The only medical report on former President Donald Trump’s condition after an attempted assassination comes from his former White House doctor, Rep. Ronny Jackson, MD, (R-Texas) — which has prompted scrutiny of Jackson’s medical credentials.
Jackson holds an active license in Florida, according to the state’s online license verification system. However, it’s listed as “military active,” which means “the licensed practitioner, serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, is only authorized to practice in a military facility,” per the Florida Department of Health website.
Jackson’s address of record on his Florida license is Walter Reed National Military in Bethesda, Maryland, though he has never been licensed in Maryland.
Jackson was, however, previously licensed in Virginia, from July 1, 1996 until May 31, 2020. His Florida license is listed under “Ronny Lynn Jackson” while his Virginia license is under “Ronny L Jackson.” He has no history of public complaints or discipline visible in either state.
While Jackson now represents the Texas panhandle, he’s never held a medical license in the state.
Jackson still maintains his board certification in emergency medicine from the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), which has been active since the start of 2016 and expires at the end of next year.
An ABEM spokesperson told MedPage Today that while the organization commends physicians providing care to the military, “ABEM does not know the implications of ‘military active certified’ and the ability to clinically practice medicine.”
The spokesperson detailed that “ABEM certification is voluntary and does not grant the privilege of legally practicing medicine in a state or other jurisdiction — that is the role of a state medical licensing board,” and that “as a rule, you must have a license to become ABEM-certified, but you do not need board certification to obtain a medical license.”
As of press time, neither the Florida Department of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, nor Walter Reed National Military Medical Center replied to MedPage Today‘s multiple requests for clarification on whether physicians with “military active” licensure can practice outside military facilities or outside the state of their military active licensure.
According to the Federation of State Medical Board physician license information site DocInfo.org, Jackson graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Galveston in 1995. Jackson first obtained licensure in Florida on May 12, 1997, and his license is set to expire on January 31, 2025.
Kevin O’Connor, DO, President Joe Biden’s White House physician, shared an update on Biden’s bout with COVID in a memo yesterday. On X, pulmonologist and NBC News medical analyst Vin Gupta, MD, joked that it was “nice to see this letter authored [by] his actual treating physician that also happens to be board certified with an active medical license.”
