Quick Facts
LibraBiography
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ronald Ray Blanck, D.O. (born October 8, 1941) was the 39th Surgeon General of the United States Army, from 1996 to 2000.He is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and is the only such physician ever appointed Surgeon General of the Army. He was also president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth from 2000 to 2006. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Career
He is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is board certified in internal medicine. He began his military career in 1968 as a medical officer and battalion surgeon in Vietnam. He retired 32 years later as the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command, with more than 46,000 military personnel and 26,000 civilian employees throughout the world.
During his military career, he also served as commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center; first commander of the North Atlantic Region Medical Command; and Director of Professional Services and Chief of Medical Corps Affairs for the U.S. Army Surgeon General. Other assignments included Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine; Chief of the Department of Medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center; Commander, Berlin Army Hospital; and Commander, Frankfurt Regional Army Medical Center.
He has held teaching positions at Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University College of Medicine, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
He joined the UNT Health Science Center in August 2000 after his retirement from the U.S. Army and served as president until June 30, 2006. As president, he headed an academic health center that includes the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health and School of Health Professions. He is now is a partner and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Martin, Blanck & Associates. The company, formerly Martin & Associates, does health care consulting for the private sector and the government. He is consulted as an advisor on bioterrorism issues and an expert in preparing the medical community to respond to mass casualty incidents or those involving weapons of mass destruction. He chaired task forces on bioterrorism for both the Texas Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association.
Honors and recognition
His military honors include Distinguished Service Medals, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medals.
In 2000 the American Medical Association honored him with its highest award for government officials, the Dr. Nathan Davis Award.
He is past Governor of the American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine and was named a Master by the society.
He was elected to the National Board of Medical Examiners and also joined the boards of Delsite,Inc, Noblis, Inc (formerly Mitretek Systems, Inc), Trauma Cure, Inc and The Annapolis Center for Science-Based Public Policy.
