Donald Arthur
Encyclopedia
Donald Caldwell Arthur, Jr. (born January 4, 1950) is a retired U.S. Navy medical corps vice admiral
(VADM). He entered the Navy in 1974 and eventually served as the 35th Surgeon General of the United States Navy
(2004–2007). After leaving the Navy in 2007 he became a hospital executive at Main Line Health System in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
.
VADM Arthur came under controversy when, in the last two years of his naval career, it was noticed that he was claiming a PhD
degree in health-care management from what is now American Century University and a J.D.
from LaSalle University in Louisiana (not to be confused with La Salle University, a private Catholic university in Philadelphia), one of the James Kirk diploma mills. Not only were VADM Arthur's PhD and JD from unaccredited institutions but both were conferred within a 14-month time frame in 1992 and 1993 following deployment to the Middle East in 1991 during the first Gulf War. His résumé also claimed a non-existent Master's Degree
, in Genetics from Northeastern University in 1973, a claim made as early as 1974. Concurrent to this claim, Donald Arthur gained entrance into Medical School and acquired an M.D.
degree from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
(1974–1978).
The investigation into his falsified résumé began after B. G. Burkett
, author of Stolen Valor
, asked Admiral Michael Mullen to investigate the matter in November 2005, two years prior to Arthur's retirement. At the time of his retirement (August 27, 2007) Mullen called VADM Arthur a "sort of a Renaissance man
. His résumé says a lot. BA
, MA
, JD
, PhD
, and of course, MD
– he’s got more degrees than a thermometer."
. His parents were Donald & Mary Arthur. He has a devoted sister Karen Arthur Lowther, R.N. As of April 20, 1999 Arthur was married to Marianne Rose Mele of Tenafly, New Jersey and had fathered 1 child. Rose Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on October 20, 1979. As of February 26, 2002 (107th Congress) he identified Beverly Kathryn "Bean" Arthur (deceased) of Neenah, Wisconsin as his spouse with whom he had two children. Lindsey Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on June 16, 1984. and a third daughter, Dawn (Robin) Arthur, who was born October 12, 1989.
The Hurt Report
(AKA Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures), published by the late Professor Harry Hurt has been called "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century." The List of findings in the Hurt Report as related to Admiral Arthur's above statement specifically notes:
24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.
Accordingly, Admiral Arthur was a proponent of motorcycle safety throughout his Naval career. He published an article, "Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring" and lectured extensively on the topic at motorcycle club meetings. Despite his safety concerns, Arthur was quite "accident prone" incurring at least 3 accidents in his life that are well documented in the media, two of which were major and disabling.
In 2002 while serving full-time on active duty as Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral
(RADM-lower half / 0-7), Don Arthur claimed to travel 117,000 miles on his motorcycle over a period of 12 months. The Iron Butt Association
verified RADM Arthur's mileage records during organized motorcycle rally events but his other mileage claims are difficult to track without an authenticated initial odometer reading at the beginning of the year and better accounting of all service station receipts. As noted above during the May 2002 Four-Corners excursion, Arthur struck a deer and shattered his windshield (Paige Ortiz’s Aeroflow shop in Los Angeles). Furthermore, Don Arthur's mileage claim for 2002 was noted by another BMW motorcycle endurance rider and personal admirer to have increased to 175,000 total miles in the year. A survey by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America in 2003 found that less than 3% of respondents rode more than 48,000 miles in a year.
The third accident (August 2005), which was likewise described as unavoidable, occurred on U.S. Highway 36 at Stewartsville, Mo. The Missouri State Highway Patrol
report stated that Arthur rear-ended a car traveling in excess of 65 mph. (The truck driver next to him estimated he hit the car at 67 mph.) No citation was issued to either driver. Arthur claimed that "Thanks to the helmet, I suffered no brain injury. My injuries are a pelvis fractured in three places, a separated right shoulder, and fracture separations of two ribs at the sternum which caused a pneumothorax
(partially collapsed lung)". Curiously in March 2007 Arthur claimed to have incurred a traumatic brain injury
from the incident. "Arthur said he himself suffered a traumatic brain injury a year and a half ago and was initially embarrassed to talk about the problems he was having as a result." Arthur was reported to be "unconscious for 20 or 30 minutes". At the time of his third accident, Arthur was Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the 35th Surgeon General of the Navy having earned a Three-star position.
Arthur was accepted to the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
in 1974. That same year he became an Ensign (ENS, 0-1), in the U.S. Naval Reserve. His tuition to medical school was provided by the US Navy. CAPT John M. Donlon USN, a retired Naval Line Officer, confirmed on May 12, 2008 during a phone conversation with COL Kenneth G. Swan MC, USA (retired), currently a Professor of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, that VADM Arthur had indeed included his Master of Arts (M.A.) in Genetics from Northeastern University in 1973 on his entrance application to medical school. In addition, Rear Adm. Frank Thorp confirmed "The master's degree first appeared in Arthur's paperwork when he joined the Navy in 1974". The master's degree would actually reappear on future résumés throughout Arthur's career. In addition, he listed the M.A. in Genetics in his 1978 medical school yearbook.
Upon obtaining his M.D.
in 1978, he reported for active naval duty as a Lieutenant (LT, 0-3). Between June 1978 and June 1979 he attended a Surgical Internship at the National Naval Medical Center
, Bethesda, MD.
At this juncture, Arthur formally began his Naval medical career qualifying for a medical license in the state of California (License Number: G 53102).
While a practicing medical officer, Arthur claimed to obtain additional academic credentials (a PhD in 1992 and a J.D. inaccurately documented in his Naval transcript as conferred in 1994) which would be pivotal in his future success in the Navy and prosperity. As Rear Adm. John Hutson
, the Navy's top uniformed lawyer said, "'He may or may not be promoted without it,' Hutson said. 'But one, he had it in his record, and two, there's a pretty good argument that he knew or should have known that people would rely on it, not knowing that they were unaccredited degrees.'". "When his medical school gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 2005, the law degree and PhD.were listed, records show".
