2010 President's Message
Chad Rodgers, MD, President

In 2010, Dr. Chad Rodgers became the youngest president ever elected to lead the 144-year-old organization. He is in a partner in the private practice of pediatrics at Little Rock Pediatric Clinic. Even before he began practicing medicine, he was honing his leadership skills serving as UAMS Resident Representative and vice-president of his UAMS Medical School Class.

Dr. Rodgers currently serves as President of the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was inducted as alumni into Alpha Omega Alpha and recently appointed to Governor Beebe’s Early Childhood Commission. He has been nominated as an honoree for HIPPY’s Children’s Champion as well.

HIPPY is a home-based literacy intervention with parents. Dr. Rodgers is a founder of Reach Out and Read Arkansas, a pediatric literacy intervention during Well Child Visits where a health care provider gives a book in the context of the visit with important guidance to the parents about the importance of early book sharing. It is an independent organization endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a trained Health Literacy Trainer of the American Medical Association as well.

At his election as president, Dr. Rodgers said, “I recently attended the recent performance of the River City Men’s Chorus, an all male men’s chorus whose members include some members of our society.

The production was titled “Heroes” with a focus honoring many of our men and women in uniform who are currently giving their lives for our country. It also included images of firemen and policemen as well as many other professions that we would consider to be “Heroes”.

I was most surprised by a recurring picture of a physician. Where I have often thought of our profession as a calling, I had failed to appreciate that our society often sees us as “Heroes”, as people who make personal sacrifices to serve the good of the community often at the risk of their own lives.

I have often compared the profession of pediatrics to being a “Rock Star” making it difficult attending even the grocery store without being mobbed by some patients. But I truly do believe that our culture still sees us as “Heroes” and I am honored that you have selected me to serve this community of “Heroes” for the next year.

You all give above and beyond to your families, your patients, and to this organization. These are definitely interesting times in healthcare. Despite what may be going on in Washington DC, we must continue our work to ensure the highest quality of medicine in Central Arkansas for our patients and our community and preserve the profession of medicine as a rewarding profession to pass on to young and talented physicians. “

Your humble servant,

Dr. Chad Rodgers, M.D