Arkansas Heart Hospital
2024 Arkansas Business of the Year // Category V (500+ Employees) Little Rock
In the 1990s, a group of cardiologists gathered in Little Rock and imagined creating a hospital that was dedicated to preventing, diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases.
The dream became a reality when Dr. Bruce Murphy and seven physicians, along with Medcath Corp. of Charlotte, North Carolina, opened Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock in 1997. Medcath exited the ownership picture in 2011, and Murphy led a group of investors to buy Medcath’s share to ensure the hospital would remain locally owned.
Under Murphy’s leadership as CEO, the specialty hospital hasn’t missed a beat. It opened the $55 million Encore Medical Center in Bryant in 2021. With about 1,300 employees, Arkansas Heart Hospital has grown to about 25 clinics, including one in Texarkana, Texas, which opened in 2022.
The employees are the reason for the hospital system’s success. “From our physicians and clinical staff to our culinary and support services team, everyone is united in our mission to provide patient-centered care,” Murphy said.
Previous Honorees
Browse by Year
Arkansas Business of the Year
2026 Arkansas Business of the Year
Nonprofit Organization
Innovation Pacesetter
Category 5 (500+ Employees)
Category 4 (151-499 Employees)
Category 3 (56-150 Employees)
Category 2 (31-55 Employees)
Category 1 (1-30 Employees)
2024 Arkansas Business of the Year
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Legacy of Leadership
Innovation Pacesetter Award
Category V (500+ Employees)
Category IV (151-499 Employees)
Category III (56-150 Employees)
Category II (31-55 Employees)
Category I (1-30 Employees)
2023 Arkansas Business of the Year
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Legacy of Leadership
Innovation Pacesetter
Category V (500+ Employees)
Category IV (151-499 Employees)
Category III (56-150 Employees)
Category II (31-55 Employees)
Category I (1-30 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
2022
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Legacy of Leadership
Category V (500+ Employees)
Category IV (151-499 Employees)
Category III (56-150 Employees)
Category II (31-55 Employees)
Category I (1-30 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
2021
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Legacy of Leadership
Category IV (151-499 Employees)
Category III (56-150 Employees)
Category II (31-55 Employees)
Category I (1-30 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation Smart Corporate Giving Award
2020
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Legacy of Leadership
Category IV (101-499 Employees)
Category III (56-100 Employees)
Category II (31-55 Employees)
Category I (1-30 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2019
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Legacy of Leadership
Category IV (101-499 Employees)
Category III (56-100 Employees)
Category II (31-55 Employees)
Category I (1-30 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2018
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category IV (101-499 Employees)
Category III (56-100 Employees)
Category II (31-55 Employees)
Category I (1-30 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2017
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2016
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2015
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2014
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2013
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2012
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2010
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2009
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2008
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2007
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2006
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2005
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category IV (Nonprofit Organizations)
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2004
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2003
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2002
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2001
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category IV (Nonprofit Organizations)
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations
2000
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
1999
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
1998
Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Category III (76-300 Employees)
Category II (26-75 Employees)
Category I (1-25 Employees)
Business Executive of the Year
