The White House Physician

Since the early days of George Washington’s presidency, physicians have played a significant role in the health and well-being of American presidents. This text delves into the history of American medicine as it intersects with the specialized treatment and care provided to presidents. It also focuses on the changes that have occurred over time to the doctor-patient relationship. This new edition updates the original 2007 publication through the presidency of Joe Biden.
The book covers presidential physicians’ education, background, accomplishments, successes and failures of their professional care, as well as social relationships with their president-patients. Also highlighted are the new developments in the White House Medical Unit (WHMU), the 25th Amendment of the United States Constitution, and post White House careers of featured physicians. The book is enhanced by interviews with every presidential physician from Ronald Reagan’s last to Joe Biden’s, illuminating the contrasts and similarities between American medical and political history. By reviewing the progression of presidential medical care, this book shows the interplay between medicine, politics, and the well-being of our nation’s leaders.

Ludwig M. Deppisch, M.D., is a professor emeritus of pathology, Northeast Ohio Medical University. A native of New York, he lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Ludwig M. Deppisch, M.D.
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 245 photos, notes, bibliography,index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8700-1
Imprint: McFarland

Reviews from the previous edition:

• “Impressively researched…fascinating”—Arizona Daily Star

• “Very well researched…a significant contribution to the understanding of presidential health care”—Journal of the History of Medicine

• “An essential-read for any Navy medical recruiter”—Navy Medicine

• “Deppisch has done his homework”—Bulletin of the History of Medicine