Ronald R. Blanck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ronald Ray Blanck
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| Born | October 8, 1941 Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1968–2000 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Surgeon General of the United States Army |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Cold War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legions of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal |
Ronald Ray Blanck (born October 8, 1941) is a retired Lieutenant General from the United States Army. He served as the 39th Surgeon General of the United States Army from 1996 to 2000. This means he was the top doctor for the entire U.S. Army.
Dr. Blanck is special because he is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). He is the only D.O. to ever hold the important role of Surgeon General of the Army. After his military career, he also led the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth as its president from 2000 to 2006.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ronald Ray Blanck was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on October 8, 1941. He went to Juniata College for his undergraduate studies. Later, he studied medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is also certified in internal medicine, which means he is an expert in diagnosing and treating adult diseases.
Military Career
Dr. Blanck started his military journey in 1968. He worked as a medical officer and a doctor for soldiers during the Vietnam War. He served in the Army for 32 years.
When he retired, he was the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army. He was also in charge of the U.S. Army Medical Command. This command included over 46,000 military staff and 26,000 civilian workers around the world.
During his time in the military, he held many important roles. He was the commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also led the North Atlantic Region Medical Command. He helped manage medical services and doctor affairs for the Surgeon General's office.
Other jobs included being an Assistant Dean at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine. He was also the chief of the medical department at Brooke Army Medical Center. He commanded army hospitals in Berlin and Frankfurt.
After the Military
Teaching and Leadership
After leaving the Army, Dr. Blanck continued to share his knowledge. He taught at several universities, including Georgetown University and George Washington University. He also taught at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
In August 2000, he became the president of the UNT Health Science Center. He led this center until June 2006. The center includes several schools, such as the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. It also has schools for public health and health professions.
Helping Others
Dr. Blanck is a partner and chairman at Martin, Blanck & Associates. This company helps both private groups and the government with healthcare advice. He is often asked for advice on how to deal with bioterrorism. He also helps prepare medical teams for large emergencies. These emergencies could involve many injured people or dangerous weapons. He led groups that focused on bioterrorism for medical associations.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Blanck has received many awards for his service. His military honors include the Distinguished Service Medal. He also received the Defense Superior Service Medal and several Legions of Merit. Other awards include the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
In 2000, the American Medical Association gave him their highest award for government officials. It was called the Dr. Nathan Davis Award. He has also held leadership roles in many medical organizations. He was a governor of the American College of Physicians. He also chaired the board of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine.
In late 2022, he was chosen to be the interim president of FAIMER. This organization works to improve medical education around the world.
