Summer 2008 - Arkansas Children's Hospital

HOSPITAL NEWSDr. Eldon Schulz celebrates being an endowed chair recipient with hisfamily including (from left): daughter, Kestin; wife, Margaret; anddaughter, Kari.Dr. Eldon Schulz receives his endowed chair, asBruce Bartley, co-trustee of the WinthropRockefeller Charitable Trust, looks on.Schulz Honored With Rockefeller Endowed ChairDr. Eldon G. Schulz* was recently named the inaugural holder of theRockefeller Chair for Children with Special Healthcare Needs. TheRockefeller Chair was created with a gift of $1 million to the ArkansasChildren’s Hospital Foundation by the Winthrop Rockefeller CharitableTrust.The chair was conferred in an investiture ceremony held June 11. Dr.Schulz’s friends and colleagues commended him during the ceremony,which was held on the ACH campus.“One of Eldon’s favorite sayings is, ‘If we are going to do it, let’s do it100 percent,’ and that’s how Eldon looks at life,” said J. TimothyMcMahon, professor of management at the University of Houston. “Hehelps people, he cares for people, he is a wonderful colleague and a wonderfulfriend.”In his remarks at the ceremony, Dr. Schulz discussed his plans for theRockefeller Chair funds. One problem he will address is the economicissues faced by families with a child with special healthcare needs. Almosta quarter of the families with a child with special needs have to stop orreduce their employment, while paying increased out-of-pocket expenses.This takes a toll on the family, and the divorce rate of these parents inthree years is 80 percent, compared to the national average of 30 percent.“When I make a diagnosis, I am very cognizant of the fact that this willchange this family’s life forever,” said Dr. Schulz.“And one thing I really want to focus on are theserisk factors. A family who has been working, thrivingand fending for themselves can easily end up inpoverty. Somehow we have to break this cycle.”Dr. Schulz, who personally knew the lateLieutenant Governor Win Paul Rockefeller as apatient’s parent, not a legislator, is excited aboutreceiving this honor.“I will be doing my best to steward this gift andI appreciate the Rockefeller Charitable Trustputting this opportunity into my hands,” said Dr.Schulz.*Eldon G. Schulz, MD, is medical director ofACH rehabilitative services, section chief fordevelopmental-behavioral pediatrics andrehabilitative pediatrics and professor in thedepartments of pediatrics and physicalmedicine and rehabilitation, UAMS College ofMedicine.13