The Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute will use $3 million in private donations to establish the institute's first endowed chair, a spokesman for the hospital's foundation said Monday.
The donations will be used to established a chair in honor of Dr. Richard Jacobs, who stepped down as president of the research institute June 30, Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation spokesman Ashley Leopoulos said.
The endowment proceeds will support pediatric research in one or more areas such as hematology/oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, immunology, infectious diseases, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, or urology, according to a foundation news release.
The chair holder will be selected by institute President Greg Kearns and Arkansas Children's Hospital Chief Executive Officer Marcy Doderer, Leopoulos said.
While the hospital has more than 30 endowed chairs, the institute hadn't previously had such a position, Leopoulos said.
Half of the money for the endowment came from a gift by Ross Whipple, chairman of the research institute board and former chief executive of Summit Bank in Arkadelphia, and Whipple's wife, Mary.
The other half of the money came from donations from the institute's 30-member board, Leopoulos said.
Funded by federal grants and private donations, the institute provides laboratory space and other support for pediatric researchers from Arkansas Children's Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
"We wanted to recognize Dr. Jacobs and his dedication to research over the past three decades at Arkansas Children's Hospital, so we are dedicating money for research and finding cures for children," Ross Whipple was quoted as saying in the release.
Metro on 07/28/2015