generations of care
Story by Susan O'Connor, Photos by Dero Sanford

The life work of Dr. Charles Kemp has been caring for the health of children in northeast Arkansas. After 50 years of practice in the field of pediatrics, he has seen many changes, and he has literally cared for generations.

“Without his vision, pediatric care in this region would not be anywhere near what it is today,” said colleague Dr. David Matthews. “He has believed, and shown in his actions, that this area mattered and positive changes done well make lasting change for those of us who live in northeast Arkansas.

“His manner with people, his compassion for them, his ability to take their idiosyncrasies as just ‘part of the deal’ and helping them get through illness, have served him well, and show us younger pediatricians how to take care of people here. It is a good example to have.”

A native of Trumann, Kemp credits his parents with instilling the value of education. His mother was a high school teacher.

“My mother tutored me to ensure that I had the necessary knowledge to further my education,” he said. “I owe a great deal to my parents. I was an only child and they were determined that I get a good education.”

Kemp earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1952 and chose to attend medical school in part due to encouragement from longtime Jonesboro physician W.E. Berry. “He encouraged me to be a doctor — he encouraged me in many ways,” Kemp said of his mentor. Kemp also mentioned the support of Dr. Paul Stroud, another local pioneer physician.

After completing medical school at the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock, Kemp chose to specialize, which was a very forward thinking move at a time when most physicians were general practitioners. He began his internship at Washington University in St. Louis, known for its emphasis on specialization. “They encouraged my class of interns to specialize. They felt that this was the future of medicine.”

As he began rotations in various specialties, Kemp said he was immediately drawn to children.

“I found myself gravitating toward young couples and young children. Pediatrics was exciting. We took care of acute illnesses such as meningitis and polio. It was crisis-type medicine. It was something that I really enjoyed.”

Interestingly, Kemp was among the first wave of board certified pediatricians in the U.S., the very first in Northeast Arkansas and one of only five or six in the state at the time he completed his education. He began his pediatric practice, The Children ’s Clinic, in 1959.

“Jonesboro at that time was a pretty unsophisticated medical center,” he said. “I traveled around Northeast Arkansas visiting doctors. I spoke at PTA meetings and civic gatherings to promote pediatrics and the development of the medical center in Jonesboro. Patients began to come. It was an evolving process.”

St. Bernards was very supportive from the beginning, he added. “If we had the poorest child you’ve ever seen in the world, they were supportive. I’m very proud of St. Bernard’s thorough dedication to children. They carried out their mission as it should have been done.”

And Kemp has carried out the mission of preventive medicine that has been a hallmark of the American Board of Pediatrics. Prevention, according to Kemp, has had a profound impact on the health of children.

“Through the years pediatrics has changed drastically because of the preventive aspect,” he said. “The change in the types of illnesses we see is unbelievable.”
Kemp organized clinics to give oral polio vaccines on Sundays at schools and churches in Northeast Arkansas, and the vaccine was given free to all. Civic groups assisted, and donations covered the cost. Because of efforts such as Kemp’s, polio was eradicated in this country. And today a diagnosis of meningitis is rare, Kemp said, and leukemia is no longer a death sentence.

In 1972, Kemp recruited Dr. Weldon Rainwater to join his rapidly growing practice. Rainwater had been in family practice for several years in Blytheville, then chose to obtain board certification in pediatrics.

“I was desperate for someone to help me,” Kemp said. “He was a wonderful man — very forward thinking.” With his help we were able to make the practice a growing and developing clinic. Dr. Rainwater was a turning point. I was a great idea man, and he was good at recruiting physicians and raising money.”

Today, the Children’s Clinic has nine pediatricians, one pediatric neurologist and two nurse practitioners. The Child and Youth Development Center was added in the mid-1980s to address the psychosocial needs of patients, and a social worker and a child psychologist were added to the clinic’s team of caregivers.

Though Kemp is understandably proud of the growth of the clinic, nothing lights up his eyes as much as chance meetings with former patients who reminisce about his care.

“What’s so nice is to run into someone who has nice things to say —
that I took care of their children or grandchildren. It is very gratifying.”