Donald Arthur

Donald C. Arthur
Arthur's Official Picture (Navy Bio)
Surgeon General of the Navy
In office 2004–2007

Donald Caldwell Arthur, Jr. (January 4, 1950–present) is a retired U.S. Navy medical corps vice admiral (VADM). He entered the Navy in 1974 and eventually served as the 35th Surgeon General of the United States Navy (2004–2007). After leaving the Navy in 2007 he became a hospital executive at Main Line Health System in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. At the time of his retirement (August 27, 2007) Admiral Michael Mullen called VADM Arthur a "sort of a Renaissance man. His résumé says a lot. BA, MA, JD, PhD, and of course, MD – he’s got more degrees than a thermometer."

VADM Arthur came under controversy when, in the last two years of his naval career, it was noticed that he was claiming a PhD degree in health-care management from what is now American Century University and a J.D. from LaSalle University, one of the James Kirk diploma mills. Not only were VADM Arthur's PhD and JD from unaccredited institutions but both were conferred within a 14-month time frame in 1992 and 1993 following deployment to the Middle East in 1991 during the first Gulf War. His résumé also claimed a non-existent Master's Degree, in Genetics from Northeastern University in 1973, a claim made as early as 1974. Concurrent to this claim, Donald Arthur gained entrance into Medical School and acquired an M.D. degree from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (1974–1978).

The investigation into his falsified résumé began after B. G. Burkett, author of Stolen Valor, asked Admiral Michael Mullen to investigate the matter in November 2005, two years prior to Arthur's retirement.

Personal Information

Donald Caldwell Arthur was born on January 4, 1950 and raised in Northampton, Massachusetts. His parents were Donald & Mary Arthur. He has a devoted sister Karen Arthur Lowther, R.N. As of April 20, 1999 Arthur was married to Marianne Rose Mele of Tenafly, New Jersey and had fathered 2 children. Rose Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on October 20, 1979 while Lindsey Anne Arthur (Daughter) was born on June 16, 1984. As of February 26, 2002 (107th Congress) he identified Beverly Kathryn "Bean" Arthur (deceased) of Neenah, Wisconsin as his spouse and a third daughter, Dawn (Robin) Arthur, who was born October 12, 1989.

Motorcyclist

Arthur has been a motorcycle enthusiast throughout his adult life. He began riding in 1967 and had no formal training. "There were no courses that I knew of back then," said Admiral Arthur, "so I learned from a friend." By 1973 he claimed to be working for Harley Davidson as a mechanic. All Harley Davidson mechanics are required to certify by attending one of 4 colleges. There is no record that Arthur ever gained certification as a mechanic or that he ever worked for Harley Davidson.

The Hurt Report (AKA Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures), published by the late Professor Harry Hurt has been called "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century." The List of findings in the Hurt Report as related to Admiral Arthur's above statement specifically notes:

24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.

Accordingly, Admiral Arthur was a proponent of motorcycle safety throughout his Naval career. He published an article, "Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring" and lectured extensively on the topic at motorcycle club meetings. Despite his safety concerns, Arthur was quite "accident prone" incurring at least 3 accidents in his life that are well documented in the media, two of which were major and disabling. {{citation}}: Empty citation (help)

When asked if he's ever had any close calls, Admiral Arthur responded, "I've had some closer-than-close calls--I've had a couple of accidents. My first one happened while I was working for Harley-Davidson as a mechanic--on April Fool's Day, 1973. I was riding a brand new bike to the shop when a car turned left directly in front of me. I had no reaction time at all. I spent the next four years on crutches and had a total of 10 operations and two knee replacements before they could put my left leg back together well enough to walk again...I also scratched up another helmet when a deer hit me [during the May 2002 four-corners ride.]"

In 2002 while serving full-time on active duty as Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral (RADM-lower half / 0-7), Don Arthur claimed to travel 117,000 miles on his motorcycle over a period of 12 months. The Iron Butt Association verified RADM Arthur's mileage records during organized motorcycle rally events but his other mileage claims are difficult to track without an authenticated initial odometer reading at the beginning of the year and better accounting of all service station receipts. As noted above during the May 2002 Four-Corners excursion, Arthur struck a deer and shattered his windshield (Paige Ortiz’s Aeroflow shop in Los Angeles). Furthermore, Don Arthur's mileage claim for 2002 was noted by another BMW motorcycle endurance rider and personal admirer to have increased to 175,000 total miles in the year. A survey by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America in 2003 found that less than 3% of respondents rode more than 48,000 miles in a year. Considering that Arthur would have had to drive his motorcycle at 65 mph, over 8 hours / day for 335 days to attain this distance record, which is equivalent to encircling the continental United States 30 times while serving on active duty in the Navy as a 1 Star Rear Admiral, was an amazing accomplishment to say the least. Arthur's extensive experience in "Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring" certainly must have played a role in his astounding although not adequately documented endurance record.

