In 1978, Dr. Robert Bulten saw the Alger Heights neighborhood as a spot to deliver primary care pediatrics to all the children of our community. He made the decision to be a Medicaid provider as well. He rented a small part of our current building. With the addition of more partners, Dr. Douglas Daining in 1982 and Dr. Ronald Hofman in 1984, the practice expanded, and soon the whole building became the space we have grown to love. The name of the practice became Alger Pediatrics to reflect our neighborhood within the city of Grand Rapids.

In 1982, we developed a relationship with Baxter Community Center, extending volunteer care there to many who were uninsured, underinsured, or were Medicaid recipients in the Baxter neighborhood. For many years, Alger Pediatrics physicians also volunteered at Bethany Christian Services, seeing new refugees and babies brought into foster and adoptive placement.

In subsequent years, Alger Pediatrics expanded to six physicians, all functioning in tight quarters in a building never intended to be a medical practice. We adapted the building to make it work and have since added medical home providers including care managers, registered dietitians, and lactation consultants, all helping patients and families establish vital nutritional, medical, physical, and emotional support. In addition, Alger Pediatrics has played its part in the development and sustainability of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital from its inception. We have been on staff at both Corewell-related hospitals (a.k.a. Blodgett and Butterworth) and what is now Trinity (formerly Saint Mary’s).