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A native Texan in every sense, Dr. T. Eugene Zachary was one of the most influential figures in the rise of rural osteopathic medicine and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. He arrived at TCOM in 1980 after spending nearly two decades in Richardson, a small rural community at the time, as a family physician.   

He quickly rose the through the ranks to become the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of TCOM from 1984-1990. Dr. Zachary also was dedicated to osteopathic medicine and was one of the best ambassadors for the practice with his advocacy.  

He was the Speaker of the American Osteopathic Association House of Delegates, Speaker of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Congress of Delegates and of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association House of Delegates.   

It was rural medicine that he championed for most of his career, helping create the Rural Osteopathic Medicine Education Program, better known as ROME, at TCOM. The ROME program has blossomed and provides rural communities with the primary care providers they desperately need.  

Dr. Zachary continued to serve TCOM as a part-time faculty member until his passing Feb. 20, 2012. In 2019, HSC celebrated his life and legacy with the dedication of the Dr. T. Eugene Zachary Endowed Scholarship, which is used to assist third– and fourth-year students in the ROME program.  

Dr. Zachary’s commitment to rural primary care was so strong, the Zachary Advisory College within TCOM is his namesake. His commitment to rural health care and osteopathic medicine has left an indelible mark on past, current and future generations of providers.

Honor your HSC hero today! Please make a tribute gift, submit a photo or share a story that you value. Join us throughout 2020 as we celebrate the people, events and innovations that made UNTHSC all it is today — and look ahead to the next 50 years. For the 50th anniversary, team members nominated people whose contributions make them HSC Heroes. Each week, a new Hero will be revealed. View the list of all our Hero profiles published so far this year. There is a new one each week.

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