Leadership
Brian Bell, M.D., FAAHPM
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Brian Bell joined LifeTouch Health in 2016 as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer and was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2025. He is board certified both in family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, and he is one of only a few Fellows in the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine in the state. Dr. Bell has been working in hospice care since 2006 and is currently on the faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where he teaches hospice and palliative medicine fellows. Currently, he serves on the Professional Education Committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, which is now part of the National Alliance for Care at Home. Over the years, he has given multiple lectures to UAMS case management students to better educate them on hospice and palliative care. Dr. Bell has served on the Arkansas Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatments (POLST) Taskforce since 2017 and worked with the legislature and others in its passage. Previously, he was on faculty at two medical schools in South Carolina and started the first hospice and palliative medicine fellowship in that state in 2014.
Katherine T. Jones
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Katherine T. Jones joined LifeTouch Health in 2007 as Director of Finance and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2009. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Central Arkansas and an extensive background of more than 20 years in healthcare finance, billing, and related regulatory affairs. As an industry advocate, she has served on the board of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Arkansas for more than six years. Her expertise in this role has been vital in representing hospice and palliative care financial interests and supporting the hospice industry in regulatory and legislative matters. Kathy has worked extensively with Arkansas Medicaid on changes and issues that impact all hospice providers in the state. In 2013, she was named Nonprofit CFO of the Year by Arkansas Business. Currently, Kathy oversees LifeTouch Health’s Health Information Management, Information Technology, Billing, Finance, and Materials Management departments.
Jessica Ellis
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
In 2025, Jessica K. Ellis became the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of LifeTouch Health, contributing more than two decades of experience in healthcare operations and leadership. She has earned multiple degrees, including Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration/Healthcare Administration, Master’s of Applied Communication/Health Community, Master’s of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Jessica has consistently worked to enhance the quality of patient care through creative solutions and strong organizational performance.
Before joining LifeTouch Health, Jessica served as Associate Dean of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing, and as Assistant Vice Chancellor of Clinical Finance and Operations and Chief Operations Officer Clinical the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Regional Programs. She has a rich history in other healthcare administration leadership roles including clinical operations, practice management, and communications. Her efforts focused on refining operational systems, improving patient results, and fostering organizational advancement. Her professional background includes primary care, acute care services, adjunct faculty member, guest lecturer and a board member for local and national organizations.
In her current capacity, Jessica leads the operational functions of LifeTouch Health, ensuring that the organization continues to provide high-quality services and extends its impact within the healthcare community.
Nikki Taylor
Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer
Nikki Taylor, APRN-FNP-C, HEC-C, CADDCT, became Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at LifeTouch Health in 2025, following her role as Director of Palliative and Primary Care with Arkansas Palliative Care which became LifeTouch Health in 2025. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from South University in Savannah, Georgia, with high honors and holds board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Nikki earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Associate of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and was on the Dean’s List. She is Board Certified in Geriatrics, as a Healthcare Ethicist, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Nikki is a recognized presenter at regional and national healthcare conferences, where she shares her insights on best practices in patient care and clinical operations. She is also a recipient of the HPCAA Heart Award. Prior to joining LifeTouch Health, Nikki has been leading clinical excellence through Quality/Compliance/Regulatory Oversight for a national hospice provider, Regional Services Director for a multi-facility assisted living provider, and Director of Nursing for a nursing home.
Nikki is recognized for her expertise in clinical operation and regulatory standards. With expert leadership training from Georgetown University and Franklin Covey Leadership Foundations, she delivers proven clinical results. She developed patient-focused care models and led efforts to expand palliative care services at Arkansas Hospice, significantly improving accessibility and outcomes. Nikki is a contributor to influential committees, shaping LifeTouch Health’s long-term strategies and goals.
Kim Kirkman, Ed.D
Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer
Kimberlee Shaffer Kirkman, Ed.D, joined LifeTouch Health in September 2022 as Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer. Kirkman assumed the role after more than a decade of service in higher education at Taylor University and Harding University. Her tenure at Taylor coincided with a record year of fundraising. Before her time at Taylor, Kirkman was the executive director of the American Studies Institute at Harding University. She developed student leadership programs, hosted nationally recognized speakers in the lecture series, established program endowments, and solicited support in alignment with the university’s mission and program for record fundraising at ASI.
Kirkman earned her Ed.D from Harding University and is the author of scholarly research on mentoring.
Jim Holloway
Vice President of Business Development
Jim Holloway joined LifeTouch Health in March 2022 as Director of Market Development. In 2023, he was promoted to Vice President of Business Development. Jim has more than 25 years of healthcare experience with 15 years working in the field of hospice and palliative care. His previous workplaces include Johnson & Johnson and Apria Healthcare. Jim’s areas of expertise include sales training, employee growth and development, and creating and executing growth strategies and tactics.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Wesleyan University.
Neal Wyatt, D.O.
Medical Director Hospice Services
Dr. Wyatt joined LifeTouch Health in December 2006. He has served as vice president and chief medical officer and he was instrumental in the 2015 launch of Arkansas Palliative Care. Wyatt served as Associate Medical Director from July 2020 to November 2024 when he was named Medical Director, Hospice Services. Wyatt graduated as a doctor of osteopathic medicine at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. In February 2025, heearned the designation Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (FAAHPM). He is the lead physician for LifeTouch Health’s inpatient palliative care consult service at Unity Health in Searcy and is an adjunct teaching physician for the hospital’s five Graduate Medical Education programs.
Daniel Cartaya, M.D.
Medical Director Palliative Services
Dr. Daniel Cartaya serves as the Medical Director of Palliative and Primary Care at LifeTouch Health. With more than 30 years of experience in internal medicine and hospice care, Dr. Cartaya is committed to enhancing patient outcomes and delivering compassionate care. He earned his medical degree and completed his residency in internal medicine at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2001. Dr. Cartaya has been board-certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine since 2010.
Since 2018, he has been involved in hospice care in Arkansas, applying his expertise to support patient-centered programs and clinical excellence. Dr. Cartaya has held various leadership positions, including Medical Director of Saline Memorial. He is also fluent in Spanish. His dedication to advancing hospice and palliative care defines his work at LifeTouch Health, where he continues to lead with compassion and skill.
Board of Directors
These organizations ensure that LifeTouch Health and the LifeTouch Health Foundation maintain the highest of standards, and uniquely bind us to the community. The current members and officers are:
LifeTouch Health Board of Directors
Rhonda Finnie, Chair
Michael Brown, Chair-Elect
Sharon Aureli, Vice Chair
Mike Parr, Secretary
Dr. David Reding, Treasurer
Kelly Carney, Chair Emeritus
Dr. Robert Skinner, LifeTouch Health Foundation Chair
Sandy Alstadt
Donna Baas
Brooke Bumpers
Sharon Davis
Jane Evans
Melissa Fontaine
Lauretta Helmich
Bruce Holsted
Mary Claire Imbro
David Jung
Melissa Masingill
David Moore
Jennifer O’Brien
William Phelps
Sally Riggs
LifeTouch Health Foundation Board of Directors
Dr. Robert Skinner, Chair
Leslie Sink, Chair-Elect
Vivian Trickey Smith, Secretary
Roshawntae Boone, Treasurer
Karen Flake, Chair Emeritus
Rhonda Finnie, LifeTouch Health Chair
Dee Brazil-Dale
Sharon Davis
Frank Funk
Beth Ingram
Bill Smith
Honorary Members
Gail Arnold
Walker Sloan