Faculty Feature: William “Jody” Wilkinson Finds Beauty In The Unexpected

Many meet God through worship settings, church, and engaging in discussions with believers. William “Jody” Wilkinson, MD, MS, encountered God in a personal and transformative way for the first time on a bike ride, leading him to pursue a career in exercise and fitness as a doctor in preventive medicine, who now taps into his passion for student development as a kinesiology professor.

Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, Wilkinson spent his childhood playing sports and enjoying exercise, but only ever considered his active lifestyle a hobby. He went to West Texas State University to earn a degree in marketing, journalism, and English because of his love for words and creativity. While there, Wilkinson went through a challenging time in his life. He struggled to do well in school, questioned his purpose and calling, and started making poor life choices.

One night, after he had dropped out of school, Wilkinson hopped on a roommates’ bicycle. Having grown up in a Christian home, Wilkinson knew of God and was engaged with the church, but walked away from his faith while in college. Biking through Austin’s hilly roads, however, offered Wilkinson a sense of calm he hadn’t felt before. “It was like God saying to me, ‘I’m still here and I never left you.’ Physically, spiritually, and emotionally everything just came together for me,” he said. Wilkinson attributes this evening to the night his life changed. He re-enrolled in college, finished his bachelor’s degree, and strengthened his faith. He worked in marketing after graduating, but felt unfulfilled, still unaware of his calling.

Fitness and nutrition remained interests of Wilkinson’s. He was an endurance athlete, participating in triathlons, marathons, and bike races. Because of his love for exercise, Wilkinson embarked on a new career path. He went to the University of North Texas for a masters in exercise physiology. Along with the excellent learning experiences that Wilkinson enjoyed diving into, an opportunity for an internship at The Cooper Institute, a renowned preventive medicine facility, was a pivotal part of his journey. “I worked with a couple of Christian physicians who mentored me and showed me what it means to integrate faith in healthcare. Seeing them make a difference in patients’ lives inspired me to pursue the same path,” he said.

Wilkinson went to medical school at the University of Texas Health and Science Center at San Antonio. He later met his wife, and they raised their four kids in Dallas. For many years Wilkinson worked at the Cooper Institute, where he derived fulfillment from getting to teach patients how to enhance their health in an effort to prevent diseases through exercise, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle practices.

Wilkinson and his family moved back to Amarillo for a slower pace of life in a smaller city. While on a bike ride, he met a group of riders, one of whom taught at Texas Tech University. Wilkinson ran into the same rider while visiting the medical school to explore job opportunities, and he encouraged Wilkinson to consider a teaching position in the school’s physical therapy program.

Beginning his journey as a professor was challenging, and Wilkinson often wrote prayers asking God for guidance. Just one day after asking the Lord whether or not he was on the right path, Wilkinson was voted Outstanding Faculty of the Year at Texas Tech, and he became certain that teaching is what he was called to do. Wilkinson soon decided to teach at the undergraduate level in order to mentor students who might not have their career and personal life figured out. “I knew I could make more of a difference in undergraduate lives because of how much I struggled when I was in college,” he said.

In 2015, when a teaching position in kinesiology opened up at Azusa Pacific University, Wilkinson quickly felt God calling him to work here. His family moved from Texas to California, and Wilkinson’s two sons even graduated from APU last spring.

“What I love about teaching at APU is that we’re educating the whole person,” he said. “I often tell students that as healthcare providers, you’re not only taking care of a disease, but an individual, which includes spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects. As a community we focus on those things as well to make sure we’re not just offering an education, but a relational experience.”

One of the things Wilkinson loves most about teaching at APU is being able to integrate faith in his courses. “I do my best to embody what faith looks like,” he said. “Jesus was a healer, and by learning about movement, exercise, and rehabilitation, students have a broad range of opportunities to find where God is calling them to be difference makers.” He added that by being open and authentic about his struggles and the poor grades on his undergraduate transcript, Wilkinson hopes to encourage students to trust in God’s plan for their futures.

Wilkinson’s journey has touched lives in countless ways. Much like the unexpected bike journey that God met Him on, Wilkinson’s life has been marked by ups and downs, detours, curves, and beauty in discovery. “That one bike experience changed the trajectory of my life, and I learned that sometimes you just have to let go. God will show up for you in ways you wouldn’t even imagine.”

Posted: April 5, 2024