Forty Under 40: Jonathan Parker

Jonathan Parker always knew he wanted to be a doctor like his stepdad in Camden, but when he got to college, he thought he’d found an easier route.

After graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1995 with a degree in marketing management and human resources management, he earned an MBA in 1998.

Then he got out on his own and realized he was right the first time.

He graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2004, and came to Fayetteville for a family practice residency. He completed that in 2007, and has been at FirstCare ever since.

“I don’t have any skin in the game but to help people,” Parker said modestly. “I hope my patients don’t see me as anyone but a regular guy who just happens to be a good doctor. And being in family practice, I’m able to make genuine lifelong relationships with entire  families, and that’s very rewarding.”

The lifelong Razorback fan is star-ting his fourth year as a team doctor.

He’s also medical director of the Elizabeth Richardson Center, working with adults whose primary diagnosis is mental retardation.

Parker’s free time revolves around his wife and two children.

“Every joy in life has been the result of hard work, and I want to enjoy life even more,” he said, “not just away from work, but to enjoy work too.

“I love what I do, so that makes it even easier to press on and work even harder.”