Forty Under 40: Krista Langston-Wiles
by August 16, 2020 11:53 am 1,565 views
Krista Langston-Wiles has worked in senior leadership positions at multiple healthcare organizations across the state and overseen more than $35 million in grants to support programs and projects.
The Melbourne native started at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock in 2008. She accepted a position in the pediatrics department because it allowed her to attend graduate school. She earned an MBA from Harding University in 2010.
In 2011, she transferred to the Northwest Regional Campus and wanted to move to Northwest Arkansas because of the school system.
From 2012 to 2015, she served in an operational management role for the Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County. She also was a program officer for the Arkansas Department of Human Services until she rejoined UAMS in 2016. She helped the new faculty at Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale and worked there as the director of administration for about 18 months.
“That was exciting, though, to get to work as they opened a new hospital and be a part of that,” she said.
She was named to her current role in December. She works with the UAMS team to launch its programs within the community and works with school districts, community feeding programs and healthcare organizations. Some of the programs are research-related and others provide services to families, especially for Marshallese and Hispanic residents.
She oversees the community navigation piece of a $7 million healthcare plan led by the Northwest Arkansas Council focused on those residents who have COVID-19.
Her next career goal is to become an assistant dean. She’s involved with the parent-teacher organization at McNair Middle School and Safe Kids Coalition in Northwest Arkansas.