John A. Burdine, MD
John Alton Burdine, MD, former chief executive officer (CEO) of St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in the Texas Medical Center was a pioneer in developing Nuclear Medicine into the crucial role it plays in healthcare today.
In 1972, the St. Luke’s Nuclear Medicine Service, under Dr. Burdine’s direction, reported a new breakthrough technique to evaluate lung function at the inception of lung disease. By 1973, Dr. Burdine was certified by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine and was a leading national authority in the field. He served as chairman of the Committee on Nuclear Medicine for the Texas Medical Association and also became an active member in the National Society of Nuclear Medicine, serving on numerous committees, as a member of its Board of Trustees and, ultimately, as its president from 1982-83.
In early 1984, he was elected Chief of Staff at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. In August of 1984, Dr. Burdine was named CEO and head administrator of St. Luke’s and the Texas Heart“ Institute. In 1987, his title changed to president and CEO of St. Luke’s, and in 1991, his title changed again to vice chairman and CEO, a position he held until he retired in 1994. During his 10 years as head of St. Luke’s, Dr. Burdine continued to emphasize providing patient care at the highest level. He believed it was important for St. Luke’s to have the most modern, state-of-theart facilities and equipment available, and he led the effort to construct the St. Luke’s Medical Tower, later renamed The O’Quinn Medical Tower at St. Luke’s. Dr. Burdine passed away on April 12 and is survived by his wife, Ann, three children and five grandchildren.
