Dr. Ben E. Owens Jr. has been recognized by the medical staff at St. Bernards as the 2010 recipient of the Living the Mission Physician Award. The award is given annually to a St. Bernards physician whose service exemplifies the formal mission of the medical center – providing Christ-like healing through education, treatment and health services.
An internist with Clopton Clinic, Dr. Owens has been on the medical staff since 1987, has served on many medical staff committees and also has served as chief of staff. He grew up in Jonesboro and is a graduate of Jonesboro High School and Arkansas State University. After earning his M.D. from the University of Arkansas Medical School, Dr. Owens completed his residency training at the University of Tennessee Affiliated Hospitals in Memphis.
He is the medical director of the St. Bernards Hospice program and gives back to the community in many ways outside of his chosen profession.
Here are some of the things said by employees who nominated Dr. Owens for the award:
· “Just as the Great Physician addressed not only spiritual but also physical and emotional needs, he cares for the total patient.”
· “He treats the person … not the chart.”
· “He has a servant’s heart.”
· “He is attentive to each person … whether it is patient, family or staff.”
· “He genuinely cares.”
· “I would trust him completely as a physician for my own family.”
He also is a teacher, serving as an associate professor of medicine for UAMS and filling the role of instructor for clinical rotations in medicine for senior medical students and residents. In addition he serves as adjunct facility at ASU and at the University of Missouri.
An avid runner, he is a certified U.S. Track and Field official and serves as a starter for the running events for most meets in which Jonesboro High School takes part. He also is certified to start college running events and has started meets at ASU for the last two years.
He also is an accomplished musician. Though he plays many different stringed instruments, his instrument of choice is the acoustic guitar. He and his wife, Laura, have two daughters – Christine, who is a college sophomore, and Mary, a Jonesboro High School senior.
Congratulations, Dr. Owens! And thank you, for setting an example for all of us as you live the mission of St. Bernards.