A trailblazer in osteopathic medicine: Dr. Adele King's legacy

At 85 years old, Adele King, DO, reflects on a lifetime of cherished fond memories—and a few bittersweet ones. Her remarkable journey began in 1939 when she was born in Kansas City at Conley Hospital, the first undergraduate teaching hospital on the campus of an osteopathic college.

Her parents, both DOs., met at Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery (KCCOS) now known as Kansas City University (KCU), where they graduated in 1936. Her father, Dr. Charles King, specialized in eye, ear, nose and throat and her mother, Dr. Mary King, was a general practice physician. After her father finished a residency at the University of California at Los Angeles County Hospital, the family moved to Springfield, Missouri.

Tragically, Dr. Charles King died nine months later.

 “My mother made him a death bed promise--which sometimes people do—that she would make sure all of his children were educated because education had been such an important part of their lives, King recalls.

She chuckles as she remembers her “remarkable” mother who returned to full-time practice in rural Forsythe, Missouri, determined to keep that promise. Three of the children became osteopathic physicians and one became a registered nurse.

“My mother made house calls until 1975 and practiced until she was 85,” King recalls. “I remember one time she rode to a farm house on a tractor wearing her white uniform and carrying her white bag.” 

Inspired by her mother’s example, King followed a path of her own—earning her DO degree from KCCOS in 1965. She was one of only two women in a class of 115.

But it was not easy.

“In 1965, women hadn’t yet found their footing as equals,” she explains. As the youngest student in a class that included Korean War veterans, pharmacists, and teachers returning for advanced training, King often felt like she needed “body armor just to go to class.”

Despite the challenges, she graduated second in her class, and a string of career milestones soon followed.

Following graduation, she and four classmates received internships at Lakeside Hospital in Kansas City. She was then invited to join the Rockhill Clinic Group where she saw 40 to 50 patients a day, performed tonsillectomies, delivered babies and completed a five-year preceptorship in anal-rectal surgery. At the end of the preceptorship, the clinic received the first colonoscope west of the Mississippi. 

“We were chosen because Lakeside was a small hospital and we could immediately begin using the scope to detect pathology in the colon without having to jump through organizational red tape” King said. “It was amazing to be in the forefront of this new technology,” 

By her mid-30s, however, the relentless pace had taken its toll.

KCU Dean Leonard Mennen, DO, recognized her burnout and encouraged her to consider a different residency. With a growing interest in anesthesiology, she made the shift—and soon found herself assisting in open-heart surgeries at the former Osteopathic Hospital in Kansas City, becoming a key part of the anesthesia care team.

Her career reached another milestone in 1977 when a former classmate asked her to recommend an anesthesiologist for a new hospital opening in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. With the long Labor Day weekend ahead, she decided to make the drive and explore the area. The moment she arrived in town, she knew she would be the one to take that position.

Two decades later, Dr. King achieved what she considers the most meaningful milestone of her career: becoming the first female president of the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists (AOCA). The honor reflected her years of dedication and contributions to the profession and the AOCA community.

In Tahlequah, she and her longtime partner, Anne—who passed away in 2017—shared an active and fulfilling life. Dr. King co-founded the Tahlequah City Hospital Foundation (now known as Northeastern Health System) in 1983. The foundation has since raised approximately $24 million for the hospital, including a recent gala that brought in $400,000 in one night. Funds support students and professionals looking to advance their careers in health care. 

KCU proudly celebrates Dr. Adele King—a proud member of the Gold, Conley and Heritage Societies, a supportive and successful alumna, and a trailblazer in osteopathic medicine. Her life’s work stands as a testament to education, service and breaking barriers.