TCOM Alumnus Dr. Frederick White receives the Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Service from the AOCR
In recognition of his outstanding leadership, dedication and service, Frederick E. White, DO, FAOCR, a 1977 graduate from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, was selected as the recipient of the American Osteopathic College of Radiology Gold Medal for Distinguished Service.
Dr. White is only the 16th person ever selected to receive this award. The Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Service is the AOCR’s highest honor, presented to recognize extraordinary meritorious and distinguished service to the AOCR throughout one’s career.
“I feel incredibly honored to receive this very special award,” White said. “They don’t give many of these out so every once in a while when somebody notices the work that you are doing, it’s really humbling.”
White, a diagnostic radiologist practicing in Hemet, California, grew up in the small Texas town of Cisco and attended The University of Texas at Arlington before arriving at TCOM in 1974 as part of just the fourth class of osteopathic medical students. He served as class president and credits his education at TCOM for much of his success.
“I owe a tremendous amount to TCOM, it was the perfect fit for me and got me started and pointed in the right direction,” White said. “I treasure my days at TCOM, the people and faculty members were wonderful.”
A member of the United States Navy at the time of his graduation, White did his internship and residency in San Diego at one of the largest military hospitals in the country.
After 22 years of service as a U.S. Navy Medical Corps Commander, White retired in 1986 and joined the Hemet Global Medical Group, becoming the first osteopathic physician to join the hospital. Becoming the CEO of his group in 1992, he expanded the group to cover eight hospitals and was instrumental in bringing osteopathic residency training programs to their hospital in 2015
In 2017, the programs became ACGME accredited and currently trains 78 residents and fellows in the fields of diagnostic radiology, internal medicine, family medicine, and transitional year programs.
“Quite honestly I would have retired 10 years ago, but we formed this residency program and it really inspired me to stay here,” White said. “This program has really been great for the hospital and for the town and I’m so glad we started this.”
In recognition of this service, he has received various other awards such as Physician of the Year by the Valley Health Systems Foundation (2012) and AOA Distinguished Service Certificate (2017). White has been a dedicated member of the AOCR since becoming a resident member in 1981. During his tenure with the College, he served as a member of the AOCR Board of Directors for 14 years and was elected as the 63rd president in 2012. He has served on numerous committees over the years, including the Committee on Continuing Medical Education, in which he shared in the development and implementation of important CME policies and participated in monitoring and evaluating compliance with AOCR CME activities. He was awarded the title of FAOCR in 2003.
White plans to continue his practice and be part of the residency program, and while his trips back to Texas are rare these days, he still has a special place in his heart for TCOM.
“I know a lot of things have changed at TCOM since my time, but in my mind, it’s still the same wonderful school it was when I left.”
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