The third accident (August 2005), which was likewise described as unavoidable, occurred on U.S. Highway 36 at Stewartsville, Mo. The Missouri State Highway Patrol report stated that Arthur rear-ended a car traveling in excess of 65 mph. (The truck driver next to him estimated he hit the car at 67 mph.) No citation was issued to either driver. Arthur claimed that "Thanks to the helmet, I suffered no brain injury. My injuries are a pelvis fractured in three places, a separated right shoulder, and fracture separations of two ribs at the sternum which caused a pneumothorax (partially collapsed lung)". Curiously in March 2007 Arthur claimed to have incurred a traumatic brain injury from the incident. "Arthur said he himself suffered a traumatic brain injury a year and a half ago and was initially embarrassed to talk about the problems he was having as a result." Arthur was reported to be "unconscious for 20 or 30 minutes". At the time of his third accident, Arthur was Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the 35th Surgeon General of the Navy having earned a Three-star position.

Education

File:Donald Arthur Ph.D Century.jpg

File:Donald Arthur JD.jpg

Arthur attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1971. Thereafter he claimed to have been in an "M.A. (Master of Arts) program" in Genetics but to have not completed it or obtained an M.A. Arthur said, "I was in a master's program, but I did not graduate. I do not have a master's degree." Indeed in 2009 he said "I have never claimed to have an M.A."

Arthur was accepted to the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1974. That same year he became an Ensign (ENS, 0-1), in the U.S. Naval Reserve. His tuition to medical school was provided by the US Navy. CAPT John M. Donlon USN, a retired Naval Line Officer, confirmed on May 12, 2008 during a phone conversation with COL Kenneth G. Swan MC, USA (retired), currently a Professor of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, that VADM Arthur had indeed included his Master of Arts (M.A.) in Genetics from Northeastern University in 1973 on his entrance application to medical school. In addition, Rear Adm. Frank Thorp confirmed "The master's degree first appeared in Arthur's paperwork when he joined the Navy in 1974". The master's degree would actually reappear on future résumés throughout Arthur's career. In addition, he listed the M.A. in Genetics in his 1978 medical school yearbook. He also claimed in the same student directory of the yearbook to be authoring a pharmacology review textbook but this is likewise unsubstantiated.

Upon obtaining his M.D. in 1978, he reported for active naval duty as a Lieutenant (LT, 0-3). Between June 1978 and June 1979 he attended a Surgical Internship at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.

At this juncture, Arthur formally began his Naval medical career qualifying for a medical license in the state of California (License Number: G 53102).

While a practicing medical officer, Arthur claimed to obtain additional academic credentials (a PhD in 1992 and a J.D. inaccurately documented in his Naval transcript as conferred in 1994) which would be pivotal in his future success in the Navy and prosperity. As Rear Adm. John Hutson, the Navy's top uniformed lawyer said, "'He may or may not be promoted without it,' Hutson said. 'But one, he had it in his record, and two, there's a pretty good argument that he knew or should have known that people would rely on it, not knowing that they were unaccredited degrees.'". "When his medical school gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 2005, the law degree and PhD.were listed, records show".

At the time one of the diploma mills (LaSalle University) was closed (July 1996) and the founders imprisoned for fraud, the U.S. Attorney Harry McSherry sent notifications to the 15,000 graduates with bogus degrees. He stated, We had a fairly complete list, and sent notification to everyone on that list...McSherry added that students were told to tell their employers or future employers about the validity of the university's accreditation. The Chicago Tribune exposé by Russell Working, Investigative Reporter, on October 1, 2008 reveals that Arthur admitted taking "some courses from two places that are unaccredited." He attributed this to the fact that in 1992-1993, "I could say I was naive, but I was 40 years old. And I didn't understand completely what was going on." Nonetheless, these unaccredited degrees were included in future Navy Transcripts submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, in 2002 and again in 2004, for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military retirement pension payments, as well as in subsequent professional résumés and biographies.

