Noteworthy Alumni in the Field of Medicine - Dr. William Burch '89

Cadets at Missouri Military Academy learn how to lead through their participation in the corps of cadets, and that daily, living, breathing leadership experience turns into a foundation for their future success. Dr. William Burch ’89 took the lessons he learned as an MMA cadet with him as he grew in his career and now serves others as a successful doctor and leader in the emergency medical field — the medical director of Methodist North Hospital in Tennessee and program medical director of the Sound Emergency Medicine Fellowship in Texas and Louisiana.

After graduating from MMA in 1989, Dr. Burch attended David Lipscomb University and earned his bachelor's degree in biology. Immediately after, he went on to earn his doctorate's degree in medicine from University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

After completing his education, Dr. Burch decided to serve his country while building his career in the U.S. Army Reserve as a combat medic. He served for six years at the rank of major, and completed two tours in Iraq in 2006 and 2008.

During those same six years, Dr. Burch completed his residency in family practice and became an ER physician at Methodist North Hospital until he was promoted to director in 2008. Currently, he also serves on Medical Directory Board.

Under his guidance, the emergency department at Memphis North Hospital has made substantial improvements on their operations and patient flow, enabling them to provide a faster, higher level of care to their patients. For his efforts, Dr. Burch has won the Most Improved Department Award, Hospital Integrity Award and Medical Directory Board Award.

“My work is rewarding because I am able to help people in their worst time of need,” Dr. Burch said. “We are their place of last resort when they can’t receive traditional medical care.”

In addition to his work at Methodist North, Dr. Burch was promoted to program medical director of the Christus Sound Emergency Medicine Fellowship in Texas and Louisiana, where he works to make similar improvements to their emergency department.

Dr. Burch credits MMA for teaching him leadership skills that prepared him for his high leadership positions, and he hopes current cadets appreciate the unique learning opportunity they have been given in MMA’s environment.

“MMA gave me the leadership skills to be able to not only succeed on a personal level, but to be able to be a leader on a national level,” he said. “I hope today’s cadets recognize the importance of building those leadership skills at MMA so they can use them to make a great life for themselves.” 

Dr. Burch lives with his wife, Jennifer, and is the proud father of four children: Wallace, Rebecca, Reed and Clay.

MMA is proud to count him among our noteworthy alumni.