The White House Medical Unit oversaw the medical needs of the President and First Family, the Vice President and Second Family, visiting foreign dignitaries, and White House staff. Notable people Dr. Ward oversaw included Canada's Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Alabama Governor George Wallace.
Serving with the White House Medical Unit required frequent travel. Dr. Ward regularly visited the White House, Camp David, Key Biscayne, and La Casa Pacifica. Traveling on behalf of the White House occurred on short notice with little time to pack.
Physicians in the White House Medical Unit scouted future locations for Presidential visits. These advance trips assessed medical capabilities within the travel area. During President Nixon's time in office, Dr. Ward conducted advance trips to China, Canada, Russia, the Middle East, and numerous locations within the United States.
To prepare for President Nixon's February 1972 China trip, Dr. Ward participated in the December 1971 advance trip to China. He evaluated medical facilities, investigated potential risks, and analyzed available medical resources. During this trip, Dr. Ward observed a gallbladder removal surgery that used acupuncture as the only anesthetic. At the time, acupuncture was a relatively unknown practice in the United States.
A Southern California native, Chester L. Ward attended Van Nuys High School and received degrees from local universities. In 1954, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ward commissioned in the Army after graduation and started his career in the United States Infantry as an Airborne Ranger.
The Army paid for Ward's 4th and final year of medical school tuition in exchange for three years of active duty. Chester Ward earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Southern California in 1962. Beginning in 1964, he served in Vietnam as the Special Forces Medical Officer. After his first tour, Dr. Ward earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1966.
Ward deployed on a second Vietnam tour with the 17th Aviation Group in 1968. In 1969, he served as the Aviation Brigade Surgeon and US Army Vietnam Aviation Medicine Consultant.
Dr. Chester Ward served in the White House Medical Unit as Assistant Physician to the President from 1971 until 1976, during the Nixon and Ford Administrations. Dr. Ward later worked up the ranks to command William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. After his career in the United States Medical Corps, Dr. Ward retired as Brigadier General and returned to California.
Dr. Ward had many patients while serving as Assistant Physician to the President. He made house calls to the President and his family, to cabinet members and administration officials, and flew internationally with the Secretary of State.
The Physician to the President must also be prepared for all medical emergencies, including treating the First Family pets. During a stay at Camp David, Dr. Ward had to stitch up Vicky, the First Family's poodle, with supplies from his own medical bag when a veterinarian was unavailable.