Medical Career and Active Duty

Between July and December 1979 Arthur was stationed at Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. Thereafter, Arthur was transferred to the Naval Undersea Medicine Institute in New London, Connecticut (January–June 1980). In October 1980 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander (LCDR, 0-4) while serving at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, Connecticut as a Research Medical Officer. On August 3, 1981, Arthur augmented to the U.S. Navy from the U.S. Naval Reserve. Between February 1982 and February 1984, he claimed to be a Flight Surgeon/ Diving Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Subic Bay, in the Philippines. He then became a Senior Medical Officer on the USS KITTY HAWK - CV 63 (March 1984-July 1986)

While in Subic Bay, he claimed to obtain training at Lakehurst, New Jersey as a Navy-Marine Parachutist while simultaneously procuring Jumpmaster certification on August 30, 1983 (Parachutist Badge (United States)). In fact, Lakehurst, New Jersey hadn't been a parachute training center since WWII and it is noted in the base website that the parachute jump field became a toxic oil dump (1950–1970). In addition, the Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide states "Hardware implanted as a component of a prosthetic joint (arthroplasty) is considered disqualifying (CD)." Since Arthur reportedly had two total knee replacements in 1973 at the time of his first motorcycle accident, he was ineligible for a medical waiver for Military operational parachuting.

On August 1, 1986 he was promoted to Commander (CDR, 0-5) and reportedly practiced as a resident and then as a staff emergency medicine specialist in the Emergency Room at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California (August 1986 - June 1990). Subsequently, Arthur claimed board certification in Emergency Medicine as well. There is no mention of his board certification in Emergency Medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialists although his certification in Preventive Medicine (Aerospace) is listed. Arthur's Emergency Medicine certification is also not listed in official Naval transcripts submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military pension payments but appears in his Navy and Mainline biographies as do his residency claims. In addition residency training and board certification in Emergency Medicine are not listed on either his California (License Number: G 53102) and more recently his Pennsylvania (License Number 438749) Medical Board professional profiles.

Arthur has also claimed that he served as the Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California between August 1988 and June 1990. In fact, CAPT "Cary" Gresham Bayne MD MC, USN was Head of the Emergency Room at that time.

Between June 1990 and October 1992 Arthur served as the Head, Special Projects, Academics Department at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, Florida. Subsequently, Arthur claimed to be board certified in Preventive Medicine (Aerospace). No formal residency training is documented or reported.

In 1991, Arthur was deployed to Operation Desert Storm where he claimed to engage in direct ground combat.

On MAY 1, 1992 Arthur was promoted to Captain (CAPT, 0-6) and between October 1992 and October 1994 served at the Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC as the Director of Medical Programs. While performing his duties at the time, he was able to complete a PhD thesis in health care management with the PhD being conferred by the American Century University in 1992.

Arthur said he wrote a 350-page dissertation: Policies and Procedures for a Model Emergency Department. He declined to make the document available. Many Naval Medical Corps officers have questioned the obvious similarity between the title of Arthur's alleged PhD dissertation and specifically the chapter, "Policies and Procedures for the Emergency Medicine Department", the contents of which is available to the general public within the Manual of the Medical Department of the Navy.

When the American Century University was contacted for a copy of Arthur's thesis, they claimed that it had been destroyed in a routine records purge. Arthur apparently did not retain a copy of it either and has failed to provide it despite multiple requests. Information on PhD theses are typically maintained in an international database to prevent duplication of research by future students pursuing doctorates. Multiple individuals have checked the Dissertation Abstracts database and found no record of a PhD dissertation filed by a Donald Arthur with a middle name beginning with "C," nor by any Donald Arthur without a middle name recorded. By 1993, Arthur had also completed his studies for a law degree (J.D.) from LaSalle University. Both degrees conferred in a mere 14 months, are now acknowledged by Arthur as being obtained from unaccredited institutions not recognized by the US Navy.

Between October 1994 and April 1996 Arthur served as the Deputy Commander of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. Following this, between April 1996 and August 1998 he was the Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Then, between August 1998 and 1999, he was the Assistant Chief for Health Care Management Plans for the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), Washington, DC.

Apparently these multiple advanced academic degrees did serve Arthur well while on active duty.

