James D. Bearden III, MD, '65
Candidate for Alumni Member, The Citadel Board of Visitors
EDUCATION: BS in Pre-Med, 1965; MD, MUSC, 1969; Board Certified, Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology; Fellow, American College of Physicians
CITADEL ACTIVITIES: Cadet Activities: M Company, Supply Sergeant, 3rd Battalion Adjutant; President Pre-Med Society; Junior Sword Drill Platoon; Distinguished Air Force Graduate; Arnold Air Society. Alumni Involvement: Lifetime Member, The Citadel Alumni Association; Officer, Spartanburg Citadel Club; Brigadier Foundation—General’s Club, 20 years
OCCUPATION: Physician, Medical Oncologist/Hematologist; Managing Physician, Gibbs Cancer Center; Vice President Clinical Research—Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
MILITARY SERVICE: Capt., USNR (Ret.); Active Duty 1965- 1976, USAF – MC Reserve duty 1986 – 1996; USNR - MC (retired as Captain); Chief of Medical Services Readiness Command Region & (REDCOM 7); Recipient Navy-Marine Corp Commendation Medal
MEMBERSHIPS & OFFICES HELD: President of the South Carolina Oncology Society; Board of Trustees, Spartanburg Medical Center (2 terms); Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina; Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Wake Forest University; Past President of the Spartanburg County Medical Society; Leadership Position & Member of the MD Anderson Hospital, Houston; Physician Network; Charter Organization Member, Carolina Alliance Bank & Founding Director of Carolina Alliance Bank; Previous Vice-Chair of Spartanburg Day School; National Cancer Institute Steering Committee for Symptom Control & Quality of Life; Principle Investigator of the Upstate Carolina Community Clinical Oncology Program (1983-Indef.); Principle Investigator of the NCI Community Cancer Center Program in Spartanburg (only one in NC and SC); Executive Committee of the South West Oncology Group; Executive Committee of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group-Mayo Clinic, & past Co-Chair of NCCTG Cancer Control-Mayo Clinic, Rochester; Chairman Cancer Care Committee Spartanburg Regional Cancer Care Committee; Medical Director of SRHS Hospice Program for 10 years; Elder, First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, Stephen Minister; previous Susan Komen Foundation Board Member; Member, Board of Trustees of Piedmont Blood Bank; & member of South Carolina Cancer Alliance.
AWARDS & HONORS: 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award, Medical University of SC; Fellow, American College of Physicians; Bearden-Josey Breast Health Center named in honor of by donors (Center of Excellence for Early Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer in Multidisplinary Manner); American Society of Clinical Oncology Award for Research on Cancer in Community and Academic Setting (one of 10 recognized nationally on an Annual Basis); Outstanding Faculty Award, USAF Medical Center, Wilford Hall, LAFB, TX; Outstanding Teacher Award, Spartanburg Regional Medical Center; & Outstanding House Staff Award, USAF Medical Center, KAFB, Miss.
MARITAL STATUS: Married to the former Ann Southworth with 4 children James D. IV (Class 1991, 2 grandchildren) Sarah Jane, Clayton Keels, Melissa Brooks (1 grandchild).
CANDIDATE’S STATEMENT: The Citadel is more than an institute of higher learning but a place that refines the character of a cadet. High ethics, Honor, Duty and Love of Country must continue to be defining foundations. Academic excellence and increased enrollment in post graduate education should be a priority. In these difficult times, we must create outstanding leaders with an instilled sense of obligation for service to their country. Man’s destiny is not determined by circumstances or misfortune, but how he responds. The Citadel, more than any other school, can create belief in causes larger and more important than the individual.