Odyssey of the Mind's Odyssey Angels Program

A graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a former dental hygienist, Laura Leslie Hill dedicates herself to improving the lives of individuals in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and around the world. As the director of community and philanthropic activities for the Siloam Springs Women’s Center, Laura Leslie Hill has helped the clinic fund groups such as the local chapter of Odyssey of the Mind.

Founded in 1978, Odyssey of the Mind brings together young people to learn collaborative and creative problem-solving skills through innovative and entertaining challenges. Over the years, Odyssey of the Mind participants have been tasked to write new chapters for classic novels, engage with classical artworks, and turn mythical objects into video games. 

In addition to challenging young people to develop creative problem-solving strategies, Odyssey of the Mind encourages them to use their talents to give back to their communities through the organization’s Odyssey Angels program. The program asks Odyssey of the Mind members to identify problems or people who need help in their local communities and then develop creative solutions. Teams can then submit their projects to Odyssey of the Mind, with one winning team invited to the organization’s World Finals event.

Examples of previous Odyssey Angels’ projects include a team creating a mechanical arm to help a classmate with disabilities write for the first time, while another team developed special wheelchair attachments to help a classmate fulfill a dream of joining the marching band. To learn more about Odyssey Angels, please visit www.odysseyangels.org.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Builds New Facility in Memphis

For nearly two decades, Laura Leslie Hill and her husband, Dr. Chad Hill, have owned and operated the Siloam Springs Women’s Center in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Outside of her professional activities, Laura Leslie Hill supports a variety of organizations, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

Launching a $1 billion expansion of its Memphis, Tennessee, campus, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is building a new facility that will house labs in areas such as immunology, advanced microscopy, genomics, and RNA biology. 

When completed, the 625,000-square-foot, eight-story facility will have enough room to accommodate 1,000 employees. In addition to creating new collaborative spaces for St. Jude researchers, the building will be a boon to the Memphis economy. 

Under the leadership of The Crump Firm and Jacobs Engineering, construction on the facility will provide work for more than 5,000 individual construction workers and 125 vendors over a three-year period. The building is scheduled for completion in 2021.

What is a Pap Smear Procedure?

A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Laura Leslie Hill is an active participant in community organizations such as the Siloam Springs Heritage League. Professionally, Laura Leslie Hill oversees philanthropic efforts of the Siloam Springs Women’s Center.

Since 1998, Siloam Springs Women’s Center has provided care for women of all ages in the Siloam Springs region of Arkansas. With three doctors in addition to skilled support staff and Advanced Nurse Practitioners, the center offers service in three core areas; wellness and prevention, obstetrics, and gynecology.

Gynecology services at the center range from cancer screening and contraceptives to colposcopy and LEEP procedures following abnormal pap smears. A pap smear refers to a routine examination of the cervix in which material is gently removed and tested for precancerous or cancer cells. The test is a regular part of wellness checkups for women beginning in their 20s but is recommended more often for women who are HIV-positive or have a weak immune system.

The Artosphere Festival

Along with her husband, Laura Leslie Hill founded the Siloam Springs Women’s Center after moving to Siloam Springs, Arkansas, two decades ago. Among her other administrative duties, she spearheads the Women’s Center’s regional and national philanthropic initiatives. One of the organizations that has benefited from Laura Leslie Hill’s efforts is the Walton Arts Center.

A performing arts center located near the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, the Walton Arts Center regularly sponsors a range of shows and events. To recognize the work of artists who explore themes of nature and sustainability, the organization presents the Artosphere Festival on an annual basis.

The 8th Annual Artosphere Festival took place from May 4 to May 20, 2017, at the Walton Arts Center and other locations throughout Northwest Arkansas. Highlights of the Festival include three performances from the Artosphere Festival Orchestra, an ensemble that consisted of more than 90 musicians from symphonies and classical music programs from around the world. Artosphere also sponsored a Chapel Music Series at local churches and an outdoor Trail Mix Weekend that invited attendees to hike or bike to and from various art exhibits and performances.

Siloam Springs Women's Center Prenatal Care

Laura Leslie Hills guides the Siloam Springs Women's Center obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Under the leadership of Laura Leslie Hill and her husband Dr. Chad Hill, the Siloam Springs Women's Center has been able to support Siloam Springs Regional Hospital with an increased number of baby deliveries each year.

Siloam Springs Women's Center provides extensive prenatal care, guiding women as to when they should see their doctor and what steps should be taken at the pregnancy's various stages. Between seven and eight weeks into a pregnancy, pregnant women should start with a pre-OB appointment, in which background information is collected and bloodwork is performed. The pre-OB appointment is also an opportunity to ask any questions one might have about being pregnant.

The first OB appointment comes between 9 and 12 weeks into the pregnancy, and includes lab results from the previous visit and additional care planning. After this, the patient has periodic checkups every 4 weeks until the 28-week mark. Then, the frequency of visits increases to once every 3 weeks, and after 36 weeks, visits are weekly. This ensures that any potential issues with the pregnancy are responded to in a prompt and effective manner.