08/20/2026
We are saddened to share that William G. Anderson, DO, passed away on Aug. 16 at the age of 98.
Dr. Anderson played a vital role in VCOM’s founding, serving as a member of the College’s first Board of Directors. He later served on the VCOM-Auburn Board of Directors. Several scholarships at VCOM have been established in his honor, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to osteopathic medicine and to the College.
His role at VCOM, however, was just one part of a remarkable life of service and leadership.
Dr. Anderson played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. Inspired by students marching in support of voting rights for Black Americans, he became president of the Albany Movement, which worked to end segregation in Albany, Georgia, where he maintained a private osteopathic medical practice. His leadership in the movement and his friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. made him a nationally recognized civil rights leader. He also served as King’s physician.
In 1994, Dr. Anderson became the first Black president of the American Osteopathic Association. Following his time as president, he remained an active member of the AOA House of Delegates for many years and served on the AOA Board in other capacities as well.
He also served on the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) board for more than a decade, including as its president and immediate past president. In 2001, the AOF established the William G. Anderson, DO, Scholarship Fund in his honor. The scholarship recognizes osteopathic medical students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership in addressing educational and societal barriers and who are committed to addressing the health care needs of underserved populations.
Dr. Anderson’s legacy lives on through the physicians he influenced, the barriers he helped break, and the institutions and individuals that benefited from his leadership and service. VCOM is fortunate to be among them.
The funeral will take place Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m. at Empowerment Church in Southfield, Michigan, followed by a gathering at Plum Hollow Country Club.
Online Donations:
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Osteopathic Foundation in support of the William G. Anderson, DO, Scholarship Fund, or the Norma Anderson Scholarship at MSU-COM.
AOF donors may visit https://aof.org/giving/donate-now and click "Make a Donation." On the next screen, fill in the amount of your donation, select "Add Comments or Instructions," and write "For Anderson Scholarship.”
