Donald Holmquest
Encyclopedia
Donald Lee Holmquest is a former NASA Astronaut. He is currently the CEO
of the California
Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO)
.
He attended Roger Q. Mills Elementary School and is a 1957 graduate of W. H. Adamson High School in Dallas; he received a bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University
in 1962 and doctorates in Medicine and Physiology from Baylor University
in 1967 and 1968, respectively. He has completed specialty training in Nuclear Medicine and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Nuclear Medicine
. He also received the law degree from the University of Houston
in 1988.
.
After receiving his medical degree and his doctorate in Physiology from Baylor College of Medicine, and completing his internship in internal medicine at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, Holmquest was selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASA
in August 1967. After completing initial academic training and a 53-week course in flight training at Williams Air Force Base
, Arizona where he earned Air Force Wings, he worked on the Apollo program, and Skylab
habitability systems and medical experiments for a period of 1½ years.
He logged 750 hours flying time in jet aircraft prior to resigning from NASA in September 1973.
Holmquest then returned to Baylor to train in nuclear medicine, and then assumed the role of Chief of Nuclear Medicine at Ben Taub General Hospital
in Houston. He established the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Desert, California
, and then took the post of Associate Dean of Medicine at Texas A&M University
, where he was instrumental in developing A&M's new College of Medicine.
While pursuing his legal education, Holmquest also maintained a successful private practice in medicine. He received his juris doctorate cum laude from the University of Houston, and after serving as a senior partner at Wood, Lucksinger & Epstein until its dissolution, he established the firm of Holmquest & Associates, dedicated to the health care industry. He now practices medicine and law on a full-time basis.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO)
Regional Health Information Organization
A Regional Health Information Organization is a multistakeholder organization expected to be responsible for motivating and causing integration and information exchange among stakeholders that region's revamped healthcare system...
.
He attended Roger Q. Mills Elementary School and is a 1957 graduate of W. H. Adamson High School in Dallas; he received a bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in 1962 and doctorates in Medicine and Physiology from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in 1967 and 1968, respectively. He has completed specialty training in Nuclear Medicine and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Nuclear Medicine
American Board of Nuclear Medicine
The American Board of Nuclear Medicine certifies physicians as specialists in the practice of nuclear medicine. Diplomates of the ABNM are called nuclear medicine physicians...
. He also received the law degree from the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in 1988.
Organizations
Holmquest is a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, American College of Nuclear Physicians, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. Holmquest held a faculty appointment as Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of MedicineBaylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine, located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA, is a highly regarded medical school and leading center for biomedical research and clinical care...
.
After receiving his medical degree and his doctorate in Physiology from Baylor College of Medicine, and completing his internship in internal medicine at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, Holmquest was selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
in August 1967. After completing initial academic training and a 53-week course in flight training at Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
, Arizona where he earned Air Force Wings, he worked on the Apollo program, and Skylab
Skylab
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
habitability systems and medical experiments for a period of 1½ years.
He logged 750 hours flying time in jet aircraft prior to resigning from NASA in September 1973.
Holmquest then returned to Baylor to train in nuclear medicine, and then assumed the role of Chief of Nuclear Medicine at Ben Taub General Hospital
Ben Taub General Hospital
Ben Taub General Hospital is a hospital located in Houston, Texas within the Texas Medical Center. Opening in May 1963, the hospital is owned and operated by the Harris County Hospital District and is staffed by the faculty, residents, and students from Baylor College of Medicine.Ben Taub is a...
in Houston. He established the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, and then took the post of Associate Dean of Medicine at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, where he was instrumental in developing A&M's new College of Medicine.
While pursuing his legal education, Holmquest also maintained a successful private practice in medicine. He received his juris doctorate cum laude from the University of Houston, and after serving as a senior partner at Wood, Lucksinger & Epstein until its dissolution, he established the firm of Holmquest & Associates, dedicated to the health care industry. He now practices medicine and law on a full-time basis.