Dr. Sarah Bemis is a transformational leader dedicated to empowering the next generation of healthcare workers to enhance community health. Initially pursuing a career in law, Sarah switched paths after witnessing a Code Blue while working at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She earned her RN from Baptist Health in 2007, followed by a BSN, MSN in Nursing Education, and a DNP in Professional Leadership, and began her nursing career in the Emergency Department at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Bemis specialized as a Trauma Program Coordinator and played a key role in establishing a statewide trauma system in Arkansas. She chaired the first Trauma Regional Advisory Council Injury Prevention Committee and implemented impactful safety campaigns. Her advocacy extended into school health, where she worked to improve healthcare access in schools and support policies mandating a nurse in every Arkansas school.

In 2016, Dr. Bemis transitioned to academia providing pediatric and leadership training for undergraduate nursing students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Capella University, and most recently the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, as the Assistant Director for the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, the SEC’s largest nursing program.

Currently, Dr. Bemis serves as the Associate Director of Community Engagement and Workforce Development at the Heartland Whole Health Institute. In 2023, she helped pass significant funding legislation for nursing education, receiving recognition as one of the 2024 Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas. Her ongoing efforts focus on strengthening workforce data analysis to transform healthcare systems and improve health outcomes across the state.

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