At the time one of the diploma mills (LaSalle University) was closed (July 1996) and the founders imprisoned for fraud, the U.S. Attorney Harry McSherry sent notifications to the 15,000 graduates with bogus degrees. He stated, We had a fairly complete list, and sent notification to everyone on that list...McSherry added that students were told to tell their employers or future employers about the validity of the university's accreditation. The Chicago Tribune exposé by Russell Working, Investigative Reporter, on October 1, 2008 reveals that Arthur admitted taking "some courses from two places that are unaccredited." He attributed this to the fact that in 1992-1993, "I could say I was naive, but I was 40 years old. And I didn't understand completely what was going on." Nonetheless, these unaccredited degrees were included in future Navy Transcripts submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, in 2002 and again in 2004, for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military retirement pension payments, as well as in subsequent professional résumés and biographies.
in Groton, Connecticut as a Research Medical Officer. On August 3, 1981, Arthur augmented to the U.S. Navy from the U.S. Naval Reserve. Between February 1982 and February 1984, he claimed to be a Flight Surgeon
/ Diving Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Subic Bay, in the Philippines. He then became a Senior Medical Officer on the USS KITTY HAWK - CV 63 (March 1984-July 1986)
While in Subic Bay, he obtained training at Lakehurst
, New Jersey as a Navy-Marine Parachutist while simultaneously procuring Jumpmaster
certification on August 30, 1983 (Parachutist Badge (United States)
). In fact, Lakehurst, New Jersey hadn't been a parachute training center since World War II
and it is noted in the base website that the parachute jump field became a toxic oil dump (1950–1970). In addition, the Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide states "Hardware implanted as a component of a prosthetic joint (arthroplasty
) is considered disqualifying (CD)." Since Arthur reportedly had two total knee replacements in 1973 at the time of his first motorcycle accident, he was ineligible for a medical waiver for Military operational parachuting.
On August 1, 1986 he was promoted to Commander (CDR, 0-5) and reportedly practiced as a resident and then as a staff emergency medicine specialist in the Emergency Room at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California (August 1986 - June 1990). Subsequently, Arthur claimed board certification
in Emergency Medicine as well. There is no mention of his board certification in Emergency Medicine
by the American Board of Medical Specialists although his certification in Preventive Medicine (Aerospace) is listed. Arthur's Emergency Medicine certification is also not listed in official Naval transcripts submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military pension payments but appears in his Navy and Mainline biographies as do his residency claims. In addition residency training and board certification in Emergency Medicine are not listed on either his California (License Number: G 53102) and more recently his Pennsylvania (License Number 438749) Medical Board professional profiles.
Arthur has also claimed that he served as the Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California between August 1988 and June 1990. In fact, CAPT "Cary" Gresham Bayne MD MC, USN was Head of the Emergency Room at that time.
Between June 1990 and October 1992 Arthur served as the Head, Special Projects, Academics Department at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, Florida. Subsequently, Arthur claimed to be board certified in Preventive Medicine
(Aerospace
). No formal residency training is documented or reported.
In 1991, Arthur was deployed to Operation Desert Storm where he claimed to engage in direct ground combat.
On MAY 1, 1992 Arthur was promoted to Captain (CAPT, 0-6) and between October 1992 and October 1994 served at the Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC as the Director of Medical Programs. While performing his duties at the time, he was able to complete a PhD thesis in health care management with the PhD being conferred by the American Century University in 1992.
Arthur said he wrote a 350-page dissertation: Policies and Procedures for a Model Emergency Department. He declined to make the document available. Many Naval Medical Corps officers have questioned the obvious similarity between the title of Arthur's alleged PhD dissertation and specifically the chapter, "Policies and Procedures for the Emergency Medicine Department", the contents of which is available to the general public within the Manual of the Medical Department of the Navy.
When the American Century University was contacted for a copy of Arthur's thesis, they claimed that it had been destroyed in a routine records purge. Arthur apparently did not retain a copy of it either and has failed to provide it despite multiple requests. Information on PhD theses are typically maintained in an international database to prevent duplication of research by future students pursuing doctorates. Multiple individuals have checked the Dissertation Abstracts database and found no record of a PhD dissertation filed by a Donald Arthur with a middle name beginning with "C," nor by any Donald Arthur without a middle name recorded. By 1993, Arthur had also completed his studies for a law degree (J.D.) from LaSalle University. Both degrees conferred in a mere 14 months, are now acknowledged by Arthur as being obtained from unaccredited institutions not recognized by the US Navy.
Between October 1994 and April 1996 Arthur served as the Deputy Commander
of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. Following this, between April 1996 and August 1998 he was the Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Then, between August 1998 and 1999, he was the Assistant Chief for Health Care Management Plans for the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), Washington, DC.
Apparently these multiple advanced academic degrees did serve Arthur well while on active duty.
Arthur was awarded his First Naval Star as Rear Admiral
(RADM-lower half / 0-7) on May 1, 2000 by the 106th Congress of the US. During this tenure he performed his epic 117,000 mile motorcycle journey throughout the continental United States in 2002. On July 1, 2003 he was promoted again by the 107th Congress, earning a Second Star to become Rear Admiral (RADM-upper half / 0-8). Finally, in 2004, the l08th Congress awarded Arthur his Third Star to become Vice Admiral (VADM / 0-9) as he was appointed to the positions Chief of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and 35th Surgeon General of the US Navy where he served until August 27, 2007. While serving in this capacity, as the 35th Navy Surgeon General, he sustained a traumatic brain injury from his third motorcycle accident (August 2005).
Prior to his retirement in 2007, Rear Admiral Frank Thorp stated that a "preliminary" Naval inquiry into Arthur's credentials had occurred and concluded that there was "no wrongdoing" by the officer in these regards. Due to confidentiality issues, the Office of the Inspector General will not comment on the investigation and Arthur will not authorize a release of the report.
