In Memoriam: James Edwin White, M.D.

It is said that no one could outwork this Oklahoma native. James Edwin White, M.D., co-founder of Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center and a pioneer in Oklahoma sports medicine, died on October 21. He was 86.

Dr. White is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jeanne White; six children; 23 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were held on October 23, 2015 at Schaudt-Teel Funeral Home.

James Edwin White, M.D. was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Dr. White graduated from the University of Oklahoma medical school and completed his residency at the University of Minnesota. He then returned to Oklahoma, where he practiced in Tulsa, and in 1967 co-founded the Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center with his partners John Smith and Jim Winslow.

George Mauerman, M.D. worked alongside his friend Dr. White for many years. He told OTW, “I came to town in 1970 and at that point Jim was already covering high school sports. At that time, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) did not exist. Jim started covering the University of Tulsa athletic injuries, and was instrumental in getting a number of other orthopedic surgeons interested in covering teams. We soon picked up a hockey team, a baseball team, a football team, and a local soccer team.”

“You couldn’t outwork him; in fact, we called him The Tasmanian Devil in the OR. He was very innovative with operative procedures that went on to be used nationwide. One was the reconstruction of the ACL [anterior cruciate ligament] using the patellar tendon…and he adopted arthroscopy earlier that most orthopedic surgeons in Oklahoma.”

“I would describe him as a family man—a father of six, in fact. And he was courageous…there wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t try. He built the group from nothing to where we are today (12 surgeons and 3 Primary Care Sports Medicine Physicians). During his tenure in 1990 he helped institute the first Residency Program for Primary Care Sports Medicine at our practice; we still have two that are trained per year.”

Jeffrey Emel, M.D. knew Dr. White as a mentor, partner and colleague. He told OTW, “I do nonsurgical orthopedics. Years ago he said, ‘We are sports surgeons and we need a sports doctor too.’ He was a visionary because at that time no one thought to care for the athlete in that way.”

“Dr. White guided me during my residency; he taught me a lot of good techniques regarding physical exams and he had an exceptional memory. He was always inquisitive and looked for ways to improve upon things. He was a great guy, and was the main reason that I stayed here at this facility. He will be greatly missed.”