Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: A new ARCOM dean, a BHC Insurance promotion, and a debris bag

Following are recent news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.

ARCOM Dean
Dr. Christopher Loyke has been hired as dean of the Fort Smith-based Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM). He will begin in the role on July 1. The college is part of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE).

Loyke’s experience in medical education and leadership includes his recent job as dean and chief academic officer at the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tenn.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Loyke to ARCOM,” said Teressa Brown, ACHE provost. “His extensive leadership experience and deep understanding of osteopathic medical education make him an outstanding choice to lead ARCOM into its next chapter. We are confident that under his guidance, the college will continue to grow in excellence and impact.”

Loyke will oversee ARCOM’s academic program, faculty development, and strategic initiatives that support ARCOM’s mission to educate and train physicians.

ACHE includes five programs: the ARCOM, School of Physical Therapy (ACHE PT), School of Occupational Therapy (ACHE OT), Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB), and Master of Public Health (MPH). Also part of ACHE is the Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RIHWC), a 317,000-square-foot facility that includes a biomedical research lab.

Optometrist Board
Dr. Wanda Vaughn has been elected to the board of directors of the Arkansas Optometric Association (ArOA). She is the founder and clinical director of Arkansas Vision Development and Wellness Center in Fort Smith, where she specializes in developmental optometry and neuro-visual rehabilitation.

She has been involved in the association, including as former chair of the InfantSEE Committee, the ArOA Third Party Committee, and as a member of the Vision Arkansas Board of Directors. She is also a graduate of the ArOA LEAD Program (2025).

Vaughn earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in psychology, from the University of Central Arkansas in 1995, and a master’s degree in biology in 1998. She earned her doctorate of optometry from Northeastern State University College of Optometry in 2004.

Insurance Promotion
James McMillan was recently promoted to chief sales officer at Fort Smith-based BHC Insurance.

McMillan will lead the firm’s sales team across all divisions, with a focus on driving organic growth, enhancing consultant performance, and strengthening the company’s position as a sales-driven organization.

McMillan’s responsibilities include leading agency-wide sales strategy, aligning marketing and business development efforts, developing consultant talent and accountability frameworks, and expanding BHC’s reach into mid and large market segments.

BHC Insurance is a full-service insurance agency with more than 100 years of history serving businesses across Arkansas and the surrounding region. The firm has offices in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas, Poteau, and Sallisaw.

Debris Service
The city of Fort Smith is now providing debris bag service for residents who may need more than just a regular trash cart.

“From DIY renovations to major cleanouts, this service gives you a smarter, more efficient way to manage waste at home,” the city noted. “It’s the perfect solution for projects that create more than just a little mess.”

The service costs $200, and the bag, which holds up to 3,300 pounds of debris, is delivered to a home and then picked up when the bag is full or the job is over. Residents can call the Solid Waste Services department at (479) 784-2262 to schedule the service.

Mercy Waldron
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) named Mercy Hospital Waldron to its annual list of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals for Best Practice in Quality. The list ranks hospitals using the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, which compiles public data sets linked to quality, patient perspectives and more.

The 20 hospitals were selected from just under 1,400 critical access hospitals in the country.

“We’re incredibly proud to be named a Top 20 hospital for quality,” said Kim Russell, director of nursing and administrator at Mercy Hospital Waldron. “This recognition really belongs to our amazing caregivers and physicians who show up every day focused on doing what’s right for our patients. The care they provide to our community is truly something special.”

A critical access hospital is a small rural facility designated by Medicare to improve access to care, capped at 25 inpatient beds and required to maintain 24/7 emergency services. In contrast, a community hospital provides a broad range of general medical services to the local population.

“Rural hospitals deliver essential, often lifesaving care to communities that would otherwise face long travel times, limited access to specialists and significant health disparities,” Mercy noted.