Arthur was awarded his First Naval Star as Rear Admiral (RADM-lower half / 0-7) on May 1, 2000 by the 106th Congress of the US. During this tenure he performed his epic 117,000 mile motorcycle journey throughout the continental United States in 2002. On July 1, 2003 he was promoted again by the by the 107th Congress, earning a Second Star to become Rear Admiral (RADM-upper half / 0-8). Finally, in 2004, the l08th Congress awarded Arthur his Third Star to become Vice Admiral (VADM / 0-9) as he was appointed to the positions Chief of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and 35th Surgeon General of the US Navy where he served until August 27, 2007. While serving in this capacity, as the 35th Navy Surgeon General, he sustained a traumatic brain injury from his third motorcycle accident (August 2005).

Prior to his retirement in 2007, Rear Admiral Frank Thorp stated that a "preliminary" Naval inquiry into Arthur's credentials had occurred and concluded that there was "no wrongdoing" by the officer in these regards. Due to confidentiality issues, the Office of the Inspector General will not comment on the investigation and Arthur will not authorize a release of the report.

Despite the many unanswered questions revolving around Admiral Arthur's academic credentials (BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD) and military accomplishments, he was still permitted to retire from the Navy with an initial pension payment of $137,724 as a Vice Admiral (VADM / 0-9) currently the highest rank attainable for Navy Medical Corps officers who choose to become military hospital administrators in lieu of patient care. VADM Arthur's pension payments will increase annually according to Congressional cost of living recommendations.

Combat Experience

Vice Adm. Donald C. Arthur wearing the Combat Action Ribbon at his retirement ceremony. (Right Chest, Upper Right Ribbon on Picture).

During his service in Pensacola, Florida, he was deployed to Operation Desert Storm (1991). Arthur has on multiple occasions claimed combat experience during Operation Desert Storm. Indeed, "In July 2007, he told a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee: Having been in combat, I know that no one goes into combat and comes out without being significantly affected." Specifically, Arthur said he was "privileged to serve with the U.S. Marine Corps in direct combat operations." The Defense Health Board Task Force on Mental Health stated, "Dr. Arthur served in combat operations with the Marine Corps in Desert Storm." His Mainline biography clearly states, "During Desert Storm, he experienced combat in support of the Marine Corps." The April 16, 2007 transcript from the Task Force on Mental Health care also verifies VADM Arthur said "I've been in combat, it is a life-changing event to go under that kind of stress"

The official history of the Marine Corp does not mention any combat experience in Arthur's record. His Commanding Officer at the time, "Frederick M. Burkle Jr., who was the top medical officer of Arthur's unit in Saudi Arabia, said, 'We could certainly see the war was going on at a great distance, but we were not hit and we did not receive any fire.' "

Of further note, Arthur is reported to have worn the Combat Action Ribbon awarded to those who" have actively participated in ground or surface combat" and this to the chagrin of veterans who have actually been in combat.. This ribbon is not listed on any of his official Naval transcripts submitted to the United States Senate Armed Services Committee for the purpose of promotions and permanent increases in his military retirement pension payments. Mr. Jan Herman MA - Historian at Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) can confirm VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) wore a Combat Action Ribbon to his retirement ceremony.

When questioned about wearing the ribbon and his combat experience by Josh Goldstein, Investigative Reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Arthur "declined to describe his combat role".

Accomplishments and Decorations

VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur, BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) has had a plethora of accomplishments, responsibilities, decorations and awards throughout his military career.

Arthur's work on the Defense Health Board Task Force on Mental Health reflected his advocacy for PTSD in service members and combat veterans. He addressed the stigma of mental health in the military and made efforts to alleviate it. Arthur was an advocate for service members who incurred and suffered with Traumatic Brain Injury. In these regards, he must have brought his multiple, personal, non-combat related motorcycle trauma experiences to bear. Arthur was also an advocate for gay service members in the military.

"He was in charge of the delivery of medical and dental services to over 700,000 active-duty service members and 2.6 million retirees and family members. His oversight included 28 hospitals, 266 free-standing clinics, four regional support offices, and six research centers in four countries."

Arthur has been the CEO of two medical facilities the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and the Naval Hospital in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. For five years he was chief of the Navy Medical Corps, responsible for personnel policies, recruiting, career planning, graduate medical education, research activities and all other professional programs for the Navy's 4,100 physicians. ADM Arthur served as Deputy Surgeon General, Chief of the Navy Medical Corps.

