David M. Richards, DO | 1986-1999

Dr. Richards a native Ohioan, became TCOM’s associate dean for academic affairs in 1981, vice president and dean for academic affairs in 1983, interim executive vice president in 1984 and president in 1986. He had practiced family medicine in Ohio since 1961 and had been the founding chairman of the Department of Family Medicine and associate dean for academic and clinical affairs at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

During Dr. Richards’ 13-year presidency, the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine evolved into the UNT Health Science Center with the addition of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1993, the addition of a Physician Assistant Studies Program in 1997 and the establishment of the College of Public Health in 1999.

Research also thrived, and the Health Science Center developed the fastest-growing academic research program in Texas. Five Institutes for Discovery were established to nurture groundbreaking programs in aging and Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, vision and physical medicine. The DNA/Identity Laboratory, originally funded to reduce the backlog of paternity cases pending in state courts, opened in 1990.

Dr. Richards also oversaw dramatic campus improvements with the opening of the four-story Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library in 1986 – dedicated in 1993 as the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library – and the six-story Patient Care Center. The entire campus went smoke-free – the first medical school in Texas to do so. And, TCOM’s clinical practice plan grew into Tarrant County’s largest multi-specialty group practice, a distinction it maintains to this day.

Dr. Richards was the first osteopathic physician elected to the National Board of Medical Examiners and one of the first D.O.s appointed to the Veterans’ Administration Special Medical Advisory group. He chaired the board of governors of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and, locally, chaired Fort Worth’s Strategy 2000 Biomedical Technology Planning Committee, which led to the opening in 1998 of the MEDTECH business incubator, a continuing partner in the Health Science Center’s biomedical research and development activities.

Dr. Richards retired in December 1999 and returned with his family to their home state of Ohio.