OSU-COM alum donates $250,000 to establish endowed scholarship fund

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Media Contact: Sara Plummer | Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | sara.plummer@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine alumnus Dr. Adam Smith has made a significant contribution to the institution that shaped his career.

Smith, a bariatric surgeon and founder of Ultimate Bariatrics, donated $250,000 to establish the Adam B. Smith, DO, DFACOS Family Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship aims to support students from north Texas pursuing their medical education at OSU-COM.

Smith's journey in medicine began in Ardmore, Oklahoma, where he was inspired by the dedicated work of his local physician Dr. James Turrentine, a doctor of osteopathic medicine.

“He was our town’s busiest physician," Smith said. "He removed my mother’s appendix and delivered my oldest daughter.”

Smith pursued his medical degree at what was then the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. The institution became OSU-COM in 1988, the year he graduated.

He then completed a rotating internship at Tulsa Regional Medical Center, now OSU Medical Center, and later specialized in surgery. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of North Texas Health Science Center under the mentorship of Dr. W.R. Jenkins, who instilled in him the importance of giving back to his community and profession.

Smith founded Ultimate Bariatrics in 2004, which now has three locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and served as president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons Governing Board. His dedication to education and advocacy for osteopathic surgeons has earned him numerous accolades, including the Orel F. Martin Medal from the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association

In June, he was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery, becoming the first DO to receive this honor.

"I have always attributed my success to my experience at OSU-COM," Smith said. "I wanted to give back to my alma mater so more students can have the experience that I had, so I reached out to the OSU Foundation and started working on the implementation of an endowed scholarship that will attract qualified students from north Texas to attend OSU-COM."

The Adam B. Smith DO, DFACOS Family Endowed Scholarship will provide leadership scholarships to students from north Texas and reflects Smith's commitment to fostering the next generation of osteopathic physicians.

“Dr. Smith's donation not only honors his legacy but also paves the way for future physicians to benefit from the education and opportunities that OSU-COM provides,” said Dr. Dennis Blankenship, OSU-COM dean. “His generosity and dedication to the field of medicine continue to inspire and shape the future of health care.”