A life in medicine In Memoriam: July 2025 View the names of recently deceased osteopathic physicians. July 30, 2025WednesdayJuly 2025 issue The DO Staff Contact The DO Staff Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Topics In Memoriam The following list of recently deceased osteopathic physicians includes links to obituaries and online memorials if they’re available. Readers can notify the AOA of their deceased colleagues by sending an email to [email protected]. You may also view a list of past In Memoriam columns. Steven R. Butcher, DO, 67 (ATSU-KCOM 1983), of Stockton, Missouri, died April 23, 2024. Richard L. Carruthers, DO, 82 (ATSU-KCOM 1968), of Rancho Mirage, California, died June 13, 2025. Israel W. Caplitz, MD, DO, 96 (ATSU-KCOM 1951), of Norton Shores, Michigan, died Oct. 27, 2019. Robert R. Eckert, DO, 69 (PCOM 1986), of Mohnton, Pennsylvania, died Aug. 27, 2024. Kenneth E. Graham, DO, 84 (OSU-COM 1979), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, died July 18, 2025. John E. Murphy III, DO, 75 (ATSU-KCOM 1975), of Bellbrook, Ohio, died Dec. 5, 2024. Brent W. Sanderlin, DO, 63 (UNTHSC/TCOM 1996), of Conroe, Texas, died June 17, 2025. Scott E. Schmidt, DO, 55 (DMU-COM 1999), of Lincoln, Nebraska, died in 2023. James M. Short, DO, 96 (ATSU-KCOM 1955), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, died May 24, 2025. Phillip W. Sloan, DO, 69 (OSU-COM 1982), of Gore, Oklahoma, died May 31, 2025. Editor’s note: If you’d like to honor a colleague with a memorial contribution to the American Osteopathic Foundation, you can do so online. More in Profession Getting a secondary MD degree as a DO—is it possible, and what could be the harm? As DOs have been targeted by businesses offering to help them earn fast, affordable MD degrees, The DO talked with two attorneys who share insights about the legality of these programs, the risks of using them and why they don’t recommend them. DO Day CME now available on-demand Access DO Day content on-demand through June 20, 2026. Previous articleThe power of preventive medicine in osteopathic care Next articleHappy Birthday A.T. Still, DO! Celebrate the founder of osteopathic medicine by learning more about his life
Getting a secondary MD degree as a DO—is it possible, and what could be the harm? As DOs have been targeted by businesses offering to help them earn fast, affordable MD degrees, The DO talked with two attorneys who share insights about the legality of these programs, the risks of using them and why they don’t recommend them.