MARK JOSEPH HEULITT M.D,
67, went to be with the Lord on November 18th, 2023 at UAMS in Little Rock surrounded by his wife of 45 years and his two children. Mark was the beloved husband of Effie “Candy” Heulitt and the father to Gerald “Jay” Heulitt M.D. and Eileen Marie Kaetzer (Heulitt).
Dr. Heulitt was born alongside his twin sister, Paula Lynn, in Newark, New Jersey to Gerald Tilton Heulitt and Rose Catherine Heulitt. He graduated from Pequannock High School and received his bachelors in biology from Washington & Jefferson College. While at Washington & Jefferson he met the love of his life Candy whom he married. Pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a pediatric doctor he attended Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines where he completed his medical degree and made lifelong friendships. After medical school he completed his residency, becoming chief resident, at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, a part of Columbia University in New York City, New York. During his time in New York his son Jay was born. Dr. Heulitt recognized the importance of specialized knowledge in the care of critically ill children and went on to do a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at Duke University in Durham, N.C. along with a second fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care at University of Texas Southwestern University in Dallas, Texas. During his training in Dallas he and his wife welcomed their daughter, Eileen.
In 1990 Dr. Heulitt embarked on a new chapter moving his family to Little Rock, Ark., and joining the staff of Arkansas Children’s Hospital as a Pediatric Intensivist & researcher. For the next 26 years he made his life’s work caring for the most critically ill children in the state of Arkansas at ACH. Dr. Heulitt played a pivotal role in building ACH’s intensive care program, introducing cutting edge advancements such as Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and spearheading the transportation of critically ill patients. His recognized talent and love for teaching the next generation of doctors was honored with a professorship at UAMS. During his tenure, Dr. Heulitt ran a research lab that focused on making advancements in respiratory care. His groundbreaking work in the lab contributed to significant strides in ventilatory care, impacting the lives of countless children. Recognized for his expertise, he was frequently invited to speak at conferences both nationally and internationally on ventilatory care, sharing his knowledge and innovations with the global medical community. Mark’s commitment to advancing medical knowledge extended to his prolific contributions to medical literature. He authored 21 chapters featured in medical textbooks and 38 journal articles in medical literature serving as a beacon of knowledge for students and practitioners alike. Dr. Heulitt’s last years in critical care medicine were spent opening a brand new PICU unit at Baptist Women’s and Children’s Hospital that served the children of Memphis, Tenn.
In addition to his academic feats, Dr. Heulitt overcame a difficult struggle with cancer in 2008. He had many passions and hobbies which included hunting, boxing, swimming and writing fiction.
Mark remained a devoted family man, finding joy in life with his wife Candy by his side and taking great pride in the accomplishments of his two children. In his most recent years he received what he considered his greatest title of “Grandpa.” Although Mark will be deeply missed by all those who knew his one of a kind humorous nature & caring heart, we know he was greeted at the gates of heaven by his Lord.
Mark is survived by his wife, Effie “Candy” Heulitt; his son, Gerald “Jay” Heulitt, M.D. (Lindsay); his daughter, Eileen Kaetzer (Chadwick); his grandchildren, Joseph Theodore Heulitt, Samuel James Kaetzer, and Lily Catherine Kaetzer; his siblings, Paula and Jerry.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, Thomas Oliver Kaetzer, and both of his parents. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 25th 2:30 p.m. at Christ Little Rock (formerly Christ Lutheran Church) with a reception to follow.
A private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to be made to the Dr. Mark J. Heulitt endowment fund at Arkansas Children’s Hospital to provide resources for pediatric residents and fellows which can be found at support.archildrens.org/drmarkjheulittendowment.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com.