MARK SMITH, MD, PERFORMS 1,000TH DA VINCI ROBOTIC SURGERY

Mark H. Smith Jr., MD, specializing in general, bariatric and robotic-assisted surgery at Willis- Knighton Health System, has performed his 1,000th da Vinci ® robotic surgery. Dr. Smith, who practices at WK North Laparoscopic Surgical Associates, has been using the da Vinci technology since January 2015.

The da Vinci Surgical system enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures with a degree of precision, control and dexterity that traditional surgery cannot match. Benefits to patients include less pain, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, reduced risk of infection and faster recovery times.

WK North Laparoscopic Surgical Associates is located at Willis-Knighton Medical Center in the Diagnostic & Surgical Building, 2751 Albert L. Bicknell Drive, Suite 3D. The surgeons also operate at the WK South and Pierremont hospitals as well.

FREEMAN NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE CENTER

Paulette Freeman has been named executive director of The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center in Shreveport.

Freeman was the former executive director of Arkansas Blood Institute in Little Rock. Before that, she was the business development director for The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark. She currently serves on the university’s Alumni Association board of directors and received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2019. She served as an Honorary Commander of the Little Rock Air Force Base and an ambassador for the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. She was named in Arkansas Business Journal’s 2018 publication of “Arkansas 250” as one of the Most Influential Leaders in the health-care category.

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center is located at 851 Olive St. For more information or to join a support group or for an Alzheimer’s and dementia local resource directory, call 318-656-4800, email info@alzbridge.org, or visit www.alzbridge.org.