Zionsville/Indianapolis-Based Pediatric Rehab Physician Chuck Dietzen Honored with Christophers' James Keller Award

Zionsville/Indianapolis-based pediatric rehabilitation doctor Chuck Dietzen will receive the James Keller Award, one of the organization’s most venerated, at the 68^th annual Christopher Awards ceremony in NYC on Tuesday May 16^th. In addition, his book, “Pint-Sized Prophets: Inspirational Moments That Taught Me We Are All Born to Be Healers,” will also be honored with a Christopher Award this year.

The James Keller Award, named after The Christophers’ founder, recognizes individuals who are positively shaping the lives of children.

Dr. Chuck, as Dr. Dietzen is known, has been helping kids all his life, thanks to the influence of his parents, who took in 150 foster children over 20 years. Regarding his mother and father he said, “My parents didn’t preach giving and caring for others. They demonstrated it on a regular basis.”

Dr. Chuck decided to pursue a medical career in pediatrics. His background in sports led him to physical rehabilitation as a specialty, working with disabled kids. His mission expanded in 1997, after an encounter with Mother Teresa. From her, he learned, “Be ordinary, but have an extraordinary mission.”

That experience prompted Dr. Chuck to ask himself, “Why did God put me here?” The answer he came up with was, “I’m here to save every child I can, and do what I can to relieve suffering. But the other part of that is revealing to others that we weren’t all born to be doctors and nurses, but we were all born to be healers.”

Soon after, Dr. Chuck founded Timmy Global Health, which enlists students and medical volunteers in its mission to bring healthcare to those in need around the world. The organization is named after Dr. Chuck’s brother who died a few days after birth, and it was developed as a living legacy to pediatric hospice.

Dr. Chuck has come to see his patients as “Pint-Sized Prophets,” the title of the book for which he is also winning a Christopher Award. It is one of 12 books for adults and young people by 16 authors and illustrators to be celebrated this year, along with the writers, producers and directors of nine feature films and TV/Cable programs.

“I think the beauty of this work is when you allow yourself to get close enough to these kids, your heart will be broken and, at the same time, healed...They are incredible souls who were sent here to make us better, to make us more compassionate, more kind, more human,” Dr. Dietzen said.

The Christophers, a nonprofit organization, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb—“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”— guides its publishing, radio, and awards programs. More information is available at www.christophers.org.