Middleton takes on role as next alumni board president
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Growing up, Blake Middleton and his two brothers were active in sports, meaning lots of trips to the doctor’s office.
“Being from a smaller town— Okmulgee— I developed a good relationship with a few of the local physicians through all of our visits. I knew I wanted to enter the medical field even back in high school,” said Middleton, who entertained a career as a physical therapist, physician assistant and even a pharmacist before he decided to go to OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He admits to not knowing much about osteopathic medicine when he decided to go to medical school, but those early encounters with his hometown doctors again influenced his career.
“A lot of choosing OSU had to do with the physicians in Okmulgee that I developed relationships with. I realized all of them were osteopathic physicians and I loved their approach to treatment including how personable they were while taking care of my family,” he said.
Middleton said his time at OSU-COM was both the longest and shortest four years of his life.
“Of course, it was very difficult in regard to the coursework and training, but there were so many administrators, professors and physicians who encouraged and guided us through the process so well. It truly is a community all working together for the betterment of the students and osteopathic community,” he said.
While in medical school, Middleton said he was influenced by Dr. Stanley Grogg, who had served as interim president of OSU Center for Health Sciences, and Dr. Kayse Shrum, who at the time served as provost of OSU-CHS and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“Both of these doctors and so many others from OSU-COM continue to be front and center when it comes to major issues for our communities. This urges me to continue to follow in their footsteps and attempt to contribute even a fraction of what they have back to our profession and communities,” he said.
After graduating in 2013, Middleton completed the OSU family medicine residency program and then a sports medicine fellowship at Texas A&M. He returned to Oklahoma and he now practices at McBride Orthopedic Hospital in Oklahoma City and is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at OU Health Sciences Center.
He also serves as the team physician for the University of Central Oklahoma and at other local events providing physician coverage for the Oklahoma City Dodgers minor league baseball team and the OKC Memorial Marathon.
When he was approached about serving on the OSU Center for Health Sciences Alumni Board of Directors, Middleton said he was surprised and honored.
"I get to sit down with other like-minded alumni routinely who want our association to progress and draw unity within our alumni base. We have been developing more and more ways to encourage interaction as well as using the alumni association for the betterment of the osteopathic profession in Oklahoma."
Middleton took over as alumni board president May 15.
“I have big shoes to fill from previous presidents, but during this next year I hope to develop ways to support our alumni further in their careers, encourage and support the next generation of alumni, as well as create even more enjoyable and interactive environments to draw alumni back together,” he said. “We are stronger together and so I believe in creating unity within our group will allow us all to excel further in our communities, families and professions.”