Interventional cardiologist now serving in Saline County
Saline Health System has added a new interventional cardiologist.
Dr. Kristina Skinner, D.O., started working in the hospital’s clinic Aug. 2.
“I was looking for a new adventure,” Skinner said of her choice to come to Arkansas.
She is originally from Vancouver, Canada, and went to medical school in at Nova Southeastern University in South Florida before doing her medical training at the University of Arizona for seven years — three years in internal medicine, three years in cardiology and one year in interventional cardiology.
Skinner originally went to medical school planning to go into psychology, but when she learned about cardiology she fell in love with it. Her trainers told
her she was good at the interventionist side of cardiology.
Like a general cardiologist, she will see patients with a variety of heart conditions. As a interventionist, she can also perform procedures.
Skinner does not come from a medical family. She said most in her family are in business and that is what she originally planned to do.
When she completed her medical training, Skinner wanted to work for a smaller community hospital. She came across Saline Memorial and thought it sounded enticing.
“I came here not sure what to expect and I loved it,” she said.
She said the people at the hospital have been welcoming and the community is pretty. As an outdoor person, Skinner missed trees while living in Arizona.
She visited a few times before moving to the community with her husband of seven years Andrew Seminari and dog, Gino.
She hopes to build a busy practice serving the community while also being a clinic known for getting people in quickly and following up quickly.
The main cardiologist she works with is Dr.
Jeffrey Stewart, M.D. Skinner said she joined the practice because Stewart needed help.
Skinner enjoys working with heart failure patients. She likes to treat them, manage their care and follow up and get to see how they have improved.
She wants to work with women’s health. She said women’s heart conditions are treated differently.
“As a woman interventional cardiologist, I hope to provide that additional expertise in women’s cardiological health,” Skinner said.
She added that less than 7 percent of practicing cardiologists are women.
Growing up in Canada, Skinner speaks French. Her mother is from Mexico, so she also speaks Spanish.
Skinner said when patients see her she wants to treat every single one like family.
When she is not working, Skinner loves to be outdoors. She enjoys running and hiking.
She is a member of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the American College of Cardiology. She said membership in the two organizations is important because they give her access to new data and research.
Skinner sees herself in Saline County for the long term.
“I am building a practice here,” she said.
She enjoys working in the clinic. She has noticed the emphasis on patient care. She loves that they always strive to do what is best for every patient.
Central Arkansas Cardiology Associates is located at 3 Medical Park Drive in suite 301, attached to the hospital in Benton. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.