Baptist Health hires Jordan Burgess as VP of government relations and public affairs

Jordan Burgess has joined Baptist Health as vice president of government relations and public affairs.

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Burgess most recently served as deputy general counsel and head of government affairs for Art & Wellness Enterprises of Bentonville, which supports non-profits including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, Heartland Whole Health Institute, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Alice L. Walton Foundation and Art Bridges.

Burgess also previously served in various roles for then-Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson including chief legal counsel and director of legislative affairs; director of legislative and agency affairs; and senior health policy advisor and liaison to the state Department of Human Services and Department of Health.

As the senior health policy advisor, Burgess helped advance Gov. Hutchinson’s goals to improve health care and assisted with Arkansas’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Burgess served as associate general counsel for Delta Dental.

A native of Fort Smith, Burgess graduated from Southside High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of Arkansas. Burgess received her law degree from the William H. Bowen School of Law and earned an MBA from the University of Central Arkansas.