Today@Sam Article
In Memoriam: Brent Sanderlin, DO
June 19, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins
By Brittany Foreman
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) honors the life and legacy of Dr. Brent Sanderlin, chair of Primary Care and Clinical Medicine. Dr. Sanderlin passed away on June 17 with his family by his side.
A physician, Navy veteran, medical educator and servant leader, Sanderlin brought a remarkable depth of experience and heart to his role at SHSU-COM. He joined the college in 2023, embracing the opportunity to help shape a new generation of physicians committed to service, rural care and advancing the practice of osteopathic medicine. His presence was felt immediately through his mentorship and unwavering belief in the mission of the college, making a profound impact on students, colleagues and the broader medical community.
Sanderlin began his medical career after earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) in Fort Worth. He served as a physician officer in the U.S. Navy, earning recognition for his leadership and skill in roles that included helicopter pilot, flight surgeon, Senior Medical Officer and support physician for NASA.
He practiced family medicine in Central Texas, caring for his patients and holding leadership positions such as medical director, chief medical information officer and panelist for the Texas Medical Board.
In addition to his clinical work, Sanderlin remained deeply involved in advancing the osteopathic profession at the state and national levels. He served on the board of the Texas Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), was a member of the AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Education and contributed to national efforts through the AACOM Council on Residency Placement and the AACOM Council on Information Technology. From 2019-20, he held the office of president of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association.
Throughout his career, Sanderlin remained deeply engaged in medical education, and held faculty appointments at all three colleges of osteopathic medicine in Texas. His early teaching at TCOM helped shape future physicians in both the classroom and clinical settings. He later contributed to program development and academic leadership at the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio. His passion for training future physicians was evident throughout his journey, and his leadership at SHSU-COM reflected a career-long commitment to excellence in osteopathic education.
On May 22, Sanderlin was formally promoted to the rank of full professor at SHSU-COM, a distinction he earned through years of leadership, teaching and service to the profession. The college gathered with his family, along with many colleagues and students, to celebrate this well-deserved milestone and honor his lasting impact. The ceremony was both a recognition of his accomplishments and an opportunity for the community he poured into to express their gratitude and say their goodbyes.
In recognition of his life’s work and his contributions to SHSU-COM, a $150,000 gift has been made in his honor. A plaque honoring Sanderlin’s legacy will be placed outside the college's OR/Trauma Simulation Room. This will serve as a permanent tribute to his belief in hands-on, mission-driven medical education.
The final words of the Osteopathic Pledge of Commitment reflect the way Sanderlin lived his life: “I will support my profession with loyalty in action, word, and deed; and I will live each day as an example of what an osteopathic physician should be.”
We are better for having known him. He will be missed deeply and remembered with gratitude.
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