The official history of the Marine Corp does not mention any combat experience in Arthur's record. His Commanding Officer at the time, "Frederick M. Burkle Jr., who was the top medical officer of Arthur's unit in Saudi Arabia, said, 'We could certainly see the war was going on at a great distance, but we were not hit and we did not receive any fire.' "
Of further note, Arthur is reported to have worn the Combat Action Ribbon
awarded to those who" have actively participated in ground or surface combat" and this to the chagrin of veterans who have actually been in combat. This ribbon is not listed on any of his official Naval transcripts submitted to the United States Senate Armed Services Committee for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military retirement pension payments. Mr. Jan Herman MA - Historian at Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) can confirm VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) wore a Combat Action Ribbon
to his retirement ceremony.
When questioned about wearing the ribbon and his combat experience by Josh Goldstein, Investigative Reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Arthur "declined to describe his combat role".
Arthur's work on the Defense Health Board Task Force on Mental Health
reflected his advocacy for PTSD in service members and combat veterans. He addressed the stigma of mental health in the military and made efforts to alleviate it. Arthur was an advocate for service members who incurred and suffered with Traumatic Brain Injury. In these regards, he must have brought his multiple, personal, non-combat related motorcycle trauma experiences to bear. Arthur was also an advocate for gay service members in the military.
Throughout his military career, Arthur championed the program for the construction of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers (Recompression chambers) at multiple Naval Medical centers throughout the US to treat acutely wounded sailors and service members and those with Traumatic Brain Injury
. The abrupt abandonment of this program by Arthur at the time of his retirement from the Navy Medical Corps, after multiple millions of dollars to build these facilities had already been spent as a consequence of his recommendations and approval, leaves many questions unanswered.
He addressed Hypothermia
in Fleet Duty Corpsmen also.
Arthur was responsible for the day to day management of Bethesda Naval Hospital and testified on multiple occasions before Congress. Indeed, his testimony, before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 7, 2007 in Washington, regarding the dilapidated living quarters for military personnel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
was central in the Congressional investigation of these abusive conditions.
Upon promotion to the admiralty, Arthur served in various military assignments in which he oversaw Navy Medical personnel deployed to Guantánamo Bay in order to provide medical care for active duty members and prisoners alike. He reportedly did not voice objections about the involvement of Navy medical personnel in interrogation sessions of enemy combatants, which included waterboarding
. After becoming, Navy Surgeon General, Donald Arthur was ultimately the responsible superior officer in charge of Navy doctors as well as all Navy allied medical personnel (medical corpsmen, nurses, psychologists, etc.) deployed to Guantánamo Bay as members of Behavioral Science Consultative Teams ("Biscuit" Teams) specifically assigned to assist in interrogations of enemy combatants. Arthur is among several named defendants in an ongoing lawsuit in these regards. Furthermore, a recent study in PLOS Medicine entitled "Neglect of Medical Evidence of Torture in Guantánamo Bay: A Case Series" documents that the medical personnel under Arthur's direct orders were complicit in the torture of detainees:
This evidence based medical study appears in a peer reviewed journal. It was performed by 1. Physicians for Human Rights, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, 2. University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America, 3. Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America, 4. Brigadier General (Retired), US Army, United States of America
Dr. Arthur is a Fellow and Past President of the Aerospace Medical Association and is Board Certified in Aerospace Medicine. He was the President of the Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. He instituted a program for Telephonic Medicine in the Navy and enhanced the military Medical Informatics program. Arthur was published in the medical literature.
Arthur received the Federal Excellence in Health care Leadership Award from the American College of Health care Executives. In addition he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from The Federal Health care Executives Interagency Institutes and the Outstanding Federal Health care Executive Award from the Association of Military Surgeons of which he was the Founder.
VADM Arthur's military decorations include:
on October 1, 2008 in a piece titled "Navy résumé doesn't quite hold water, Questionable degrees raise doubts on vetting" by Russell Working.
Allen Ezell, a retired FBI agent now working for Wachovia Bank investigating fraud, has been a long time investigator of diploma mills. "Ezell has included Arthur in a draft of an article for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' magazine."
An article copyrighted in the United Press in 2008 titled "Credential padding alleged by Navy Brass" discussed Arthur's saga.
Arthur's problems have been a topic of active discussion on multiple public fora as well.
On Feb. 3, 2009 an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled, "Doctor who checks credentials faces questions over his own résumé", was written by Josh Goldstein. Arthur was interviewed for 75 minutes by Mr. Goldstein. In that interview Arthur stated, "I'm an honorable person who has led an honorable life". The interview ended when Arthur said, "The pot-stirrers want to keep bringing things up - calling my friends, calling my family, calling everybody I am acquainted with and making all manner of accusations," he said. "Quite frankly, I'm done."
The "Stolen Valor" team (B. G. Burkett
's group) is presently investigating VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur, BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) for incorporation in their upcoming Television Series. Wendy Halloran, "an award winning Television Investigative Reporter who exposes con-artists, unscrupulous contractors, shady businesses, identity thieves and government corruption" has done multiple investigative reports on network television (CBS Affiliate - WHNT Huntsville, Alabama) regarding government employees who have advanced their government careers by purchasing fraudulent academic degree certifications and diplomas. The discussion thread following Ms. Halloran's investigative reports has active and dynamic comments posted regarding VADM Arthur's questionable academic credentials and military accomplishments.
and the 35th Surgeon General of the United States Navy
. His retirement ceremony was a celebrated affair hosted by then Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Mike Mullen. (Mullen has since been appointed the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
.) United States Representative C. W. Bill Young (Republican - 10th District, Florida) also attended the ceremonies. Young saluted Arthur, who he worked closely with during his tenure as Commander of the National Naval Medical Center and Surgeon General. "He cares about his sailors and Marines and made Bethesda and Navy medicine the preeminent providers of care for our injured service members..."
