Dr. Jason Spangler, left, with Dr. Paul DeLaLuz, receives the Natural Sciences Department Alum of the Year Award at a departmental reception during Lee’s Homecoming
Dr. Jason Spangler was named Alumnus of the Year for Lee University’s Department of Natural Sciences.
Dr. Spangler graduated from Lee with a Bachelor of Science in biology and went on to Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. At Lee, he was pitcher and captain of the baseball team and won numerous awards including the Paul Conn Outstanding Senior Athlete Award, Most Valuable Teammate Award, and NAIA Champion of Character Award.
“Jason was part of the first class of students that I ever called ‘unstoppable,’” said Dr. John Hisey, associate professor of biology at Lee. “The class was notoriously difficult, but the students thrived, and after graduating, went on from success to success.”
Dr. Spangler has worked all over the country as a physician or medic, sometimes as a volunteer, for sports teams and events. He has worked at schools such as Virginia Tech, Centerville High School, Eaton High School, Winston-Salem State University, and Wake Forest University, along with professional teams including the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts.
He is involved in multiple osteopathic associations, including the American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America.
Dr. Spangler currently works at the Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics in Cleveland, Tennessee, where he specializes in arthroscopic surgery with his main focus on hips, knees, and shoulders. He also provides team coverage for Lee University and numerous local high schools and continues to conduct research, give lectures and presentations, and write journal reviews.
Dr. Spangler resides in Ooltewah with his wife and two daughters.
The award was presented to Dr. Spangler at a departmental reception during the university’s Homecoming, and he was later honored during the Homecoming basketball games, along with other award winners.