenced by her graduate and doctorate degrees from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. She has devoted over 30 years to supporting breastfeeding mothers, a commitment that led to her certification as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant for the past 12 years. Her dedication to this cause is further underscored by her previous role as the Vice-Chair of the Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition.
Currently, she serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) council at Arkansas Children's Hospital and is an active participant in the Children's Hospital National Consortium DEI Focus Group. Her passion for family-centered care is a testament to her belief in the importance of family in the healing and recovery process. On a personal note, she has been married for 27 years and is the proud mother of six children, all of whom were breastfed. She embodies her professional beliefs in her personal life. In her spare time, she enjoys nurturing relationships with family and friends, and satiating her wanderlust through travel.
Jessica has been a Registered Nurse Lactation Consultant at Baptist health Medical Center Little Rock for 26 years. Jessica has been involved in multiple statewide initiatives to improve breastfeeding rates in Arkansas including Baby Friendly Arkansas, The Arkansas Breastfeeding Helpline. and Baptist Health Expressly For You- an outpatient breastfeeding center providing appointments and support for breastfeeding mothers around the state.
Kenya Eddings, MPH, CWWS is the eighth Executive Director of Arkansas Minority Health Commission. The Little Rock native holds a bachelor of science degree from Tuskegee University and master of public health degree from Tulane University School of Public Health.
Prior to joining AMHC, Eddings served as the Worksite Wellness Director for the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). In this role, she helped state agencies, non-profits, and for-profit businesses establish and maintain wellness programs. A portion of her duties included training the aforementioned on the importance of lactation accommodations in the workplace and in the public.
Eddings also previously worked as a Research Scientist for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for nearly 20 years. A published author with dozens of peer-reviewed articles to her credit, a few of her research interests have included behavioral weight loss and maintenance in African-American women, stress management and its relationship to obesity, as well as access to healthy food.
Teresa Gates is a Registered Nurse and Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) that currently serves in the role of State Breastfeeding Coordinator for the AR WIC Program. She has been with the AR Department of Health and the AR WIC Program in various capacities since 1987 and has maintained her IBCLC credentials since 1994.
Teresa lives on a farm in north central AR with horses, dogs, and cats. She enjoys spending time with her animals, reading, and kayaking.
Dr. William Greenfield is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Medical Director for Family Health at the Arkansas Department of Health.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Auburn University, a Doctor of Medicine from Meharry Medical College, and completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Dr. Greenfield has led statewide efforts to improve maternal health in Arkansas. He currently serves as Chair of the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee and Medical Director for the Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
Notable professional achievements include expanding access to health through the development and implementation of tele-health programs for the Arkansas Department of Health.
Dr. Greenfield is a resolute professional focused on improving health care through clinical excellence, education, innovation, and advocacy.
Rebecca Matlock practices employment law litigation, primarily regarding the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act but also in the application of various state wage statutes including the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law. She has experience in all types of labor law cases, including misclassification, minimum wage and overtime violations, tip credit violations, and “off-the-clock” violations. As one of Sanford Law Firm’s drafting attorneys, Rebecca has developed knowledge in many of the technical applications and integrations of the FLSA and various labor laws.
Rebecca graduated from the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law in 2015 and joined the Sanford Law Firm the same year. At Bowen, she served as Executive Editor of the UALR Law Review.
As an undergraduate at Baylor University, Rebecca majored in News Editorial Journalism with minors in English and Religion. She wrote for the University newspaper, The Lariat, and worked as a teaching assistant in the English Department.
Rebecca lives near Little Rock with her husband, two children and enjoys hiking, reading, and canoeing.
I grew up in the small community of Monkey Run, Arkansas, and graduated from Cotter High School and Hendrix College. My career journey has taken me from teaching German in various school districts around the state to my current role as a real estate agent and associate broker with The Charlotte John Company in Little Rock. Now serving as president of the Little Rock Realtors Association and actively participating in local and state level committees, including ethics and governmental affairs. I also devote time to serving on the board of the Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled. As a mother of four, three of whom have spent time in the NICU, I’ve become invested in improving maternal and infant health, particularly through board involvement in Arkansas’ first human milk bank. This initiative reflects my commitment to making an impactful difference in the lives of women and children throughout my home state.