Hainline-Williams named NWA 'Nurse of the Year'

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

— Sandy Hainline-Williams of Gravette was recently named “Nurse of the Year” by NWA Media. She was featured in a monthly publication, “You at Your Best,” which focuses on life and health in northwest Arkansas.

The center-spread article in the publication, along with her photo on the cover, noted her many accomplishments, particularly “being instrumental in the creating of a Marshallese health care clinic which opened last November in Springdale.”

Sandy is the daughter of the late Dr. Richard and Marge Rhine of Gravette where Dr. Rhine was involved at the GravetteMedical Center Hospital for many years. She and her husband, Johnny Williams, live in the rural Gravette area.

“It (the medical profession) was all I ever knew. I really never thought about being anything else but a nurse,” she is quoted astelling Olivia Carr, NWA Media writer.

Sandy began her career as an operating room tech, which led to earning her LPN license from Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale in 1975. Later she earned her Associate Nursing Degree from the University of Arkansas. She is a graduate of Gravette High School.

In 2001, she joined the Benton County office of the Arkansas Health Department and within a year was working with a grant-funding program to identify and treat tuberculosis, which was increasing in northwest Arkansas.

It was then the Marshallese community in Springdale entered the picture and her research discovered the massive health problems of the Islanders who have gravitated to the area, particularly in Springdale.

Springdale is home to the largest population of the Marshallese outside of their namesake islands in the South Pacific.

Marshallese not born inthe United States are not required to seek citizenship (because of a federal law) and many do not qualify for most federal assistance or Arkansas Medicaid programs.

Sandy’s dedication and research led to a clinic being established in Springdale, a story which was featured in the Westside Eagle Observer last November.

Preventive health care for the population, particularly young children, is the focus of the clinic which also treats Hispanics, as well as others.

The state Health Department clinic where Williams works and a nonprofit community clinic are doing their best to help the Marshallese get proper health care, and Williams said she hopes to see a waiver to the Arkansas Medicaid Act to include the foreign-born Marshallese who meet income guidelines.

Such dedication, compassion and service are the criteria that led to Sandy Hainline-Williams being honored with “Nurse of the Year” recognition.

News, Pages 5 on 05/30/2012