NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Charmaine Estell has been appointed as chief nursing officer at Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock. Estell brings over two decades of dedicated service and leadership experience to this key executive position.
“Charmaine brings many years of leadership experience within Baptist Health and has already successfully championed several new initiatives since joining our team,” said Cody Walker, president of Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock. “Charmaine embodies our values, prioritizes our employees, and is a highly visible leader—making her an ideal fit to improve our patient care experiences.”
Estell’s journey with Baptist Health is a testament to the organization’s commitment to growing its own leaders. She first joined Baptist Health in September 2003 as a nursing assistant while attending the Baptist School of Nursing, from which she graduated in December 2003. Her career began as a charge nurse and an Administrative RN III.
After eight years in these roles, Estell was promoted to unit supervisor in December 2011. She went on to serve as an associate director of nursing at Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs and later at Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County.
Estell also advanced her education while serving in leadership roles, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2019 and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for the Executive Track in 2021. Prior to this latest promotion, she served as the system associate chief nursing officer, a role she was promoted to in 2024.
As CNO at Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock, Estell’s goals include fostering the growth of new leaders and ensuring the organization achieves its strategic objectives.
About Baptist Health
For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered all our best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here For You. For Life. – with more than 300 points of access that include 12 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 75 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; and a graduate residency program. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 12,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. Baptist Health is certified as a Great Place to Work and is honored by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Admired Workplaces 2026. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Find us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.