Published date: March 08, 2019
(Little Rock) March 8, 2019 – Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) celebrated the investiture of Stephen Beetstra, DDS, MHSA as the recipient and steward of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, Frueauff and Windgate Endowed Chair in Pediatric Dentistry on Thursday, March 7.
Establishing endowed chairs provides Arkansas Children’s the ability to recruit top leaders in the medical field who can provide the best care for patients in Arkansas. An endowed chair or professorship remains one of the highest honors a bestowed on its most distinguished physicians. Those named to a chair are among the most highly regarded scientists, practitioners and professors in their fields.
“There is no greater gift that we can give to our families than a skilled, committed, compassionate and effective leader,” said Charlie Whiteside, chairman of the board of directors for Arkansas Children’s Foundation. “It’s an honor to celebrate the leadership of Dr. Stephen Beetstra, our dental service chief at Arkansas Children's Hospital and associate professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Center for Dental Education.”
The Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation and the Windgate Foundation generously established the Endowed Chair in Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Beetstra is the second chair holder in pediatric dentistry, following the late Dr. James Koonce held the chair until 2013.
“We are grateful to The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, The Windgate Foundation and the ACH Auxiliary, for their visionary partnership,” said Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. “Because of these three organizations, Arkansas Children’s has the resources available to retain and support leaders like Dr. Stephen Beetstra to improve oral health outcomes for children in our state.”
Beetstra formally served in the United State Public Health Service with the Indian Health Service and the National Health Service Corps. Beetstra joined the University of New Mexico in 1999 to begin the Division of Dental Services within the school of medicine. During this time, he was instrumental in the creation of the dental residency program and increasing the access to care for underserved populations throughout New Mexico. In 2004, he was recognized as a National Healthcare Hero by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
About Arkansas Children’s
Arkansas Children's, Inc. is the only healthcare system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' 710,000 children, giving the organization a unique ability to shape the landscape of pediatric care in Arkansas and transform the health of children throughout the region. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons; and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Additionally, ACH is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in five pediatric subspecialties (2019-2020): Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the Northwest Arkansas region, opened in Springdale in early 2018. ACNW operates a 24-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and Northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can fundamentally transform the health of children in Arkansas and beyond. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.
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