MRHS Welcomes New Physician to Mena Medical Associates

BY LEANN DILBECK –

Tim Bowen, MRHS Administrator has announced the addition of a new family physian joining Mena Medical Associates, a division of Mena Regional Health System.

Dr. Richard Eccles, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, an Arkansas native is looking forward to joining their skilled team of physicians.  Dr. Eccles received his doctorate of medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science and completed his internship/residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock.

Prior to relocating to Mena, Eccles served as an Attending Physician at Booneville Community Hospital where he responded to emergent call for neonatal resuscitation and pediatric emergencies.  In addition to his service to the hospital, he also owned a private clinical practice, Eccles Pediatrics and Internal Medicine.

Joining Eccles in the move to Mena will be his wife of 25 years, Teresa, and three children: Tad, age 11, Abby, age 13, and Maddison, age 22.

Eccles told The Pulse the decision to join Mena’s medical community was a simple one. He said he had seen patients through the urgent care previously and said the friendliness of the staff, the energy and enthusiasm were contagious, “There is such a cohesiveness… a self-less one body.”  Eccles will be located in the new Mena Medical Associates building and admitted the beautiful and state-of-the-art facility was a draw.

Eccles said the family is very much looking forward to being active in both the schools and the community. He described himself as a new convert to running, having recently dropped 100 pounds. He said the family has found a new love for the outdoors and he specifically enjoys duck hunting.

One of his greatest joys in practicing medicine, he said, is not just what he called the “big wins,” when you can diagnose something that has been missed but it’s the “little wins” too. “When the kids with ADD comes up to you at a restaurant and says he made the all A-B Honor Roll.”

Mena Medical Associates, next to the hospital, will begin serving the community and surrounding areas on September 2, 2014.  Services to be offered include; internal medicine, pediatrics, family practice, orthopedics and general surgery.  Mena Medical Associates will provide a convenient central location for the healthcare needs of the entire family, from newborn to the elderly.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 479-394-1414.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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