The Arkansas Medical Board has suspended the medical license of Fulton County physician Jeff Summerhill. With the board’s suspension, Fulton County Hospital CEO Curren Everett confirmed Summerhill is no longer employed at the hospital in Salem. Everett says Summerhill had served as an emergency room physician at the hospital since 2008.
The action by the state medical board was taken Oct. 12th. The medical board’s attorney, Kevin O’Dwyer, tells KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news the suspension followed an incident reported in Alaska leading to Dr. Summerhill being charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and an order of protection being filed against him in Fulton County Circuit Court a week later.
The suspension of Dr. Summerhill’s license followed the physician’s arrest in early September. O’Dwyer says the state trooper’s report cited alcohol as a factor in an incident and indicates the physician exhibited dangerous and aggressive behavior toward his female companion.
According to the order of protection, Summerhill and a female companion were in a remote area in Talkeetna, Alaska hunting for bear. The female companion alleges Summerhill struck her in the face, knocking her out and giving her a black eye. She said she is not sure on which day the incident occurred, because she did not have a way to check.
She said Summerhill prevented her from leaving the mountain for three to four days, telling their pilot not to come to get her for at least three days. She said during this time, she asked him repeatedly on a daily basis to let her go.
After their pilot picked them up and dropped them off, the woman said Summerhill instructed her to get into a vehicle with him, and she declined. She said the physician allegedly then threw a duffel bag at her and took out a pocket knife, leading her to call 911.
A state trooper responded, interviewed the woman and took Summerhill into custody.
In the order of protection, the woman said Summerhill has allegedly put his hands on her multiple times, but this was the first occasion she had contacted law enforcement. She said the most recent incident prior to the arrest occurred in May when the physician allegedly shoved her through the window of their garage.
Summerhill’s bio on the hospital website indicates he is a board certified family practice physician. He attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey. After graduation, he completed his internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
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