Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio on the Near Eastside. Attended Eastmoor High School of Columbus City Schools. Then attended The Ohio State University both in Undergraduate and Medical School with BS degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and MD Degree from The Ohio State University. Graduated 1978.
Attended postgraduate residency in Family Medicine 1978-1981 at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.
Established a private practice in family medicine 1981 Manuel Family Practice joining to practice of Dr. Robert Manuel MD at the Manuel Clinic 270 S. Grant Ave. I practiced there from 1981-2018. I joined OhioHealth Physicians Group Primary Care December 2018. My patients are primarily African-American 98%. Being a downtown practice I draw patients from all over central Ohio. They come to see me really based on my reputation in the community.
I am Board Certified in the specialty of Family Medicine.
Have been very active in the Columbus community for over 38 years have been on the medical staffs of Grant Medical Center, OSU East Hospital (formerly St. Anthony Hospital), and Mt Carmel Hospitals. Former Chairman of Family Medicine Department at Grant Medical Center and OSU East Hospital and St Anthony Hospital.
Former Medical Director of ECCO Family Health Center and Isabelle Ridgway Nursing Care Center.
I also have served on the Admissions Committee at Ohio State University College of Medicine since 1987. I am also on Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Family Medicine at Ohio State. I teach 3rd-4th medical students who do 4 week clerkships with me 6 months out of the year. Mentor for the Physicians Diversity Scholars Program for minority medical students at OhioHealth.
Served on the Board of OhioHealth Hospice of Columbus, Ohio. Served on Board of the National Medical Association for 10 years. Served of the Board of Central Ohio Association Family Physicians for 9 years.
Juneteenth is not only a day of remembrance—it's a call to action.
At the National Medical Association, we celebrate freedom, progress, and the continued fight for equity in health care. Let’s use this day to reflect on our shared history and recommit ourselves to closing racial health disparities for future generations.
#Juneteenth2025 #NMA #HealthEquity #BlackExcellenceInMedicine
A Message from Virginia Caine, MD – 125th President, National Medical Association
The recent removal of all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a devastating blow to public health.
As a physician and infectious disease expert, I know firsthand how vital ACIP is to our nation’s safety. This federal advisory panel ensures vaccines are safe, effective, and equitably distributed, especially in communities historically underserved.
* ACIP is where science guides decisions, not politics.
* We need physician experts who understand the data.
* Vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, limiting access risks lives.
The NMA stands firm in supporting evidence-based vaccine policy and protecting access for all communities. We urge transparency, expert leadership, and continued trust in science.
#NMA #PublicHealth #VaccinesWork #TrustScience #HealthEquity #ACIP #VirginiaCaineMD #InfectiousDiseases #BlackHealthMatters
Happy Father’s Day! Today, we honor the Fathers who lead with love, raise with strength, and advocate for health and equity. Your presence matters, and so does your wellness.
Let’s protect our fathers ' mind, body, and spirit.
💙 With gratitude #FathersDay #BlackHealthMatters #NMADads #BlackDoctorsMatter
📣 FINAL CALL NMA Members: 2025-2026 Nomination Applications Due TODAY!
⏰ The deadline to submit your application to run for NMA office is TONIGHT, June 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST!
If you’re ready to lead and shape the future of the NMA, this is your moment. Positions up for election include:
President Elect
Speaker & Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates
Secretary & Treasurer of the HOD
Regional Trustees
📅 Submission window: May 15 – June 15, 2025
📝 Required materials: Interest Statement, CV/resume, valid medical license, headshot, and regional chair endorsement.
All applications must be submitted electronically. Read more here: https://bitl.to/4hNU
🔗 Reach out to nomination@nmanet.org with questions.
Let your voice lead! #NMA2025 #NMALeadership #BlackDoctorsLead #NMAElections
Congratulations to Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, FACS, on being elected President-Elect of the American Medical Association (AMA)!
Dr. Underwood’s distinguished career spans leadership roles in the Erie County Medical Society, AMA and NMA Commission to End Health Care Disparities, ACGME’s Urology Residency Review Committee, AUA Public Policy Council, and the Joint Commission Board of Commissioners.
A proud graduate of Morehouse College and SUNY Upstate Medical University, he further trained at the University of Connecticut and the University of Michigan, where he became the fifth urologist selected for the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program.
The NMA celebrates this historic moment and the unwavering commitment Dr. Underwood brings to advancing equity, leadership, and excellence in medicine.
#BlackDoctorsMatter #LeadershipInMedicine #AMA #HealthEquity #nma
Photo credit: AMA
Join a community of over 50,000 dedicated African American physicians and professionals committed to making a positive impact on healthcare. Discover the benefits of NMA membership, access professional development opportunities, and become a part of a network dedicated to advancing health equity.
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