Arthur was personally involved in the credentialing process for Naval Medical personnel.

Other Navy assignments included service as the Navy Medicines chief operating officer (COO), medical center COO, Department Head for Emergency Medicine at a residency training medical center, director of medical programs for the Marine Corps, senior medical officer aboard an aircraft carrier, practicing physician in a variety of clinical settings and researcher in the environmental sciences.

Hyperbaric chamber: US Navy.

Throughout his military career, Arthur championed the program for the construction of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers (Recompression chambers) at multiple Naval Medical centers throughout the US to treat acutely wounded sailors and service members and those with Traumatic Brain Injury. The abrupt abandonment of this program by Arthur at the time of his retirement from the Navy Medical Corps, after multiple millions of dollars to build these facilities had already been spent as a consequence of his recommendations and approval, leaves many questions unanswered.

He addressed Hypothermia in Fleet Duty Corpsmen also.

Arthur was responsible for the day to day management of Bethesda Naval Hospital and testified on multiple occasions before Congress. Indeed, his testimony, before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 7, 2007 in Washington, regarding the dilapidated living quarters for military personnel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was central in the Congressional investigation of these abusive conditions.

Upon promotion to the admiralty, Arthur served in various military assignments in which he oversaw Navy Medical personnel deployed to Guantánamo Bay in order to provide medical care for active duty members and prisoners alike. He reportedly did not voice objections about the involvement of Navy medical personnel in interrogation sessions of enemy combatants, which included waterboarding. After becoming, Navy Surgeon General, Donald Arthur was ultimately the responsible superior officer in charge of Navy doctors as well as all Navy allied medical personnel (medical corpsmen, nurses, psychologists, etc.) deployed to Guantánamo Bay as members of Behavioral Science Consultative Teams ("Biscuit" Teams) specifically assigned to assist in interrogations of enemy combatants. Arthur is among several named defendants in an ongoing lawsuit in these regards.

Dr. Arthur is a Fellow and Past President of the Aerospace Medical Association and is Board Certified in Aerospace Medicine. He was the President of the Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. He instituted a program for Telephonic Medicine in the Navy and enhanced the military Medical Informatics program. Arthur was published in the medical literature.

Arthur received the Federal Excellence in Health care Leadership Award from the American College of Health care Executives. In addition he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from The Federal Health care Executives Interagency Institutes and the Outstanding Federal Health care Executive Award from the Association of Military Surgeons of which he was the Founder.

VADM Arthur's military decorations include:

• Navy's Distinguished Service Medal
• Four Legions of Merit
• Three Meritorious Service Medals two Gold Stars
• Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars
• Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
• National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star
• Expert Rifle Shot Medal
• Expert Pistol Shot Medal
• Navy Unit Commendation
• Meritorious Unit Commendation with four Bronze Stars
• Navy "E" Ribbon
• Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
• Navy Expeditionary Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Stars
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two Bronze Stars
• Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Exposés

The story about Arthur's falsified credentials initially appeared in the Chicago Tribune on October 1, 2008 in a piece titled "Navy résumé doesn't quite hold water, Questionable degrees raise doubts on vetting" by Russell Working.

Allen Ezell, a retired FBI agent now working for Wachovia Bank investigating fraud, has been a long time investigator of diploma mills. "Ezell has included Arthur in a draft of an article for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' magazine."

An article copyrighted in the United Press in 2008 titled "Credential padding alleged by Navy Brass" discussed Arthur's saga.

Arthur's problems have been a topic of active discussion on multiple public fora as well.

On Feb. 3, 2009 an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled, "Doctor who checks credentials faces questions over his own résumé", was written by Josh Goldstein. Arthur was interviewed for 75 minutes by Mr. Goldstein. In that interview Arthur stated, "I'm an honorable person who has led an honorable life". The interview ended when Arthur said, "The pot-stirrers want to keep bringing things up - calling my friends, calling my family, calling everybody I am acquainted with and making all manner of accusations," he said. "Quite frankly, I'm done."

The "Stolen Valor" team (B. G. Burkett's group) is presently investigating VADM Donald Caldwell Arthur, BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD, MC, USN (retired) for incorporation in their upcoming Television Series. Wendy Halloran, "an award winning Television Investigative Reporter who exposes con-artists, unscrupulous contractors, shady businesses, identity thieves and government corruption" has done multiple investigative reports on network television (CBS Affiliate - WHNT Huntsville, Alabama) regarding government employees who have advanced their government careers by purchasing fraudulent academic degree certifications and diplomas. The discussion thread following Ms. Halloran's investigative reports has active and dynamic comments posted regarding VADM Arthur's questionable academic credentials and military accomplishments.

