Troy native Dr. Phillip K. Henderson has been received into the membership of the University of South Alabama’s Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society in recognition of his demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion, and dedication to service.

The premise of the Gold Foundation is that, in order to be a “complete” doctor, both science and humanism must be fostered. Gold Foundation awards seek to elevate those humanistic qualities essential to good doctoring.

Henderson said he is humbled and honored by his election to the prestigious honor society but also realizes that the career path he has chosen is a lifelong journey.

“Medicine is a lifelong learning experience,” Henderson said. “Things change almost daily in medicine so there is always something to learn.”

Henderson is a 2002 graduate of Charles Henderson High School and a 2006 graduate of Troy University.

“My parents, Kurt and Joan Henderson, have always been my encouragement to succeed,” Henderson said. “But it was my grandfather, Coot Smith, who inspired me to go into medicine. He had a lot of health problems and being around him and seeing what he went through made we want to go into the medical field.”

While at Troy University, Henderson worked in the emergency room at Troy Regional Medical Center. His experiences there confirmed his commitment to medicine.

Henderson is a 2009 graduate of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences where he graduated with highest honors in the top five of his class.

He is now doing his residency in internal medicine at USA and plans to specialize in gastroenterology and liver diseases.

“I’m committed to the holistic approach to medicine,” Henderson said. “I believe that a doctor should treat the whole patient. A doctor should look at a patient’s mind, body and spirit. Not just treat the health issue. A doctor needs to understand a patient’s psychological state. A sickness may not just be in the body so a doctor needs to have a general understanding of the whole person.”

Henderson said that is the approach that he is taking to medicine and is looking forward to the time when he can hang up his shingle, hopefully, in or around the place he calls home.

Henderson and his wife, April, are making their home in Mobile where she a marketing director for an insurance agency.