Karen and Steven Parker were dedicated to their patients. Both behavioral health providers, Karen a therapist and Steven a developmental pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, the couple shared a passion for helping others. Now, their legacy lives on through a bequest of their combined estate that will support children with developmental disabilities at BMC.
From left: Prynce, a patient in BMC’s Autism Program, with Jacqueline McKendry, Behavior Specialist, MS, BCBA, LABA.
“Steven believed every child deserved excellent care—no matter what language they spoke, where they came from, or what was in their family’s bank account,” says Marilyn Augustyn, MD, division director of developmental & behavioral pediatrics at BMC. “He felt that kids with developmental disabilities needed a medical home, so he built it.”
That home was BMC’s comprehensive care program in the pediatrics department, a primary care clinic supporting kids with chronic medical conditions, developmental disabilities, and complex issues. But Steven wanted awareness and knowledge about developmental disabilities to extend beyond the clinic. It’s why he also founded a program to train pediatric providers on identifying development issues among their patients and how best to care for them.
According to the CDC, approximately one in six children in the U.S. has a developmental disability. Yet, there are too few providers to meet the demand for care, leading to delays in diagnoses. The program Steven started helps to address this by training pediatric primary care providers on these disabilities. More awareness and knowledge mean earlier diagnoses and getting the right supports in place sooner.
Steven passed away in 2009 from complications of cancer. Before Karen passed in 2023, she directed their combined estate to BMC.
“Karen’s devotion to her patients was immense, as was her commitment to Steven’s legacy,” said Linda Grant, MD, a longtime friend of the Parkers.
“Karen and Steven shared the belief that a disability shouldn’t define a child. Karen dedicating their estate to this work was her way of memorializing Steven’s legacy.” — Linda
The couple’s bequest will ensure this initiative—which has trained more than 30 pediatric clinicians so far—will continue well into the future.
Learn more about planned giving at Boston Medical Center.