Retirement

Arthur retired from the Navy on August 27, 2007 as a Three Star Vice Admiral and the 35th Surgeon General of the US Navy. His retirement ceremony was a celebrated affair hosted by then Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Mike Mullen. (Mullen has since been appointed the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.) United States Representative C. W. Bill Young (Republican - 10th District, Florida) also attended the ceremonies. Young saluted Arthur, who he worked closely with during his tenure as Commander of the National Naval Medical Center and Surgeon General. "He cares about his sailors and Marines and made Bethesda and Navy medicine the preeminent providers of care for our injured service members..."

Mullen delivered praise and accolades at Arthur's retirement despite being asked to investigate Arthur's credentials in 2005 by B. G. Burkett. In addition to his thermometer metaphor, Mullen praised Arthur as a Renaissance man with impeccable credentials. He recounted Arthur's glorious career and honors even mentioning his motorcycle obsession. In conclusion Mullen said, "Don, looking at what you’ve accomplished these past three decades, your career and your life bring to mind the words of another great renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin, who once said, well done is better than well said."

Arthur retired with a handsome pension from the Navy reflecting his extensive academic credentials(BA, MA, MD, PhD, JD) and ultimate promotion to Vice Admiral (VADM / 0-9) the highest rank attainable for Navy Medical Corps officers who choose career paths to become military hospital administrators in lieu of patient care. VADM Arthur's initial pension payment of $137,724 for 33 years of Navy service increases annually according to Congressional cost of living recommendations..

Present Activities

Arthur joined Mainline Health on November 5, 2007 as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Mainline is one of the largest health care organizations in Pennsylvania providing a "full range of medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, psychiatric and emergency services" to suburban Philadelphia. Mainline Health runs and manages multiple acute care medical centers in Philadelphia, including Lankenau, Bryn Mawr, Paoli and Riddle Hospitals. They employ over 10,000 people including 1,900 physicians.

As in the Navy, Arthur remains personally involved in the credentialing process for physicians and health care personnel at Mainline. "Dr. Donald C. Arthur is responsible for all clinical health services physician contracts credentials and clinical appointments laboratory, pharmacy and radiology services infection control risk management disaster planning medical informatics graduate and continuing medical education and human-subject research programs." Arthur's undocumented Emergency Medicine board certification and his combat experience are highlighted on his Mainline biography. When questioned about Arthur's falsified records, Mainline CEO Jack Lynch said, "I don't believe there is a credentialing problem here," calling Arthur "a perfect fit" with the system.

Some feel that this is paradoxical considering the controversy surrounding the validity of Arthur's own credentials. "In 44 years in the Navy, I have never seen anyone at any rank have such bogus credentials be in such a position of power, prestige and leadership," said CAPT Benjamin G. Newman MD, MC, USN (retired), a Maine doctor who retired from the Navy in May. "Isn't it paradoxical that someone with such problems would be now in a position to make judgments about others' credentials?"

Alvin R. Manalaysay, PhD., M.D. had this to say, "I am a retired Navy physician (1979–2000) who is gainfully employed in private practice with no axe to grind as I am getting my due pension; resolution of this fraud will not affect my pension in any way. I know the individual and some of us were surprised at the way he advanced to the top BUT we had no idea of the bogus credentials until the Chicago Tribune article came out. The individual involved advanced to Navy Surgeon General after I retired from active duty and did not adversely influence my career in any way. My main concerns on this issue have to do with the fraud and how it was used to pervert the otherwise orderly mechanism of selecting the best qualified person(s) for advancement. I personally attained the top rank for a physician who chose to remain 'clinical' (as opposed to 'administrative') within the system and did not experience any obstructions to promotions during my Navy career."

He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research. Arthur joined the TriWest Health care Alliances Executive Advisory Board in 2008.

The September 29, 2010 issue of Joint Commission Online announced the appointment of "Donald Arthur, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr, Pa." as a new member of the Joint Commission’s Hospital Advisory Council. The publication claims that the new members were "selected following a rigorous review process", the specifics of which were not specified. Emails to the contact person, Mark Pelletier for clarification purposes have gone unanswered.

