Nancy W. Dickey

Nancy W. Dickey, M.D.
2010 Inductee
Health

As a schoolgirl, Dr. Nancy W. Dickey loved science, but she chose a career in medicine because she likes people. As president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center — the University System’s first female president — and vice chancellor for Health Affairs for the Texas A&M System, Dickey has dedicated her life to giving others the very best in health education, advocacy and care.

Born in South Dakota, Dickey was brought up a Texan. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and her M.D. at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where she also completed her residency training. As Dickey established her practice in family medicine, her commitment to community quickly became evident. Seeing a particularly needy population, she was the founding program director of the Family Practice Residency of the Brazos Valley.

As president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Dickey worked to make the Health Science Center an essential and energetic agent for health care, research and science throughout Texas. She helped establish the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy in Kingsville, South Texas’ first professional school. In response to the state’s significant nursing shortage, Dickey helped create a College of Nursing in Bryan/College Station. And she launched the Rural and Community Health Institute to help address patient safety and quality care issues in rural Texas hospitals. Under Dickey’s leadership, the Health Science Center is growing in number of graduates and programs, is expanding its research, and is extending its service to the people of Texas.

Dickey is also nationally renowned within her profession. As the first woman ever elected as president of the American Medical Association, she developed the Patient’s Bill of Rights and exercised her passion for healthcare system reform. Dickey has helped reshape America’s medical care by serving on many health-related boards, speaking frequently to professional and civic organizations, testifying before Congress, writing for medical and health-policy journals, and acting as editor for online and print publications.

Dickey’s myriad accolades include five honorary doctoral degrees, membership in the Institute of Medicine and the Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine, and appointment by Governor Rick Perry as chair of the Texas Health Policy Council.

With the support of her husband, Franklin, and their three children, Dickey continues to fulfill her vision of providing exceptional education, superior science and compassionate care for all Texans, and indeed, all people.