St. Bernards Medical Group

09/12/2025

The Physician Living the Mission award is given annually to a doctor who best represents the St. Bernards Mission of providing Christ-like healing. We are highlighting previous honorees as we prepare to announce this year's Physician Living the Mission winner.

Dr. Don Howard received the Physician Living the Mission Award in 2016, being selected by fellow employees and peers. Many who work with Dr. Howard would tell you he is an excellent patient advocate, kind and approachable, in addition to his knowledge of medicine. He often takes time to talk in detail with patients and families about their care - a true example of providing Christ-like healing.

09/10/2025

Early on Monday, August 25, St. Bernards Neurosurgeon Dr. Nicolas Khattar performed our region's first neuroendovascular thrombectomy procedure, successfully treating Fred Halub of Goodwin, Arkansas. Mr. Holub had suffered significant neurological deficits following an ischemic stroke, many of which were reversed thanks to the quick actions of the emergency and stroke teams at St. Bernards.

In this procedure, Dr. Khattar and his team used a minimally invasive surgical procedure to physically remove a blood clot from a blocked artery in Mr. Holub's brain. Once removed, blood flow was restored, preventing further brain damage. Dr. Khattar has since performed two additional thrombectomies, bringing a new standard of stroke care to northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri.

09/06/2025

Congratulations Dr. Emma Jacobs on bringing a new kidney stone removal procedure to our region! Recently, Dr. Jacobs and her team successfully completed a procedure using the CVAC System from Calyxo.

This new device is an all-in-one solution to efficiently and effectively remove kidney stones using irrigation and vacuum aspiration during or after laser lithotripsy.

09/04/2025

The Physician Living the Mission award is given annually to a doctor who best represents the St. Bernards Mission of providing Christ-like healing. We are highlighting previous honorees as we prepare to announce this year's Physician Living the Mission winner.

Dr. Lynn Wiggins received the award in 2015 and is described by his peers as passionate, gifted and humble among many other glowing adjectives. Dr. Wiggins has a gift for teaching and is known to create an atmosphere for learning and teamwork. Dr. Wiggins continues to live the St. Bernards mission through the care he provides to patients every day.

09/02/2025

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month! Read Dr. Jacobs' expert feature to learn more about the risk factors.

In today's Ask the Expert feature, Dr. Emma Jacobs with St. Bernards Urology explains in a Q&A session what men should know about prostate cancer and their risk of receiving a diagnosis.
READ MORE: https://jonesbororightnow.com/news/268862-prostate-cancer-screenings-facts-and-everything-in-between/

08/27/2025

Cerebrovascular neurosurgeon Dr. Nick Khattar recently utilized a new carotid stent, the CGuard Prime. The InspireMD product is designed to reduce stroke during and after carotid artery stenting. This is only the 25th case in the country to use the CGuard Prime and the first in the MidSouth. Congratulations to Dr. Khattar and his team.

Learn more about Dr. Khattar and his expertise here:
https://www.stbernards.info/newsroom/2025/dr-nicolas-khattar-cerebrovascular-neurosurgeon/

08/20/2025

We are excited to share that Dr. Jessica Hobby and the team are the first in the region to offer the Enterra device, the first and only implantable device to treat gastroparesis. This new therapy offers relief for patients from the symptoms of gastroparesis, including nausea and vomiting. Congratulations Dr. Hobby and team!

📸Pictured: Dr. Jessica Hobby at CHI St. Vincent during her Enterra surgical preceptorship with Dr. James Walker

07/29/2025

Join us in congratulating Dr. Barry Tedder. He was awarded a Fellowship with the National Lipid Association (NLA).

Fellow of the NLA is an honor reserved for, and awarded to NLA members who are esteemed and recognized by their professional colleagues for having the highest ethical standards and who have distinguished themselves at a regional, national, or international level in the field of Clinical Lipidology. They exhibit excellence in leadership and service towards the NLA's mission of reducing death and disability related to disorders of lipid metabolism.

This award is presented to board-certified members of the association who are prominent healthcare professionals in the field of Lipidology and leaders in clinical research and education. Pictured with Dr. Tedder are Sarah Thomas, APRN and Mrs. Lisa Tedder.

Read more about the fellowship here --> https://www.lipid.org/fellow #:~:text=Basic%20Requirements&text=An%20active%20license%20as%20a,the%20prevention%20of%20cardiovascular%20disease

07/22/2025

Congratulations, Dr. Hallak!

Congratulations to our own Dr. Ammar Hallak on being voted best cardiologist by the readers of Premiere Magazine! Thank you for providing excellent care to the Paragould community.

Request an appointment with Dr. Hallak online at https://www.stbernards.info/providers/profile/ammar-hallak/.

07/16/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Bone and team on successfully performing the first Inspire V procedure at St. Bernards! This treatment offers a promising new option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy.

The Inspire V procedure is a new treatment for sleep apnea that utilizes a small device placed in the chest to help maintain an open airway while sleeping. It works by gently stimulating a nerve that moves your tongue out of the way, allowing you to breathe more easily. You turn it on with a remote before bed, and it works quietly while you sleep—no mask or hose needed.

We’re proud to bring the latest, most innovative technology to our community, providing advanced care close to home!

07/14/2025

Congratulations, Dr. Nair and team!

🎉 Celebrating the First WiSE CRT Implant in Arkansas!

We're proud to mark a major milestone—the first ever implantation in the state of the EBR Systems’ WiSE CRT System, delivering the world’s first leadless left ventricular endocardial pacing (LVEP) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)!

Why it matters:
• Truly leadless – The system uses ultrasound energy transmitted to a tiny electrode (~9 mm long/2.8 mm diameter) implanted in the LV endocardium, which converts it into electrical pacing pulses.

• More physiologic therapy – pacing from inside the LV enables better resynchronization, avoiding many anatomical limitations of traditional CRT .

• Clinically validated – As shown in the SOLVE‑CRT study, WiSE CRT led to a 16.4 % reduction in LV end‑systolic volume and shorter QRS durations—with a strong safety profile once operator experience grew .

• FDA-approved cutting-edge tech – In April 2025, the FDA granted approval for WiSE System—the world’s only leadless LV pacing CRT device.

Our Arkansas case:
• First-in-state procedure—using existing pacing device to trigger synchronized LV pacing via ultrasound!

• Early follow-up shows excellent hemodynamic response and promising clinical improvement.

Next steps:
• Expanding patient access—especially those who failed or can’t receive conventional CRT.

• Continuing education and collaboration among electrophysiology teams across the region.


&vascular

06/13/2025

St. Bernards Medical Center has successfully performed the first minimally invasive mitral valve repair in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri, giving new hope to heart patients at high risk for traditional open heart surgery.

St. Bernards physicians used a mechanical clip device and delivery system called MitraClip™ to help fix the mitral valve in the heart after it failed to close properly. If successful, patients see improved heart function and regurgitation symptoms. In addition, they can avoid open-heart surgery, minimizing the risks that come with these procedures while also easing recovery from surgery.

The team of physicians that made this procedure possible is made up of Drs. Jay K. Bhama, Amer Hawatmeh, Jack McKee, Devi Nair, and Daniel Thrower. Congratulations to these physicians and the teams involved in bringing this life-changing option to our community.

Read more here ➡ https://www.stbernards.info/newsroom/2025/new-heart-procedure-at-st-bernards-brings-life-changing-option-f/