The American Journal of Medical Quality has recently announced that Don Arthur, MD "Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA" is now a member of the editorial board of the journal. SAGE publishes this medical periodical. The editor and chief of the American Journal of Medical Quality is David B. Nash, MD, MBA. Dr. Nash is Dean of the Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

In addition to his military pension payments, Doctor Arthur's base salary at Mainline is $420,000.00 per year.

Clearly Arthur's military record has continued to serve him well in his current civilian hospital and administrative positions.

Naval Code and Laws

File:USNavyCoreValues.jpg

US Navy Recruitment: Core Values.

In 1974 when Arthur joined the Navy, he pledged to abide by the Core Values of the Navy: Honor, Courage and Commitment.

The pledge of Honor dictates the highest ethical standards for sailors demanding truth and honesty. Honor dictates a sailor's duty to report and not tolerate dishonorable conduct. ("Illegal or improper behavior or even the appearance of such behavior will not be tolerated.") The Code of Courage addresses combat duties and demands a "higher standard of personal conduct and decency". While Commitment requires an ethical, non-prejudiced interaction with peers and "technical excellence, quality and competence".[.

Simply stated VADM Arthur swore to uphold the Naval Honor Code whereby Naval officers swear: "To Not Lie, Cheat, or Steal Nor Tolerate Others Who Do". It is apparent that Arthur feels that he has adhered to this code when he claims, "I'm an honorable person who has led an honorable life".

The United States Navy and other Armed forces take Core Values seriously. There have been numerous examples of enforcement of these regulations even in the upper echelon of command. Credentials fraud has been enforced in multiple, recent, notable instances and the perpetrators demoted, disbarred, prosecuted and imprisoned based upon the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Federal laws.

§ 287. False, fictitious or fraudulent claims

Whoever makes or presents to any person or officer in the civil, military, or naval service of the United States, or to any department or agency thereof, any claim upon or against the United States, or any department or agency thereof, knowing such claim to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent, shall be imprisoned not more than five years and shall be subject to a fine in the amount provided in this title.

§ 289. False claims for pensions

Whoever knowingly and willfully makes, or presents any false, fictitious or fraudulent affidavit, declaration, certificate, voucher, endorsement, or paper or writing purporting to be such, concerning any claim for pension or payment thereof, or pertaining to any other matter within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or knowingly or willfully makes or presents any paper required as a voucher in drawing a pension, which paper bears a date subsequent to that upon which it was actually signed or acknowledged by the pensioner; or

Whoever knowingly and falsely certifies that the declarant, affiant, or witness named in such declaration, affidavit, voucher, endorsement, or other paper or writing personally appeared before him and was sworn thereto, or acknowledged the execution thereof— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Likewise, the Punitive Articles in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)[119] such as Article 132[117] addresses Frauds against the United States and Article 133[ deals with Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.

The Stolen Valor Act, STAT. 3266 PUBLIC LAW 109–437—DEC. 20, 2006 109th Congress, addresses combat claims, specifically, "Fraudulent claims surrounding the receipt of the Medal of Honor, the distinguished-service cross, the Navy cross, the Air Force cross, the Purple Heart, and other decorations and medals awarded by the President or the Armed Forces of the United States damage the reputation and meaning of such decorations and medals."

Indeed, Thomas Barnhart, who served for over 20 years in the Navy and Coast Guard, was imprisoned for claiming that he was a Navy Seal, having earned numerous decorations including four Combat Action Ribbons. "He faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the theft of government funds and one year in prison and a $5,000 fine for claiming medals he did not earn, which is a misdemeanor. He also is required to pay back the $13,923 received from the VA for disability."

Most recently, the Top Air Force Lawyer, then, Col. Michael D. Murphy, "the commander of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency at Bolling Air Force Base" in Washington D.C., was disbarred and demoted for "practicing law for 23 years without a license". He was retired at the grade of first lieutenant.

Civilian criminal law prohibits "impersonating a lawyer" which earned a violator six years behind bars for defrauding $200,000.00 from a law firm.

Finally, the School Policies of Arthur's Alma Mater, College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey also dictates a code of conduct. "The student is obligated to report to an appropriate authority any member of the health care team whose behavior exhibits impairment or lack of professional conduct or competence, or who engages in fraud or deception. Such reports must conform to established institutional policies" and demand honesty.

External links

• Official Navy Biography