Bob McDonald, 57, was born in Kansas City, Mo., the youngest child of two public school teachers.
In 1969, he was awarded an American Field Service scholarship for a year’s study in Glasgow, Scotland promoting international relations.
Later, during his undergraduate studies in biology at the University of California at Irvine, he received a National Science Foundation Scholarship for original research in memory and learning. He then studied in Goettingen, West Germany for two years as a foreign exchange student completing his degree in biology.
Upon returning to the U.S., McDonald earned his MD from UCLA. While at UCLA, McDonald was voted by his medical school classmates to receive the prestigious Ciba-Geigy award for Outstanding Community Service for his work in establishing a free clinic for the street people in nearby Venice, Calif.
After completing his residency training in Family Practice at the University of Utah in 1981, McDonald moved his young family to Oregon, and established his medical practice in Mt. Angel, also filling the role of supervising physician for the newly established volunteer ambulance corps.
McDonald joined the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest Board of Directors in 1985 and served for the next 11 years, responsible for children’s entertainment and significantly expanding the popular Arts and Crafts portion of the festival.
While on the Board of Directors, McDonald had a vision of how Oktoberfest could increase its community philanthropy. He conceived of and with a coalition of other supportive board members, established the Mount Angel Community Foundation.
It was created in 1995 to be a philanthropic community foundation charged with the mission of raising funds for projects benefiting the community. He has served as the president of the Mt. Angel Community Foundation since its inception.
Over the years McDonald has established close ties to the Benedictine Sisters, greatly respecting their mission of service to the needy.
Shortly after establishing his practice in Mt. Angel, McDonald agreed to be the “house doctor” for any and all patients with no doctor admitted to the Benedictine Nursing Center.
McDonald is currently a volunteer physician for the uninsured at the Silverton Community Outreach Clinic.