Jayne Bellando, Ph.D.

Co-Director of CoBALT

Jayne Bellando, Ph.D. is a pediatric psychologist and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UAMS. She works primarily at the James L. Dennis Developmental center. Dr. Bellando is the Co-Director of the CoBALT project and one of the Co-Directors of Healthy Child Care Arkansas. Her clinical work is on diagnostic teams for children with developmental concerns and in therapy for children and families.

Jaimie M. Flor, M.D.

Co-Director of CoBALT

Dr. Flor is currently co- medical director of the Community-Based Autism Liaison and Treatment (CoBALT) Project. She finished her General Pediatrics residency training in Mt. Sinai Services- Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, NY. Upon completion of Fellowship training in the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Program of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Dr. Flor joined the Pediatrics Faculty as a clinical attending. Her present clinical activities include: ACH Growth and Development Clinic, and UAMS James L. Dennis Developmental Center. Dr. Flor is also the medical director of UAMS James L. Dennis Developmental Center.

Stefanie Jernigan, BS

Stefanie Jernigan has over 20 years of experience in various autism research and public health projects. She is the CoBALT project and quality improvement coordinator and is also the main contact for logistical support. Her email is jeriganstefaniel@uams.edu.

Charlotte Crawford, BA

Charlotte Crawford schedules CoBALT team appointments at the UAMS Dennis Developmental Center. She enjoys scheduling appointment dates for families and helping families with appointment-related questions.

Ebony Greer, RN

Ebony Greer is the Assistant Clinic Service Manager, RN at the UAMS James L. Dennis Developmental Center. She is the CoBALT nurse at the UAMS James L. Dennis Developmental Center and serves as their point of contact.

Sarah Ford, M.S., CCC-SLP

Sarah Ford is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She works in the Outpatient Speech Pathology Department at ACH evaluating and treating children with communication and feeding/swallowing difficulties.

Sheryl Davide-Ureta, MD

Sheryl Davide-Ureta, MD is a board certified pediatrician currently practicing at the Arkansas Children's Hospital General Pediatric Clinic. She completed her residency at the Stony Brook University, New York (formerly SUNY at Stony Brook). She has a special interest in special needs kids having 2 boys with ASD.

Brandi Hurtado M.S. CCC-SLP

Brandi Hurtado is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Arkansas Children's Hospital. She works in the Outpatient Speech Pathology Department evaluating and treating children with communication difficulties, social interaction difficulties, and feeding/swallowing difficulties.

Jackie Golden, MS, CCC-SLP

Jackie Golden is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She is bilingual and speaks English and Spanish. She works in the Outpatient Speech Pathology Department at ACH evaluating and treating children with communication and feeding/swallowing difficulties.

Abby Simpson, MS, CCC-SLP

Abby Simpson is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She works in the Outpatient Speech Pathology Department at ACH evaluating and treating children with communication and feeding/swallowing difficulties.

Claire Mays, MS, CCC-SLP

Claire Mays is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She works in the Outpatient Speech Pathology Department at ACH evaluating and treating children with communication and feeding/swallowing difficulties.

W. Curtis Patton, M.D.

W. Curtis Patton, MD is a pediatrician at East Arkansas Children’s Clinic in Forrest City AR.. Dr. Patton has 38 years of experience and has much experience working with children with special health care needs. Dr. Patton has also participated in ECHO AUTISM AR project, a tele-health educational/research project funded by Autism Speaks to increase knowledge about diagnosis, treatment and evidence-based practice for children with ASD and their families. Dr. Patton and his team have been part of the CoBALT project since 2013. Dr. Patton is also the parent of a special needs young adult.

Ayesha Shah, MD

Ayesha Shah, MD is a pediatrician and part owner at Pediatric Associates of West Memphis and Marion in Arkansas. Dr. Shah graduated from Aga Khan University in 1990. Dr. Shah has been practicing for 24 years and is loved by her patients and her clinic all the same. She has special interest in special needs kids and is involved in outreach programs to help in any way possible. Dr. Shah is also a parent of a special needs adult. Dr. Shah and her team has been a part of the CoBalt Project since 2018.

Kasey Catt Sihvonen, MS, CCC-SLP

Kasey Catt Sihvonen, MS, CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist and owner of Small Talk in West Memphis, AR. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2012. She has served children with a variety of communication disorders including speech sound disorders, language disorders, fluency disorders, and processing disorders.

Vern Ann Shotts, MD

Dr. Shotts received her medical degree from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Mauri Rogers, APRN

Mauri Rogers, FNP-BC, APRN, is a licensed certified family nurse practitioner at Paragould Doctors’ Clinic. She graduated from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) with her M.N.Sc. in 2018. She focuses on health care promotion and prevention across the life span. She also has a special interest in autism. She practices with Dr. Shotts at the CoBALT clinic at Child & Adolescent Clinic in Paragould.

Samina Z. Nadvi MD

Samina Nadvi MD is a pediatrician in Fort Smith AR. She graduated from Dow Medical College in 1989 and completed her Pediatrics training at Childrens Hospital of Michigan. She has been practicing in the River Valley for over 20 years where she now works at Mercy Clinic Pediatrics MTW in Fort Smith.

Michelle Eckes MD

Michelle Eckes, MD is a pediatrician at Mercy Clinic of Fort Smith Arkansas. She graduated from University of Arizona Medical School and her residency was completed at University of Utah Children's Hospital Salt Lake City Utah. She has practiced in Fort Smith Arkansas for over 25 years.

Manar Ibrahim MD

Manar Ibrahim is a pediatrician in Fort Smith AR. She graduated from University of Cairo, Faculty of Medicine and completed her Pediatrics training at Childrens Hospital in Oklahoma City. She has been practicing in Fort Smith for over 20 years where she now works at Mercy Clinic Pediatrics MTW in Fort Smith.

James Atkins, M.D, FAAP

James Atkins, M.D. is a board-certified general pediatrician practicing in Monticello, AR. He opened his own practice, SEARK Children's Clinic, in 2023 and joined the CoBALT team the same year. Dr. Atkins graduated from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2013 and completed a pediatric residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children's Hospital in 2016. CoBALT clinic email - jatkins@searkchildrensclinic.com

Natalie Atkins, M.S., CCC-SLP

- Natalie Atkins M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She graduated from UAMS in 2015. She works in the rehab department at Baptist Health -Drew County. She evaluates and treats both children and adults with communication and feeding/swallowing difficulties.