CHI St. Vincent Named NPF Center of Excellence in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Feb. 23, 2026) — CHI St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock has been nationally recognized as an approved NPF Center of Excellence for Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreatitis by the National Pancreas Foundation. NPF Centers of Excellence designations are awarded after a rigorous audit review to determine that an institution’s focus is on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatitis, treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and an improved quality of life. There are fewer than 200 NPF Centers of Excellence in the United States, and CHI St. Vincent is the only Arkansas hospital to achieve this distinction.

“We are honored that CHI St. Vincent Infirmary has been designated as a NPF Center of Excellence for treatment of pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis,” said Dr. William G. Jones, president of CHI St. Vincent Infirmary. “This honor recognizes our exceptional gastroenterology healthcare team, whose focus is on providing the best and most innovative care possible.”

“We are thrilled to expand our NPF Centers of Excellence Program to better serve the needs of patients suffering from pancreas disease,” said Jenny Pagel-Guile, Executive Director of The National Pancreas Foundation. “The NPF Centers of Excellence Program is one of the pillars of NPF, and we are looking forward to working with our current and new Centers.”

An approved NPF Center must meet the criteria that were developed by a task force made up of invited subject matter experts and patient advocates. The criteria includes having the required expert physician specialties such as gastroenterologists, pancreas surgeons, and interventional radiologists, along with more patient focused programs such as a pain management service, psychosocial support and more.

“I am very proud of my team and this achievement,” said Dr. Abdelrahman Attili, hepatobiliary surgeon and director of CHI St. Vincent’s pancreatic treatment team. “This award is just further confirmation of our team’s commitment to excellent, cutting-edge patient care.”

For more information about the National Pancreas Foundation, please visit www.pancreasfoundation.org.

About CHI St. Vincent

CHI St. Vincent is a regional health network serving Arkansas since 1888 with a history of many firsts. Headquartered in Little Rock, the network includes primary care, specialty clinics, urgent care, hospitals, home health, rehabilitation and surgery centers across the state. U.S. News & World Report ranks CHI St. Vincent as No. 1 in Central Arkansas for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery, and as “high performing” in multiple areas, including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, colon cancer surgery, heart bypass surgery, pacemaker implantation, spinal fusion and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. CHI St. Vincent is part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. Learn more at commonspirit.org/stvincent.

About The National Pancreas Foundation

Founded in 1997, The National Pancreas Foundation provides hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer through funding cutting-edge research, advocating for new and better therapies and providing support and education for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. The NPF is the only foundation dedicated to patients suffering from all forms of pancreas disease. For more information visit: www.pancreasfoundation.org.