Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic Opens UAMS Milk Bank Depot
| LITTLE ROCK —The Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic celebrated today the opening of a milk depot in support of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Milk Bank.
“The opening of a new milk drop-off depot at the Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic marks an exciting step for our community,” said Misty L. Virmani, M.D., executive medical director of the UAMS Milk Bank, associate professor of pediatrics and neonatology and director of breastfeeding medicine. “This convenient resource offers local families an easy way to donate breast milk, directly supporting the health and well-being of infants throughout Arkansas.”
The Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic is the first private clinic in Arkansas to open a milk depot, a designated space for women to donate milk that is then sent to the UAMS Milk Bank for screening, pasteurization and nutritional analysis. After processing, milk is sent, according to need, to hospitals throughout Arkansas. Before making a donation, donors must complete an initial screening through the UAMS Milk Bank.
“Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic is thrilled to partner with the UAMS Milk Bank to open our very own Milk Depot,” said Molly Pilkington, RN, owner and manager of Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic. “We recognize the vital role breastmilk plays in a child’s growth and development and are proud to contribute to UAMS’s expanding efforts in supporting and educating families in need across Arkansas and the nation.”
The new milk depot is located at 220 N. Sidney Ave., in Russellville. Drop-offs can be made with the front desk attendant Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“By providing this service within a pediatric clinic, we aim to highlight the vital role breastfeeding plays in not only an infant’s early development but also in promoting long-term health throughout childhood and beyond,” said Virmani. “This initiative underscores the importance of community support in fostering healthier futures for all children, ensuring that every baby has the best start possible.”
The first facility of its kind in Arkansas, the UAMS Milk Bank helps ensure a ready supply of donor milk for sick and vulnerable infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) around the state, shortening the time it takes for regional hospitals to receive critical milk supplies and improving outcomes for babies.
Previously, Arkansas hospitals relied on donor milk purchased from milk banks in Texas, Michigan, Illinois and Oklahoma, costing more than $1 million a year. In 2021, the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 225 establishing the creation of the milk bank and a special fund to help support the bank.
For information about how to donate milk to the UAMS Milk Bank, please visit uamshealth.com/uams-milk-bank. To contact the Milk Bank, please call 501-686-5355 or email milkbank@uams.edu.
About Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic
The goal of Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic is to be partners with parents to help raise healthy children, both physically and emotionally. With that goal in mind, the clinic’s staff is committed to continuous education and incorporating the best of technology to provide excellent care. Having opened in 2016, the clinic’s experienced and caring pediatricians persistently aim to provide world-class care in the Arkansas River Valley area for newborns to age 21.
About UAMS
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.