Unity Health announces future development of neonatal unit

Unity Health announced plans for developing a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at White County Medical Center in Searcy. Scheduled for a July 2024 opening, the unit will provide advanced support and specialized treatment for ill or premature infants.

“We are beyond excited for the future of neonatal care at Unity Health. This specialty will be the first of its kind in our community and its surrounding areas,” said Mark Amox, Unity Health President and CEO. “It’s a huge step in the direction of meeting the needs of our community and furthering our organization’s mission for improving the health and well-being of our communities through compassionate care.”

The program will be led by Kevin M. Barnett, M.D. and C. Preston Pugh, M.D., who are local residents and graduates of Harding University, where they received their undergraduate degrees. Both attended medical school and completed a pediatric residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

Barnett and Pugh each served as chief residents in pediatrics at UAMS and at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). They will complete their neonatal-perinatal fellowships at ACH in June of 2024.

“Neonatology offers the unique opportunity for me to develop long-lasting relationships with families while providing critical care services to the hospital’s youngest patients,” said Pugh.

“I am so excited to start my career in neonatology and help bring Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) services to Searcy and the surrounding community,” said Barnett.

Unity Health is an Arkansas healthcare system consisting of 4 hospitals, 13 family practice clinics, and specialists and specialty clinics consisting of 15 areas of practice.