Mullen delivered praise and accolades at Arthur's retirement despite being asked to investigate Arthur's credentials in 2005 by B. G. Burkett
. In addition to his thermometer metaphor, Mullen praised Arthur as a Renaissance man
with impeccable credentials. He recounted Arthur's glorious career and honors even mentioning his motorcycle obsession. In conclusion Mullen said, "Don, looking at what you’ve accomplished these past three decades, your career and your life bring to mind the words of another great renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin
, who once said, well done is better than well said."
As in the Navy, Arthur remains personally involved in the credentialing
process for physicians and health care personnel at Mainline. "Dr. Donald C. Arthur is responsible for all clinical health services physician contracts credentials and clinical appointments laboratory, pharmacy and radiology services infection control risk management disaster planning medical informatics graduate and continuing medical education and human-subject research programs." Arthur's undocumented Emergency Medicine board certification and his combat experience are highlighted on his Mainline biography. When questioned about Arthur's falsified records, Mainline CEO Jack Lynch said, "I don't believe there is a credentialing problem here," calling Arthur "a perfect fit" with the system.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
. Arthur joined the TriWest Health care Alliances Executive Advisory Board in 2008.
The September 29, 2010 issue of Joint Commission Online announced the appointment of "Donald Arthur, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr, Pa." as a new member of the Joint Commission’s Hospital Advisory Council. The publication claims that the new members were "selected following a rigorous review process", the specifics of which were not specified. Emails to the contact person, Mark Pelletier for clarification purposes have gone unanswered.
The American Journal of Medical Quality has recently announced that Don Arthur, MD "Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA" is now a member of the editorial board of the journal. SAGE publishes this medical periodical. The editor and chief of the American Journal of Medical Quality is David B. Nash, MD, MBA. Dr. Nash is Dean of the Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
(VADM). He entered the Navy in 1974 and eventually served as the 35th Surgeon General of the United States Navy
Surgeon General of the United States Navy
The Surgeon General of the United States Navy is the senior-most medical corps officer in the United States Navy.- Establishment of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery :...
(2004–2007). After leaving the Navy in 2007 he became a hospital executive at Main Line Health System in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
.
VADM Arthur came under controversy when, in the last two years of his naval career, it was noticed that he was claiming a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree in health-care management from what is now American Century University and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from LaSalle University in Louisiana (not to be confused with La Salle University, a private Catholic university in Philadelphia), one of the James Kirk diploma mills. Not only were VADM Arthur's PhD and JD from unaccredited institutions but both were conferred within a 14-month time frame in 1992 and 1993 following deployment to the Middle East in 1991 during the first Gulf War. His résumé also claimed a non-existent Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, in Genetics from Northeastern University in 1973, a claim made as early as 1974. Concurrent to this claim, Donald Arthur gained entrance into Medical School and acquired an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is the state-run health sciences institution of New Jersey, United States. It has eight distinct academic units...
(1974–1978).
The investigation into his falsified résumé began after B. G. Burkett
B. G. Burkett
B. G. Burkett is the author of the book Stolen Valor. The son of an air force colonel, he joined the US Army in June 1966. Growing up his "heroes were not sports figures like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays but the fighter pilots who had blasted the Luftwaffe out of the sky"...
, author of Stolen Valor
Stolen Valor
Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and its History is a self-published book by B.G. Burkett & Glenna Whitley which asserts both that there is a popular view of Vietnam War veterans as broken men and psychopaths and that this view is false...
, asked Admiral Michael Mullen to investigate the matter in November 2005, two years prior to Arthur's retirement. At the time of his retirement (August 27, 2007) Mullen called VADM Arthur a "sort of a Renaissance man
Renaissance Man
Renaissance Man is a 1994 comedy film, directed by Penny Marshall, starring Danny DeVito, Gregory Hines, James Remar, and Ed Begley, Jr. It also features Mark Wahlberg in one of his earliest roles....
. His résumé says a lot. BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, and of course, MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
– he’s got more degrees than a thermometer."
Personal Information
Donald Caldwell Arthur was born on January 4, 1950 and raised in Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
. His parents were Donald & Mary Arthur. He has a devoted sister Karen Arthur Lowther, R.N. As of April 20, 1999 Arthur was married to Marianne Rose Mele of Tenafly, New Jersey and had fathered 1 child. Rose Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on October 20, 1979. As of February 26, 2002 (107th Congress) he identified Beverly Kathryn "Bean" Arthur (deceased) of Neenah, Wisconsin as his spouse with whom he had two children. Lindsey Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on June 16, 1984. and a third daughter, Dawn (Robin) Arthur, who was born October 12, 1989.
Motorcyclist
Arthur has been a motorcycle enthusiast throughout his adult life. He began riding in 1967 and had no formal training. "There were no courses that I knew of back then," said Admiral Arthur, "so I learned from a friend." By 1973 he claimed to be working for Harley Davidson as a mechanic. All Harley Davidson mechanics are required to certify by attending one of 4 colleges.The Hurt Report
Hurt Report
The Hurt Report was a motorcycle safety study conducted in the United States, initiated in 1976 and published in 1981. The report is named after its primary author, Professor Harry Hurt.Noted motorcycle journalist David L...
(AKA Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures), published by the late Professor Harry Hurt has been called "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century." The List of findings in the Hurt Report as related to Admiral Arthur's above statement specifically notes:
24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.
Accordingly, Admiral Arthur was a proponent of motorcycle safety throughout his Naval career. He published an article, "Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring" and lectured extensively on the topic at motorcycle club meetings. Despite his safety concerns, Arthur was quite "accident prone" incurring at least 3 accidents in his life that are well documented in the media, two of which were major and disabling.
