James Whittico Jr.
James Whittico Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 18, 1915 |
| Died | August 21, 2018 (aged 102) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | 93rd Infantry Division (United States) |
| Conflicts |
|
| Alma mater | Lincoln University Meharry Medical College |
| Other work | Washington University in St. Louis |
James Whittico Jr. (November 18, 1915 – August 21, 2018)[1] was an American physician from St. Louis, Missouri. He was the first African American named a full clinical professor at any medical school in St. Louis and was the fourth African American in St. Louis to be named a fellow for the American College of Surgeons. Whittico was in the private practice of medicine specializing in surgery from 1952 until 2015.
Early life and education
Born in Williamson, West Virginia, he followed his father, James Whittico Sr., into the medicine field. Whittico Jr. attended Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, the nation's oldest historically black university. He entered Meharry Medical College, a historically black medical school in Nashville, at the age of 19, and graduated in 1940.[2] Following graduation he trained at St. Louis' Homer G. Phillips Hospital, which was the largest hospital that offered training for doctors of color.[3]
Career
Whittico was a clinical instructor of surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and served as chief of staff or chief of surgery at six different St. Louis hospitals.
He was Missouri's first African American to become a military hospital chief surgeon in active combat during World War II, serving in the Southwest Pacific Theater with the U.S. 93rd Infantry Division and rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He received the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Combat Service Ribbon.[4][5]
In 1967, he served as president of the National Medical Association.[6]
Personal life
Whittico was a member of Chi Delta Mu.[7]
Whittico retired from his private practice at the age of 99 after serving for 65 years. He died in August 2018 at the age of 101.[8]
References
- ^ "Collection: Dr. James M. Whittico Photograph Collection | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". mohistory.mobiusconsortium.org. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ^ Hooks-Anderson, Denise; M.D. (October 15, 2015). "Dr. James M. Whittico, Jr.: The epitome of greatness". St. Louis American. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "Pioneering physician and surgeon Dr. James Whittico Jr. passes at 102". August 23, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ Fisher, W.D.; Buckley, J.H. (2015). African American Doctors of World War I: The Lives of 104 Volunteers. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. pp. 244–245. ISBN 978-1-4766-2317-7. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ "James M. Whittico Jr., M.D.: 1916–2018". Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ "Collection: Dr. James M. Whittico Photograph Collection | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". mohistory.mobiusconsortium.org. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ Chi Delta Mu - Who Are We
- ^ "James M. Whittico Jr., M.D.: 1916-2018". www.slu.edu. August 30, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2026.