Small Soldiers
For many military families, consistency can be difficult to find, but at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Maj. Kevin Weaver has made a career out of being the consistency local military families need.
As a pediatrician in the 19th Healthcare Operations Squadron, Weaver spends his days caring for military children and supporting families who serve alongside them. From routine wellness checks and visits to helping parents and children alike adjust to the complexities and challenges that accompany the profession, his work places him at an intersection of medicine and service.
Drawn by an early and deep-rooted desire to serve and give back, Weaver has created a career blending the skill set of a medical professional with the empathy of a parent and active-duty family member.
“I always wanted to serve. It’s always been something I wanted to do,” Weaver said. “There was always a draw in my heart to serve and to give back.”
That desire first led him to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and later took him to medical school in Tennessee, residency training at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, serving in Alaska and eventually finding his way back to Arkansas.
While his career carried him across state lines and toward new adventures, his motivation behind his service and care remained consistent. The Memphis native and honorary Arkansan has created a mindset that extends beyond his team and exam room. To his way of thinking, the rank of major and the ability to serve in a leadership role takes a back seat to relationships and communication.
“I want people to be comfortable bringing up concerns,” he said. “When families see a major, they may think that they need to have everything perfectly together. I want them to feel comfortable talking to me and telling me what’s really going on. Whether it’s something that can help a patient or something we need to improve, I never want anyone to feel intimidated.”
Most of Weaver’s days begin with a team huddle before moving into seeing patients. During the huddles, he said, his team works collaboratively to prepare for what they like to do most: care for children.
“It’s what I should be doing,” Weaver said. “Taking care of kids is why I’m here.”
Military pediatrics offers a unique set of challenges Weaver said, but his experiences have also given him the opportunity to meet resilient, remarkable people to motivate him.
“You get to work with really resilient families,” Weaver said. “There are a lot of good people in military service, and when you’re surrounded by good people, it makes you a better person too.”
Outside of work, Weaver’s greatest source of motivation is his family. He and his wife are raising six children, something he says would not be possible without her unwavering support.
“My wife is my hero,” he said. “She takes care of our six kids while I’m at work, and she does an incredible job.”
Faith, family and service continue to guide Weaver both personally and professionally. As his career has taken him from Tennessee to Colorado, Arkansas and Alaska, the purpose behind his work has remained the same.
“I don’t get up every day because I want to be the best doctor in the world,” Weaver said. “I get up because of the people I work with, the people I work for and the people I’m trying to help.”
(Photo provided by LRAFB)
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