In 2002 while serving full-time on active duty as Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
(RADM-lower half / 0-7), Don Arthur claimed to travel 117,000 miles on his motorcycle over a period of 12 months. The Iron Butt Association
Iron Butt Association
The Iron Butt Association is a US-based organization dedicated to endurance motorcycle riding with over 35,000 members world-wide who tout themselves as the "World's Toughest Riders." One of its more popular slogans is "The World Is Our Playground."...
verified RADM Arthur's mileage records during organized motorcycle rally events but his other mileage claims are difficult to track without an authenticated initial odometer reading at the beginning of the year and better accounting of all service station receipts. As noted above during the May 2002 Four-Corners excursion, Arthur struck a deer and shattered his windshield (Paige Ortiz’s Aeroflow shop in Los Angeles). Furthermore, Don Arthur's mileage claim for 2002 was noted by another BMW motorcycle endurance rider and personal admirer to have increased to 175,000 total miles in the year. A survey by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America in 2003 found that less than 3% of respondents rode more than 48,000 miles in a year.
The third accident (August 2005), which was likewise described as unavoidable, occurred on U.S. Highway 36 at Stewartsville, Mo. The Missouri State Highway Patrol
Missouri State Highway Patrol
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is the highway patrol agency for Missouri and has jurisdiction anywhere within the state.State laws pertaining to the Highway Patrol including its creation, powers, structure, mission and duties are specified in...
report stated that Arthur rear-ended a car traveling in excess of 65 mph. (The truck driver next to him estimated he hit the car at 67 mph.) No citation was issued to either driver. Arthur claimed that "Thanks to the helmet, I suffered no brain injury. My injuries are a pelvis fractured in three places, a separated right shoulder, and fracture separations of two ribs at the sternum which caused a pneumothorax
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity of the chest between the lung and the chest wall. It may occur spontaneously in people without chronic lung conditions as well as in those with lung disease , and many pneumothoraces occur after physical trauma to the chest, blast...
(partially collapsed lung)". Curiously in March 2007 Arthur claimed to have incurred a traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...
from the incident. "Arthur said he himself suffered a traumatic brain injury a year and a half ago and was initially embarrassed to talk about the problems he was having as a result." Arthur was reported to be "unconscious for 20 or 30 minutes". At the time of his third accident, Arthur was Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the 35th Surgeon General of the Navy having earned a Three-star position.
Education
Arthur attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1971. Thereafter he claimed to have been in an "M.A. (Master of Arts) program" in Genetics but to have not completed it or obtained an M.A. Arthur said, "I was in a master's program, but I did not graduate. I do not have a master's degree." Indeed in 2009 he said "I have never claimed to have an M.A."Arthur was accepted to the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is the state-run health sciences institution of New Jersey, United States. It has eight distinct academic units...
in 1974. That same year he became an Ensign (ENS, 0-1), in the U.S. Naval Reserve. His tuition to medical school was provided by the US Navy. CAPT John M. Donlon USN, a retired Naval Line Officer, confirmed on May 12, 2008 during a phone conversation with COL Kenneth G. Swan MC, USA (retired), currently a Professor of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, that VADM Arthur had indeed included his Master of Arts (M.A.) in Genetics from Northeastern University in 1973 on his entrance application to medical school. In addition, Rear Adm. Frank Thorp confirmed "The master's degree first appeared in Arthur's paperwork when he joined the Navy in 1974". The master's degree would actually reappear on future résumés throughout Arthur's career. In addition, he listed the M.A. in Genetics in his 1978 medical school yearbook.
Upon obtaining his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1978, he reported for active naval duty as a Lieutenant (LT, 0-3). Between June 1978 and June 1979 he attended a Surgical Internship at the National Naval Medical Center
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
, Bethesda, MD.
At this juncture, Arthur formally began his Naval medical career qualifying for a medical license in the state of California (License Number: G 53102).
While a practicing medical officer, Arthur claimed to obtain additional academic credentials (a PhD in 1992 and a J.D. inaccurately documented in his Naval transcript as conferred in 1994) which would be pivotal in his future success in the Navy and prosperity. As Rear Adm. John Hutson
John Hutson
John Dudley Hutson is a retired United States Navy rear admiral, attorney, and former Judge Advocate General of the Navy. He is the outgoing dean and president of University of New Hampshire School of Law in Concord, New Hampshire, having served in the position since 2000.Dean Hutson holds a B.A....
, the Navy's top uniformed lawyer said, "'He may or may not be promoted without it,' Hutson said. 'But one, he had it in his record, and two, there's a pretty good argument that he knew or should have known that people would rely on it, not knowing that they were unaccredited degrees.'". "When his medical school gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 2005, the law degree and PhD.were listed, records show".
At the time one of the diploma mills (LaSalle University) was closed (July 1996) and the founders imprisoned for fraud, the U.S. Attorney Harry McSherry sent notifications to the 15,000 graduates with bogus degrees. He stated, We had a fairly complete list, and sent notification to everyone on that list...McSherry added that students were told to tell their employers or future employers about the validity of the university's accreditation. The Chicago Tribune exposé by Russell Working, Investigative Reporter, on October 1, 2008 reveals that Arthur admitted taking "some courses from two places that are unaccredited." He attributed this to the fact that in 1992-1993, "I could say I was naive, but I was 40 years old. And I didn't understand completely what was going on." Nonetheless, these unaccredited degrees were included in future Navy Transcripts submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, in 2002 and again in 2004, for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military retirement pension payments, as well as in subsequent professional résumés and biographies.
