The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal July 2019 Final 2 | Page 9

“I learned many things
from Dr. Morgan, the most
important being to be kind to
your patients.”

– Dr. Dennis Yelvington
“Dr. Stallings has served in every leadership
position within the Arkansas Academy of Family
Physicians and in the Arkansas Medical Society. He
encouraged all his residents not only to learn medi-
cine but also to be involved in organized medicine.
It’s one of the things that he was very good at. If we
weren’t going, he would load us up and carry us
to the meetings. It was at the Academy and Soci-
ety meetings that I saw physicians take a stand for
what they took an oath to do, and that is to put the
patient’s health and safety first.”
An AMS past president, Dr. Stallings returned
Dr. Yelvington’s respect and recalled enjoyable
times with his long-time colleague and former stu-
dent. “Dennis was an early family medicine resi-
dent at UAMS,” said Dr. Stallings. “If he had a ques-
tion, he did not hesitate to ask for an answer. He
knew where he was going to practice. He knew he
would take care of everyone. He likes being a family
doctor. He is family oriented and has a large family
of his own. We had great times hunting … didn’t
always get a limit or fire a shot, but always found
time for a laugh.”
Continuing Service
Dr. Yelvington recognized early the importance
of being involved in leadership roles. He is a former
chief of staff and a member of the Baptist Health
Medical Center (Stuttgart) Board of Trustees. He is
a past vice chairman of the Arkansas Foundation for
Medical Care, and he presently serves on the Un-
derwriting Committee of the State Volunteer Mutual
Insurance Company. In addition, he is a past presi-
dent of the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians
and a current delegate to the national Academy of
Family Physicians.
Dr. Yelvington’s service to the AMS includes be-
ing past chairman of the Board and 34 years of active
membership. As the face of the Society, he wants to
grow membership throughout the state. “I’d like to
encourage physicians who are nonmembers to join
so that we may speak with one voice,” he said.
“Our influence to advocate for our members and
patients is great when we stand together.”
Another specific goal involves bring-
ing more physician groups together to
discuss shared goals. “I’d like the Society to
consider a ‘Board of Boards’ meeting, annually or
bi-annually, to discuss current issues that face phy-
sicians and our patients in the state of Arkansas,”
he suggested. “This [super] Board would consist of
the Medical Society board of trustees, as well as the
boards of other specialty organizations in Arkansas.
We would include our three medical schools and
other stakeholders as well.
“There is no other organization that has the
membership and resources to speak for the physi-
cians of the state of Arkansas and its patients bet-
ter than the Arkansas Medical Society. We have a
strong organization with great leadership, but we
need every physician in the state of Arkansas to
stand with us.”
Dennis
Yelvington, MD
Medical & Professional Affiliations
Arkansas Academy of
Family Physicians
Arkansas Foundation
for Medical Care
Christian Medical and
Dental Association
Arkansas Medical Society
Family matters: I’m a married Methodist
with four daughters and one grandson.
Hobbies: I enjoy gardening and duck
hunting. My favorite place to relax is on
a houseboat in the middle of the White
River Refuge.
Dr. Dennis Yelvington and his family.
NUMBER 1
JULY 2019 • 9