Dr. Robert Whipple was born in 1945 in Lansing, Michigan. He graduated from Lansing Everett High School as Class President and served as Captain of both the football and baseball teams. He then attended Michigan State University (MSU), where he earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and later taught Veterinary Anesthesia.

In 1968, MSU introduced its first four-year Human Medicine Curriculum, awarding full MD degrees. Dr. Whipple was admitted to the second-year Medical School Class and graduated in 1972. He completed his internship and first year of surgical residency at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan, before transferring to St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado, where he finished his General Surgical Residency. 

Falling in love with the West, the mountains, and the community-centered practice of General Surgery, Dr. Whipple began his first practice in Lewistown, Montana. There, he met his wife, Debbie, an RN who eventually became a Doctor of Nurse Practice. The couple moved to Havre, Montana, to address the general surgical needs of the community, and welcomed their first child, Jeff.

Early on, they recognized that Jeff was profoundly hearing impaired and became involved in Auditory Verbal Therapy, a demanding process that ultimately enabled their child to speak with the help of a Cochlear Implant. As Jeff approached second grade, they sought a more progressive educational system for hearing-impaired children and relocated to Ogden, Utah, where Jeff received the necessary support to mainstream, graduate from high school, and attend the University of Rochester, where he studied Computer Technology. Debbie served as his primary home therapist, and Dr. Whipple eventually became President of the Board of Directors for Auditory Verbal International.

He joined the surgical department at the Ogden Clinic, working as a General/Trauma Surgeon until his retirement in 2012. During his time in Ogden, Dr. Whipple developed an interest in Health Care Administration and Preventative Health Care. In preparation for a potential role as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), he earned a master’s degree in Medical Management (MMM) from Tulane University in New Orleans through the American College of Physician Executives. Ultimately, Dr. Whipple chose to remain a General/Trauma Surgeon because he loved the challenges, the people he worked with, and the patients he helped.

Dr. Whipple and Debbie have three other children: Rusty, Shannon, and Chris. They share their home with two dogs, Finnegan and Toby, and two cats, Poppy and Marigold. They built their home in Driggs around 1993; what began as a vacation home has become their full-time residence since 2014, when both Dr. Whipple and his wife retired. After moving to Driggs, he became a Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Food Bank. 

In their spare time, they enjoy hiking, boating, camping, downhill and cross-country skiing, visiting family and friends, and volunteering for community service.