Addition expands advanced cardiac services close to home

BENTON, Ark. (Jan. 6, 2026) – On Monday, Jan. 5, a new interventional cardiologist joined the team at Saline Health System.
Dr. Ayman Alshami will be treating patients alongside Dr. Jeffrey Stewart and Katelyn Warren, nurse practitioner, at Saline Cardiology, a department of Saline Health System. Alshami said his goal is to create an environment where patients feel heard, supported and confident in their care.
“I want patients to know that I am a caring and compassionate cardiologist who places them and their families at the center of every decision,” Alshami said. “I strive to combine evidence-based, high-quality cardiovascular care, ensuring that each person who walks through my door feels valued and understood.”

Alshami’s patient-centered approach is rooted in decades of training and experience in cardiovascular medicine. He has more than 27 years of experience in general and interventional cardiology, most recently serving at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. During his tenure, he also served as medical director of the cardiac catheterization lab.

He earned his medical degree from Damascus University School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Atlantic City. He went on to complete a cardiology fellowship at East Carolina University School of Medicine and an interventional cardiology fellowship at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 

At Saline Cardiology, Alshami will provide a full range of diagnostic and interventional cardiac services, including the treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease, as well as cardiac catheterization in Saline Memorial Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, which is nationally accredited through the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI. 

With Alshami joining the team, Saline Cardiology is expanding its services to include pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator implants — allowing more patients to receive specialized treatment close to home. 

Saline Health System CEO Char Boulch said this growth reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to patient-centered, high-quality care.“Dr. Alshami’s commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care reflects who we are at Saline Health System,” said Char Boulch, CEO. “Our culture is built on friends and family taking care of friends and family, while maintaining an unwavering dedication to evidence-based, high-quality care for every patient we serve.”

About Saline Memorial Hospital

Saline Health System, a part of LifePoint Health, is made up of Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of primary care and specialty clinics. The hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission for meeting quality and safety standards, the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, the MBSAQIP as a bariatric surgery center, Optum in the Bariatric Centers of Excellence network, CARF as a rehabilitation center and the AASM as a sleep center. Saline Memorial Hospital is also proud to be recognized as a Leapfrog Grade “A” Hospital for its commitment to patient safety and quality care. For more information about Saline Memorial Hospital, please call 501.776.6000 or visit SalineMemorial.org. For more information about LifePoint Health, visit LifePointHealth.net.

###