Medical Career and Active Duty
Between July and December 1979 Arthur was stationed at Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. Thereafter, Arthur was transferred to the Naval Undersea Medicine Institute in New London, Connecticut (January–June 1980). In October 1980 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander (LCDR, 0-4) while serving at the Naval Submarine Medical Research LaboratoryNaval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory
The Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory is located on the New London Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut. The laboratory's mission is to protect the health and enhance the performance of United States War Fighters through focused submarine, diving, and surface research solutions.-History...
in Groton, Connecticut as a Research Medical Officer. On August 3, 1981, Arthur augmented to the U.S. Navy from the U.S. Naval Reserve. Between February 1982 and February 1984, he claimed to be a Flight Surgeon
Flight surgeon
A flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
/ Diving Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Subic Bay, in the Philippines. He then became a Senior Medical Officer on the USS KITTY HAWK - CV 63 (March 1984-July 1986)
While in Subic Bay, he obtained training at Lakehurst
Lakehurst
There are a number of places named Lakehurst:*Lakehurst, New Jersey.*Lakehurst High School, a fictional school in Degrassi: The Next Generation*Lakehurst Mall, a defunct shopping complex in Waukegan, Illinois...
, New Jersey as a Navy-Marine Parachutist while simultaneously procuring Jumpmaster
Jumpmaster
Jumpmasters are the expert Paratroopers in an Airborne unit who train and teach the military techniques for jumping from airplanes. They are responsible for transforming Soldiers who enter Army Airborne School into Paratroopers and managing Airborne jump operations in Airborne units across all...
certification on August 30, 1983 (Parachutist Badge (United States)
Parachutist Badge (United States)
The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy...
). In fact, Lakehurst, New Jersey hadn't been a parachute training center since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and it is noted in the base website that the parachute jump field became a toxic oil dump (1950–1970). In addition, the Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide states "Hardware implanted as a component of a prosthetic joint (arthroplasty
Arthroplasty
Arthroplasty is an operative procedure of orthopedic surgery performed, in which the arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface is replaced with something better or by remodeling or realigning the joint by osteotomy or some other procedure.-Background:Previously, a popular form of arthroplasty was...
) is considered disqualifying (CD)." Since Arthur reportedly had two total knee replacements in 1973 at the time of his first motorcycle accident, he was ineligible for a medical waiver for Military operational parachuting.
On August 1, 1986 he was promoted to Commander (CDR, 0-5) and reportedly practiced as a resident and then as a staff emergency medicine specialist in the Emergency Room at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California (August 1986 - June 1990). Subsequently, Arthur claimed board certification
Board certification
Board certification is the process by which a physician , dentist , or podiatrist in the United States demonstrates through either written, practical, and/or simulator based testing, a mastery of the basic knowledge and skills that define an area of medical specialization...
in Emergency Medicine as well. There is no mention of his board certification in Emergency Medicine
Emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency medicine physicians diagnose a variety of illnesses and undertake acute...
by the American Board of Medical Specialists although his certification in Preventive Medicine (Aerospace) is listed. Arthur's Emergency Medicine certification is also not listed in official Naval transcripts submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military pension payments but appears in his Navy and Mainline biographies as do his residency claims. In addition residency training and board certification in Emergency Medicine are not listed on either his California (License Number: G 53102) and more recently his Pennsylvania (License Number 438749) Medical Board professional profiles.
Arthur has also claimed that he served as the Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California between August 1988 and June 1990. In fact, CAPT "Cary" Gresham Bayne MD MC, USN was Head of the Emergency Room at that time.
Between June 1990 and October 1992 Arthur served as the Head, Special Projects, Academics Department at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, Florida. Subsequently, Arthur claimed to be board certified in Preventive Medicine
Preventive medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms...
(Aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
). No formal residency training is documented or reported.
In 1991, Arthur was deployed to Operation Desert Storm where he claimed to engage in direct ground combat.
On MAY 1, 1992 Arthur was promoted to Captain (CAPT, 0-6) and between October 1992 and October 1994 served at the Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC as the Director of Medical Programs. While performing his duties at the time, he was able to complete a PhD thesis in health care management with the PhD being conferred by the American Century University in 1992.
Arthur said he wrote a 350-page dissertation: Policies and Procedures for a Model Emergency Department. He declined to make the document available. Many Naval Medical Corps officers have questioned the obvious similarity between the title of Arthur's alleged PhD dissertation and specifically the chapter, "Policies and Procedures for the Emergency Medicine Department", the contents of which is available to the general public within the Manual of the Medical Department of the Navy.
When the American Century University was contacted for a copy of Arthur's thesis, they claimed that it had been destroyed in a routine records purge. Arthur apparently did not retain a copy of it either and has failed to provide it despite multiple requests. Information on PhD theses are typically maintained in an international database to prevent duplication of research by future students pursuing doctorates. Multiple individuals have checked the Dissertation Abstracts database and found no record of a PhD dissertation filed by a Donald Arthur with a middle name beginning with "C," nor by any Donald Arthur without a middle name recorded. By 1993, Arthur had also completed his studies for a law degree (J.D.) from LaSalle University. Both degrees conferred in a mere 14 months, are now acknowledged by Arthur as being obtained from unaccredited institutions not recognized by the US Navy.
Between October 1994 and April 1996 Arthur served as the Deputy Commander
Deputy Commander
Deputy commander was a rank in the London Metropolitan Police which existed between 1946 and 1968.In 1946, the rank of chief constable, which was between superintendent and deputy assistant commissioner, was renamed deputy commander. At the same time, the rank of deputy assistant commissioner was...
of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. Following this, between April 1996 and August 1998 he was the Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Then, between August 1998 and 1999, he was the Assistant Chief for Health Care Management Plans for the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), Washington, DC.
Apparently these multiple advanced academic degrees did serve Arthur well while on active duty.
Arthur was awarded his First Naval Star as Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
(RADM-lower half / 0-7) on May 1, 2000 by the 106th Congress of the US. During this tenure he performed his epic 117,000 mile motorcycle journey throughout the continental United States in 2002. On July 1, 2003 he was promoted again by the 107th Congress, earning a Second Star to become Rear Admiral (RADM-upper half / 0-8). Finally, in 2004, the l08th Congress awarded Arthur his Third Star to become Vice Admiral (VADM / 0-9) as he was appointed to the positions Chief of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and 35th Surgeon General of the US Navy where he served until August 27, 2007. While serving in this capacity, as the 35th Navy Surgeon General, he sustained a traumatic brain injury from his third motorcycle accident (August 2005).
