Bale Family Gives $1 Million to Arkansas Children’s

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (June 24, 2025) - Arkansas Children’s is honored to announce the creation of the Bale Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Interventional Radiology honoring Drs. Joanna and Robert Seibert, made possible by a $1 million gift by the Bale family. Sharon and John H. Bale Jr., and family have joined with Drs. Joanna and Robert Seibert to combine their passions for philanthropy and clinical excellence, ensuring a healthier tomorrow for children.

The Bale and Seibert families are establishing the endowed chair together to strengthen pediatric interventional radiology, a critical field in diagnosing and treating young patients.

John H. Bale Jr. has continued a family legacy of service to Arkansas Children's that dates back to 1927, when Bale’s grandfather, Hardin, served on the board of directors — a testament to the family's deep-rooted commitment to the health system. From 1974 to 2023, Bale served on the Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) Board of Directors and, in 2000, he acted as chair, following in the footsteps of his father, John H. Bale Sr., who served as ACH board chair from 1956 to 1958. Bale's contributions have been wide reaching, including his 15-year service on the ACH Physician Board of Directors beginning in 2000, where he supported the hospital's growth in clinical care, and five years on the Arkansas Children’s Foundation (ACF) Board of Directors, serving as chair in 2004. Bale joined the Arkansas Children’s system Board of Directors in 2016.

The Bale family's leadership through service continues with Bale’s wife Sharon’s service on the ACF board and their son Hunter’s service on the ACH board.

“Our family’s hope is this endowed chair will empower Arkansas Children’s to provide the very best in pediatric care for generations to come,” said Hunter Bale. “Drs. Joanna and Robert Seibert’s dedication to children’s health has inspired us deeply, and it’s an honor to contribute to their legacy.”

Dr. Joanna Seibert, a trailblazer in pediatric radiology, moved to Arkansas in 1976 and became the state’s first trained pediatric radiologist. Over the years, she and her husband, Dr. Robert Seibert, have dedicated themselves to advancing care at Arkansas Children’s through their clinical expertise and commitment to teamwork. Dr. Robert Seibert was the first pediatric otolaryngologist in the state and developed the cleft lip and palate program at Arkansas Children’s. Their contributions have been recognized with the Joanna and Robert Seibert Award, presented biennially by Arkansas Children’s to a physician who exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and excellence in practice.

In 2017, Dr. Joanna Seibert was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame, recognizing her groundbreaking work and decades of service to children. This endowed chair marks a new chapter in the couple’s legacy, building on the enduring impact they made at Arkansas Children’s.

“The collaboration between these two families reflects a profound commitment to ensuring the region’s children have access to world-class care,” said Fred Scarborough, executive vice president and chief development officer at Arkansas Children's. “Arkansas Children’s is deeply grateful for their generosity and shared belief in advancing child health.”

Endowed chairs, made possible by transformational philanthropy, are powerful tools for recruiting top medical talent. These prestigious positions help attract and retain leading scientists, practitioners, and professors, ensuring the highest-quality care for patients. To support Arkansas Children's growth, visit archildrens.org/donate or call 800-880-7491 today.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S

Arkansas Children's is the only health care system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' 850,000 children. 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 — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. 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 (ACS); and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Arkansas Children’s is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in seven pediatric subspecialties (2024-2025): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Neonatal Care, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the northwest Arkansas region, is a Level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates a 25-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 deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health.To learn more, visit www.archildrens.org.

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