29 Apr 2024 501Der Women 2024: Jennifer Bishop

From a young age, Jennifer Bishop, MD, knew she would attend medical school. After her first rotation in the operating room, she discovered how to compassionately make a difference in patients’ lives through her career.

“Anesthesiology combines performing procedures with an extensive knowledge of how the body works and how medications work on the body, which made it the perfect fit for me,” Bishop said. “It is fast-paced and interesting and is never the same day to day.”

With a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Arkansas and a Medical Doctorate from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Bishop works for Conway Anesthesiology Consultants, which provides anesthesiology services at Conway Regional Medical Center. She takes pride in providing peace for patients in their moments of vulnerability.

“Surgical procedures can be major sources of anxiety for patients, and helping relieve that anxiety is important to me,” Bishop said. “In most cases, I have a small window of time preoperatively to learn a patient’s medical history, come up with an anesthetic plan tailored specifically to them and communicate effectively that my team and I will take good care of them.”

She thanks the strong female role models in her life for helping her get to where she is today.

“My mom and mother-in-law have prayed for me constantly and helped me in countless ways,” Bishop said. “My daughter amazes me every day as she grows into her own. The physicians who educated me along the way have helped shape my life, as have my fellow female physicians at Conway Regional.”

Her favorite pastime is spending time with her family. “Being with my family brings me the most joy,” Bishop said. “Whether it’s nights at the baseball field, traveling to dance competitions or just being together at home, they keep me going every day.”

Through perseverance, she believes anything is possible.

“Nothing worth having ever comes easily,” Bishop said. “It takes a lot of hard work and patience to get to where you want to be. Learn to give yourself grace. You can’t do everything for everyone all the time, and asking for help is not a bad thing. Learning how to balance career and family takes time but it can be done and is so worth it.”

Jennifer Bishop lives in Conway with her husband, John, and their two children, Brady and Harper.