March is Women’s History Month, and all month long we have been celebrating the women making a difference in healthcare right here in El Dorado. At South Arkansas Regional Hospital [SARH], we are proud of the incredible team of women serving our community with skill, dedication, and compassion every day, as well as all the women who came before them. From physicians and nurses to administrators and support staff, their contributions are vital to ensuring our patients receive the best care possible.
To learn more about the experiences, challenges, and moments that keep these women motivated, we spoke with:
It’s the one thing each of these inspiring women said motivated them throughout their careers, even on the hard days. Not just making a difference in the lives of others, but making a difference in the lives of their friends, families, and neighbors. To them, it’s making a difference in the community they call home.
“Knowing that doing my job correctly can help someone makes it easy to push through [on hard days],” Robinson said. “It means the world to me to know I have a job that could change someone’s life.”
Others echoed Robinson’s feeling of pride and drive when serving SARH patients. Donahue shared, “I have worked for South Arkansas Regional Hospital for six and a half years. To see the compassion our team has for our patients and coworkers, it represents a lasting sense of peace knowing that we have a mission and work towards improvement daily.”
Working in a local hospital comes with its own set of challenges—and rewards. Many employees care for people they know—neighbors, friends, even family members. While they also recognize the challenges that come with a smaller market setting, it’s the personal connections to patients that keep them moving forward.
“I started my career as a nurse in the Chicagoland area; I did not have one patient that I knew or knew their family,” Parnell said. “As soon as I moved to El Dorado, I knew so many patients or their family members. Knowing that I am helping my neighbor, my family, my friends’ families is truly a blessing.”
So, who inspired these women who inspire us every day at SARH? Considering the league of extraordinary women who have blessed our hospital’s halls, it’s no surprise their inspirations are often the women they’ve worked alongside at SARH.
“Pamela Livingston,” Donahue said. “She believed in me when I didn’t, and she pushed me to be the best, and how to think critically in any situation.” Livingston was a respiratory therapist who retired from SARH in December of 2024 after 35 years of serving South Arkansas.
“Gladys Davis,” Hoover said. For those in El Dorado and South Arkansas, Davis’ name is one that needs no introduction. In July of 2024, she retired from SARH after serving Union County residents as a nurse for 56 years. Hoover worked with her for 40 of those years. In Davis’ Daisy Award nomination, one person wrote, “Ms. Gladys is a pillar of strength and integrity at this hospital.”
“Paula Wilson,” Robinson said. Wilson works alongside Robinson in SARH’s medical lab.
“My mother-in-law, Sharon Willeford and Keitha Griffith,” Parnell said. “My mother-in-law, a nurse, helped me get through nursing school. She listened, encouraged, and supported me. Keitha was the chief nursing officer at our hospital for many years; she was a true role model. She cared for the community and the staff. Each day I am reminded of her love for people.” Parnell and Griffith received their Doctor of Nursing together from the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in 2016. Griffith passed away but her influence lives on.
For young women considering a career in healthcare, our team’s advice is simple: “Go for it, we need you!”
“Explore the many opportunities the nursing profession offers,” Parnell said. “There are different avenues to become a nurse. Some people start as certified nurse assistants, licensed practice nurses, or registered nurses and continue to grow. With advanced degrees, the opportunities are limitless.”
Thank you to all the women who have made and continue to make South Arkansas Regional Hospital a place of healing, comfort, and excellence. Your dedication does not go unnoticed, and our community is better because of you.
This month and every month, join us in celebrating the incredible women of South Arkansas Regional Hospital! If you have a story about an inspiring female healthcare worker, share it in the comments or tag us on social media.
If you or someone you know is interested in making a difference with a career in healthcare at South Arkansas Regional Hospital, visit our website for the full list of current job openings.
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