Martha Garrett-Shaver Honored for Excellence in Family Care

    MAGNOLIA, AR, August 11, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Martha G. Garrett-Shaver, MD has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Having embarked on an unconventional yet inspiring path to the field of medicine, Dr. Garrett-Shaver initially pursued an education at Hendrix College, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in science in 1966. She married after her sophomore year of college but completed her education and subsequently, she accepted a position as a science teacher Southwest Junior High School in Hot Springs, AR. Temporarily pausing her professional efforts upon her pregnancy, she would later return to teaching as a kindergarten teacher. Dr. Garrett-Shaver would later operate in a different capacity at a chemistry laboratory for Weyerhaeuser Corp.

In the years that followed, Dr. Garrett-Shaver would work alongside her father with his telephone company until its eventual sale. After the sale of the telephone company, she worked as a bookkeeper and telephone salesperson for a heavy equipment parts company. until reconnecting with her future husband. After their marriage, she worked with him in his pharmacy until, with his encouragement, she decided to enter medical school in her 50s, having harbored a lifelong desire to enter the medical field.

Dr. Garrett-Shaver returned to academia at the University of Arkansas College of Medicine, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine in 2000. She continued to refine her skills as a resident at the UAMS South Family Residency Program in El Dorado, Arkansas. During this time, she discovered that she especially enjoyed maternity care and delivering babies. She completed residency in 2003 and between 2003 and 2018, Dr. Garrett-Shaver found success as faculty and then Residency Director at the UAMS South Family Medicine Residency Program.

Since 2018, Dr. Garrett-Shaver has excelled as a family practice physician at the South Arkansas Family Care Center, which is part of South Arkansas Physician Services. Noted as skilled in family medicine as well as in obstetrics and gynecology, she has a reputation as a caring and knowledgeable physician who devotes sufficient time to hearing out her patients, regardless of the next step of their treatment. Outside of focusing on women's health and treating diseases and chronic illnesses in patients of all ages, Dr. Garrett-Shaver helps her patients through preventive healthcare via routine checkups, screenings, patient-specific education for maintaining healthy lifestyles, and health risk assessments. She especially loves the Obstetrics portion of her practice and delivers both normal vaginal deliveries and C-sections as needed.

Beyond her primary responsibilities, Dr. Garrett-Shaver has been committed to numerous organizations outside of her immediate professional circles. As a donor, she has contributed to various environmental and nature-based nonprofits, including the National Wildlife Federation, Ocean Conservancy and the Best Friends Animal Society. Moreover, she has been associated with the American Academy of Family Physicians. In her spare time, Dr. Garrett-Shaver is an avid scuba diver, which unexpectedly became her passion in her 60's.

Dr. Garrett-Shaver has attributed her success to her hard work, her husband's unwavering commitment to her success, the support of her children and the stellar support system from her peers and students. She is likewise motivated by her interest in her patients, whom she views as a person and not as a case.. Dr. Garrett-Shaver was inspired by Dr. Peter Carroll, a family medicine doctor who nurtured her love of Obstetrics and served as her mentor.

Looking toward the future, she hopes to continue thriving as a family practice physician at the South Arkansas Family Care Center. Furthermore, Dr. Garrett-Shaver is exceptionally proud of her achievements as a mother to her two wonderful children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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