UAMS Adds Tobacco Cessation Specialist at Family Medical Center in El Dorado
| Community members in south Arkansas looking to quit tobacco now have a new resource at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Chandra Hicks has joined UAMS as a tobacco cessation specialist, seeing patients at the UAMS Health Family Medical Center in El Dorado.
A certified tobacco cessation specialist, Hicks provides individual and group support for patients, UAMS students, employees and their families who want to quit using tobacco products. She also offers pharmacological advice in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tobacco cessation guidelines.
“I’m excited to work with people as they take one of the most important steps toward improving their health and quality of life,” Hicks said. “Quitting tobacco isn’t easy, but no one has to do it alone. My goal is to provide compassionate, personalized support — whether that’s helping someone build a quit plan, exploring treatment options or simply being a source of encouragement. I look forward to helping people in south Arkansas take back control of their health and create a future free from tobacco.”
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. In Arkansas, nearly 23% of adults smoke cigarettes, and approximately 5,800 Arkansans die each year from tobacco-related illnesses. UAMS Health provides tobacco cessation support in its clinics and through community outreach to help people quit.
Research shows that individuals are more likely to quit tobacco long-term with the support of a tobacco treatment specialist. Specialists assist by gathering information on a patient’s tobacco use history, helping set realistic quit goals, identifying cessation options and recommending medications or nicotine replacement therapy to discuss with a health care provider. They also maintain ongoing contact to provide encouragement and ensure proper use of cessation tools.
Hicks offers regular follow-ups through in-person visits, telephone calls, MyChart and digital health services. She also explores opportunities for tobacco cessation grant funding and assists with proposal submissions.
Hicks is accepting new patients. To make an appointment, please call (870) 639-9939.
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 uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###