One physician’s perspective: Scott & White’s
service and commitment to College Station
David L. Hackethorn, MD, had just begun his
medical career when he was asked to move to
College Station in 1985, to help open Scott &
White’s tenth regional clinic.
“Moving to College Station with my wife and two
young children was a great opportunity. It turned
out to be quite a blessing,” says Dr. Hackethorn,
who was medical director of the College Station
Dr. David L. Hackethorn
began carrying the Scott &
White mantle almost three
decades ago in College
Station. He is proud of
Scott & White's evolution
as a healthcare system
devoted to giving patients
personalized care.
clinic until 1999 and later served on the Scott &
White Healthcare Board of Directors.
“At the time, we were aware that a lot of people were
leaving College Station to receive their healthcare,
by mostly going to Houston. We all wanted a clinic
near the Texas A&M University Health Science Center
College of Medicine, as we are a primary clinical
teaching facility,” he recalls. “That was the beginning
of our presence in College Station.”
When the clinic opened in 1986, it had 19 doctors
practicing in 17 specialties. Today, several of those
physicians still practice at Scott & White’s College
Station clinic, including Dr. Hackethorn, who now
cares primarily for geriatric patients.
“The Scott & White Health Plan was probably
the real driving force in our rapid growth,” he says.
“Our medical staff grew quickly; we built a second
clinic building in 2010—twice the size of the first
with an ambulatory surgery center—and then we
built a pharmacy.”
Twenty-eight years later, his family grown to include
two grandchildren, Dr. Hackethorn has seen many
changes at Scott & White in College Station. “Our staff
and their families have become part of the community.
We serve on boards, lead civic organizations, volunteer
at schools, and attend area churches.
“We are a much larger, more diversified organization,
but the one thing that has never changed is our
commitment to our mission. Patients have always
been our number-one concern and focus,” he says.
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The Catalyst November 13 | sw.org