Washington Regional Medical Foundation’s Gala will honor 3 with Eagle Award

One of the region’s longest standing philanthropic events will honor three healthcare officials Saturday (July 13) at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.

Drs. Scott Bailey, J. Thaddeus Beck and Hugh Higginbotham are this year’s recipients of the Eagle Award. They’ll be formally recognized at Washington Regional Medical Foundation’s Gala, a biennial event benefiting hospital programs and projects of Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. Proceeds from this year’s event will support the construction of a new Cancer Support Home in Fayetteville, to be built on 4.4 acres east of 378 E. Longview St. near Brookstone Assisted Living Community and Washington Regional’s Willard Walker Hospice Home.

The Gala alternates years with the foundation’s other primary fundraising event, the Hospice Summer Garden Party.

Established in 1994, the Eagle Award is given to individuals or organizations that make outstanding contributions to the improvement of healthcare in Northwest Arkansas.

Bailey, a Bentonville native, launched his career at Parkhill Clinic for Women in 1988, where he is now president. He also served as chief of staff at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital for over a decade and was the first robotic certified physician in Northwest Arkansas.

Beck was one of three physicians who started Highlands Oncology Group (HOG) in 1996. He’s an accredited author of more than 90 papers and abstracts and played a role in launching HOG’s clinical trials program.

Higginbotham served as a cardiologist in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After his service at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he moved to Fayetteville and was the fourth member of the Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic. After a brief retirement from private practice in 1998, Higginbotham served another 14 years to conclude a 60-year medical career.

Ticket information for the event is at this link.