Dr Chester Fink: Dallas, TX Pedeatric Rheumy dies...

[Guest guest]

I thought I would pass this along. If you lived in TX and had JRA, it

is likely that you saw Dr Fink in the past...

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Dr. Chester Fink, whose career spanned more than 40 years in Dallas,

developed an international reputation as a pioneer in researching and

treating rheumatoid arthritis in children.

He was a longtime professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical

Center, where he trained later generations of pediatric

rheumatologists.

Dr. Fink, 78, died Saturday of cancer at UT Southwestern Medical

Center Hospital. Private services will be at Dallas-Fort Worth

National Cemetery.

Dr. Fink had an impressive curriculum vitae, but at the heart of his

work was his passion for helping children, said his wife, Dorothy

Fink, who lives near Cedar Creek Lake.

" He loved taking care of children; that was his life, " Mrs. Fink

said. " Having his own children was not as important as taking care of

sick kids, and that's the truth. He had very few hobbies because he

was dedicated to pediatrics. "

Those close to Dr. Fink said his devotion to pediatric medicine and

an illness that was difficult to treat may have begun with his ailing

younger brother, his wife said.

As a boy, his brother suffered from meningitis – a 10-year battle

that he ultimately lost.

Dr. Ginsburg, associate dean for academic administration at

UT Southwestern, said the childhood experience seemed to lead Dr.

Fink to his specialty.

" I think one of the things that interested him was that this was a

group of really needy kids that not many people wished to care for, "

said Dr. Ginsburg, chairman of the pediatrics department during Dr.

Fink's tenure. " There was a considerable amount of altruism in his

career. "

Born in New York, Dr. Fink received his bachelor's and medical

degrees from Duke University.

He was a resident at hospitals in New York and Cleveland before

serving in the Army from 1954 to 1955. He met his wife, an Army

nurse, in Japan.

Dr. Fink was chief pediatric resident at Children's Hospital in

Cleveland for one year before joining the UT Southwestern faculty as

an instructor in 1957.

In Dallas, he teamed with Dr. Ziff, a pioneering authority on

arthritic and rheumatic disorders. Dr. Ziff died last August.

Dr. Fink became the authority in treating the disease in children. At

the time, the specialty was focused on adults.

" They were mostly adult rheumatologists who were taking care of

children, " Mrs. Fink said. " It's a different field with children than

adults. "

Dr. Fink also established the first clinic dedicated to pediatric

rheumatology in the state, at Texas ish Rite Hospital for

Children in Dallas.

Dr. Fink shared his knowledge with physicians around the world.

" He traveled a lot, " his wife said. " He taught in many countries, and

he gave speeches in many countries. "

Dr. Fink became an assistant professor in 1959 and a full professor

in 1971. He retired in 1998 and was named professor emeritus.

Dr. Fink was active in numerous professional organizations and had

several leadership roles. He was an organizer and chairman of the

Council on Pediatric Rheumatology for the American Rheumatism

Association in 1981 and 1982. He also served on the association's

executive committee.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Fink is survived by a daughter, Ellen

Freeman of Carrollton; two sons, Curtis Fink of ville and Navy

Cmdr. Murray Fink; and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Texas ish Rite Hospital for Children,

Children's Medical Center Dallas or the Arthritis Foundation.