Adam E. Klein, MD - West Virginia State Medical Association

Scientific West Virginia Article School | of Osteopathic Medicine | NEWS$200,000 scholarship endowment largest in WVSOM historyScholarship formed for WVSOM graduate also honors former patientWhen Gary White’s daughterJennifer was 6 months old, he and hiswife, JoAnn, took her to a children’shospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Acouple weeks later, the White familyreceived grim news. Jennifer wasonly expected to live for two yearsdue to a condition doctors mostclosely related to cerebral palsy.Jennifer beat the odds stackedagainst her, continually, untilDec. 16, 2011, when she passedaway at the age of 39.Gary said his daughter’s abilityto fight the odds was attributed tothe exceptional health care Jenniferreceived throughout her life —particularly the last 10 years she wasunder the care of William Mullen, D.O.,a WVSOM graduate and physicianat Logan Regional Medical Center.“My wife and I had a specialneeds daughter, and Dr. Mullengave her exceptional care each year,”Gary White said. “I struggled withwhat you can do for someone likeDr. Mullen. This year, after mydaughter’s death, my wife said,‘Why don’t we fund a scholarshipin his name? It can be a memorialto Jennifer but also a thank you forall Dr. Mullen has done for us.’”The couple, along with thehelp of friend James “Buck”Harless, did just that.“I called Mr. Harless and explainedthe idea to him and he thought itwas wonderful,” White said.The Logan natives formedthe Dr. William B. Mullen &Jennifer White Scholarship witha $200,000 endowment. Thescholarship endowment is thelargest single donation receivedin the institution’s history.“It’s hard to put into words whatthis endowment will mean for theschool,” said Dr. Michael Adelman,WVSOM President. “We are gratefulto the White family and to Mr. Harlessfor their generosity. The scholarshiphonors a WVSOM graduate whohad a profound impact on a patientand, by extension, her family. Itdemonstrates the highest form ofservice a physician can provide.”Harless, who has been a long-timesupporter of WVSOM and workedwith White for nearly 20 years, saidthere was no hesitation when it cameto contributing part of the financialbacking for the scholarship.“Dr. Mullen did such a good jobwith Jennifer that he almost becamea member of her family,” he said.White and Harless agreed thatthey would like the scholarshiprecipient to be a student from Loganor Mingo counties. White said hewould further hope the scholarshiprecipient would want to become aphysician in either of those counties.“If we, in some way, helped a localstudent and continued the osteopathiccare that Dr. Mullen has providedto our family by having a graduateof the program come to the Loganor Mingo area, we would be verypleased with that,” White said.Harless said he knows whatscholarships like these can doto inspire students to forge apositive path in the future.“I believe in education strongly,”Harless said. “Education is oursalvation and I really believe that. Ialways try to help those who can’thelp themselves. It’s a joy to me tosee someone young be successfuland know that my actions mayhave done something for them.”The White family hopes theWVSOM medical students who arerecognized by the scholarshipcommittee will emulate thecharacteristics and quality traits ofDr. Mullen.“Dr. Mullen is exceptionallytenacious,” White said. “If his patienthas a medical problem, he does not restuntil he has diagnosed the problemand found out what is necessaryto deal with the problem. He’s alsovery compassionate, which is prettyunique. Billy just takes an exceptionalpersonal interest in his patients.”Jennifer White experienced a decadeof outstanding care from Dr. Mullen.Even though she was limited in herability to communicate, her family’sappreciation for Dr. Mullen is morethan manifested in the generosity ofthe scholarship which bears his name.“We feel strongly that this is anappropriate and lasting memorial giftto our daughter,” White said. “This isa special gift honoring twospecial people.”From left to right: Gary White, William Mullen, D.O., James “Buck” Harless, and Michael Adelman, D.O.42 West Virginia Medical Journal