Prior to his retirement in 2007, Rear Admiral Frank Thorp stated that a "preliminary" Naval inquiry into Arthur's credentials had occurred and concluded that there was "no wrongdoing" by the officer in these regards. Due to confidentiality issues, the Office of the Inspector General will not comment on the investigation and Arthur will not authorize a release of the report.
Combat Experience
During his service in Pensacola, Florida, he was deployed to Operation Desert Storm (1991). Arthur has on multiple occasions claimed combat experience during Operation Desert Storm. Indeed, "In July 2007, he told a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee: Having been in combat, I know that no one goes into combat and comes out without being significantly affected." Specifically, Arthur said he was "privileged to serve with the U.S. Marine Corps in direct combat operations." The Defense Health Board Task Force on Mental Health stated, "Dr. Arthur served in combat operations with the Marine Corps in Desert Storm." His Mainline biography clearly states, "During Desert Storm, he experienced combat in support of the Marine Corps." The April 16, 2007 transcript from the Task Force on Mental Health care also verifies VADM Arthur said "I've been in combat, it is a life-changing event to go under that kind of stress"The official history of the Marine Corp does not mention any combat experience in Arthur's record. His Commanding Officer at the time, "Frederick M. Burkle Jr., who was the top medical officer of Arthur's unit in Saudi Arabia, said, 'We could certainly see the war was going on at a great distance, but we were not hit and we did not receive any fire.' "
Of further note, Arthur is reported to have worn the Combat Action Ribbon
Combat Action Ribbon
The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy and Coast Guard , have actively participated in ground or...
awarded to those who" have actively participated in ground or surface combat" and this to the chagrin of veterans who have actually been in combat. This ribbon is not listed on any of his official Naval transcripts submitted to the United States Senate Armed Services Committee for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military retirement pension payments. Mr. Jan Herman MA - Historian at Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) can confirm VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) wore a Combat Action Ribbon
Combat Action Ribbon
The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy and Coast Guard , have actively participated in ground or...
to his retirement ceremony.
When questioned about wearing the ribbon and his combat experience by Josh Goldstein, Investigative Reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Arthur "declined to describe his combat role".
Accomplishments and Decorations
VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur, BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) has had a plethora of accomplishments, responsibilities, decorations and awards throughout his military career.Arthur's work on the Defense Health Board Task Force on Mental Health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
reflected his advocacy for PTSD in service members and combat veterans. He addressed the stigma of mental health in the military and made efforts to alleviate it. Arthur was an advocate for service members who incurred and suffered with Traumatic Brain Injury. In these regards, he must have brought his multiple, personal, non-combat related motorcycle trauma experiences to bear. Arthur was also an advocate for gay service members in the military.
Throughout his military career, Arthur championed the program for the construction of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers (Recompression chambers) at multiple Naval Medical centers throughout the US to treat acutely wounded sailors and service members and those with Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...
. The abrupt abandonment of this program by Arthur at the time of his retirement from the Navy Medical Corps, after multiple millions of dollars to build these facilities had already been spent as a consequence of his recommendations and approval, leaves many questions unanswered.
He addressed Hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
in Fleet Duty Corpsmen also.
Arthur was responsible for the day to day management of Bethesda Naval Hospital and testified on multiple occasions before Congress. Indeed, his testimony, before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 7, 2007 in Washington, regarding the dilapidated living quarters for military personnel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
was central in the Congressional investigation of these abusive conditions.
Upon promotion to the admiralty, Arthur served in various military assignments in which he oversaw Navy Medical personnel deployed to Guantánamo Bay in order to provide medical care for active duty members and prisoners alike. He reportedly did not voice objections about the involvement of Navy medical personnel in interrogation sessions of enemy combatants, which included waterboarding
Waterboarding
Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water is poured over the face of an immobilized captive, thus causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning...
. After becoming, Navy Surgeon General, Donald Arthur was ultimately the responsible superior officer in charge of Navy doctors as well as all Navy allied medical personnel (medical corpsmen, nurses, psychologists, etc.) deployed to Guantánamo Bay as members of Behavioral Science Consultative Teams ("Biscuit" Teams) specifically assigned to assist in interrogations of enemy combatants. Arthur is among several named defendants in an ongoing lawsuit in these regards. Furthermore, a recent study in PLOS Medicine entitled "Neglect of Medical Evidence of Torture in Guantánamo Bay: A Case Series" documents that the medical personnel under Arthur's direct orders were complicit in the torture of detainees:
This evidence based medical study appears in a peer reviewed journal. It was performed by 1. Physicians for Human Rights, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, 2. University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America, 3. Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America, 4. Brigadier General (Retired), US Army, United States of America
Dr. Arthur is a Fellow and Past President of the Aerospace Medical Association and is Board Certified in Aerospace Medicine. He was the President of the Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. He instituted a program for Telephonic Medicine in the Navy and enhanced the military Medical Informatics program. Arthur was published in the medical literature.
Arthur received the Federal Excellence in Health care Leadership Award from the American College of Health care Executives. In addition he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from The Federal Health care Executives Interagency Institutes and the Outstanding Federal Health care Executive Award from the Association of Military Surgeons of which he was the Founder.
VADM Arthur's military decorations include:
- Navy's Distinguished Service Medal
- Four Legions of Merit
- Three Meritorious Service Medals two Gold Stars
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
- National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star
- Expert Rifle Shot Medal
- Expert Pistol Shot Medal
- Navy Unit Commendation
- Meritorious Unit Commendation with four Bronze Stars
- Navy "E" Ribbon
- Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
- Navy Expeditionary MedalNavy Expeditionary MedalThe Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy...
- Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Stars
- Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two Bronze Stars
- Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
- Kuwait Liberation MedalKuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)The Naut Tahrir al-Kuwait was instituted by King Fahd ibn Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.- Background :...
(Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) - Kuwait Liberation MedalKuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)The Wisam Al-Tahrir was issued by the government of Kuwait for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.-Description:The Kuwait Liberation Medal was approved by the Kuwait Council of Ministers for award in five classes, generally according to the rank of the recipient...
(Kuwait)
Exposés
The story about Arthur's falsified credentials initially appeared in the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
on October 1, 2008 in a piece titled "Navy résumé doesn't quite hold water, Questionable degrees raise doubts on vetting" by Russell Working.
Allen Ezell, a retired FBI agent now working for Wachovia Bank investigating fraud, has been a long time investigator of diploma mills. "Ezell has included Arthur in a draft of an article for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' magazine."
An article copyrighted in the United Press in 2008 titled "Credential padding alleged by Navy Brass" discussed Arthur's saga.
Arthur's problems have been a topic of active discussion on multiple public fora as well.
On Feb. 3, 2009 an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled, "Doctor who checks credentials faces questions over his own résumé", was written by Josh Goldstein. Arthur was interviewed for 75 minutes by Mr. Goldstein. In that interview Arthur stated, "I'm an honorable person who has led an honorable life". The interview ended when Arthur said, "The pot-stirrers want to keep bringing things up - calling my friends, calling my family, calling everybody I am acquainted with and making all manner of accusations," he said. "Quite frankly, I'm done."
The "Stolen Valor" team (B. G. Burkett
B. G. Burkett
B. G. Burkett is the author of the book Stolen Valor. The son of an air force colonel, he joined the US Army in June 1966. Growing up his "heroes were not sports figures like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays but the fighter pilots who had blasted the Luftwaffe out of the sky"...
's group) is presently investigating VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur, BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) for incorporation in their upcoming Television Series. Wendy Halloran, "an award winning Television Investigative Reporter who exposes con-artists, unscrupulous contractors, shady businesses, identity thieves and government corruption" has done multiple investigative reports on network television (CBS Affiliate - WHNT Huntsville, Alabama) regarding government employees who have advanced their government careers by purchasing fraudulent academic degree certifications and diplomas. The discussion thread following Ms. Halloran's investigative reports has active and dynamic comments posted regarding VADM Arthur's questionable academic credentials and military accomplishments.
Retirement
Arthur retired from the Navy on August 27, 2007 as a Three Star Vice AdmiralVice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and the 35th Surgeon General of the United States Navy
Surgeon General of the United States Navy
The Surgeon General of the United States Navy is the senior-most medical corps officer in the United States Navy.- Establishment of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery :...
. His retirement ceremony was a celebrated affair hosted by then Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Mike Mullen. (Mullen has since been appointed the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
.) United States Representative C. W. Bill Young (Republican - 10th District, Florida) also attended the ceremonies. Young saluted Arthur, who he worked closely with during his tenure as Commander of the National Naval Medical Center and Surgeon General. "He cares about his sailors and Marines and made Bethesda and Navy medicine the preeminent providers of care for our injured service members..."
Mullen delivered praise and accolades at Arthur's retirement despite being asked to investigate Arthur's credentials in 2005 by B. G. Burkett
B. G. Burkett
B. G. Burkett is the author of the book Stolen Valor. The son of an air force colonel, he joined the US Army in June 1966. Growing up his "heroes were not sports figures like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays but the fighter pilots who had blasted the Luftwaffe out of the sky"...
. In addition to his thermometer metaphor, Mullen praised Arthur as a Renaissance man
Renaissance Man
Renaissance Man is a 1994 comedy film, directed by Penny Marshall, starring Danny DeVito, Gregory Hines, James Remar, and Ed Begley, Jr. It also features Mark Wahlberg in one of his earliest roles....
with impeccable credentials. He recounted Arthur's glorious career and honors even mentioning his motorcycle obsession. In conclusion Mullen said, "Don, looking at what you’ve accomplished these past three decades, your career and your life bring to mind the words of another great renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, who once said, well done is better than well said."
Present Activities
Arthur joined Mainline Health on November 5, 2007 as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Mainline is one of the largest health care organizations in Pennsylvania providing a "full range of medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, psychiatric and emergency services" to suburban Philadelphia. Mainline Health runs and manages multiple acute care medical centers in Philadelphia, including Lankenau, Bryn Mawr, Paoli and Riddle Hospitals. They employ over 10,000 people including 1,900 physicians.As in the Navy, Arthur remains personally involved in the credentialing
Credentialing
Credentialing is the process of establishing the qualifications of licensed professionals, organizational members or organizations, and assessing their background and legitimacy...
process for physicians and health care personnel at Mainline. "Dr. Donald C. Arthur is responsible for all clinical health services physician contracts credentials and clinical appointments laboratory, pharmacy and radiology services infection control risk management disaster planning medical informatics graduate and continuing medical education and human-subject research programs." Arthur's undocumented Emergency Medicine board certification and his combat experience are highlighted on his Mainline biography. When questioned about Arthur's falsified records, Mainline CEO Jack Lynch said, "I don't believe there is a credentialing problem here," calling Arthur "a perfect fit" with the system.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research center located in suburban Philadelphia, U.S. The center specializes in basic, clinical, and translational research on cancer and cardiovascular disease....
. Arthur joined the TriWest Health care Alliances Executive Advisory Board in 2008.
The September 29, 2010 issue of Joint Commission Online announced the appointment of "Donald Arthur, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr, Pa." as a new member of the Joint Commission’s Hospital Advisory Council. The publication claims that the new members were "selected following a rigorous review process", the specifics of which were not specified. Emails to the contact person, Mark Pelletier for clarification purposes have gone unanswered.
The American Journal of Medical Quality has recently announced that Don Arthur, MD "Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA" is now a member of the editorial board of the journal. SAGE publishes this medical periodical. The editor and chief of the American Journal of Medical Quality is David B. Nash, MD, MBA. Dr. Nash is Dean of the Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.