About Robert White

Born in the scenic city of Vancouver, Canada, Robert White spent his early years surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. As a teenager, he relocated to the sun-drenched landscapes of Napa Valley, California—a move that would shape the course of his life in meaningful ways.

Robert attended Pacific Union College in the quiet town of Angwin, nestled in the hills above Napa Valley. It was during this formative time that he met his future wife, Celeste Keith. The two were married in St. Helena, CA and have shared over 40 years of marriage, rooted in deep companionship and mutual support.

Before college, Robert took a gap year and embraced adventure and challenge, working on oil rigs in the Arctic and in remote logging camps—experiences that built resilience and a strong work ethic. Following college, he spent several years immersed in the wine industry, working with the renowned Stags Leap Wine Cellars while living and working on a vineyard and ranch near St. Helena, California.

Yet, Robert had long harbored a desire to enter the medical field. Driven by this calling, he left the comforts of the Napa Valley for a bold new chapter—attending medical school. After graduating from medical school, Robert began a rigorous residency in General and Trauma Surgery at San Joaquin General Hospital and the University of California, Davis. Upon completing his training, he returned to the Napa Valley full-time to practice surgery at Queen of the Valley Hospital. There, he played a key role in developing the hospital’s American College of Surgeons-certified trauma program, helping to elevate the standard of emergency care in the region. Robert eventually became the Director of Surgery at Providence, a role he held with distinction until his recent retirement from the position. However, his deep commitment and passion for high-level trauma care continue to guide his work—he remains actively involved as a trauma surgeon at the facility, providing critical trauma and emergency surgery care along with mentorship on the front lines.

His leadership and commitment to trauma care continued as he partnered with Dr. Brian Schmidt in the development of a new Level II regional trauma center at Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Throughout his medical career, Robert remained passionate about education, teaching surgery residents, mentoring medical students, and leading medical mission programs around the world.