Dr. Wilkerson was a four year letter winner in Wapello's program and went on to wrestle two seasons at the United States Military Academy before his athletic career ended with an injury. He later started the wrestling program at Fort Lewis, Washington, coaching soldiers. He is an orthopedic surgeon with Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint and Sports Surgeons. For 23 seasons he has served as the team physician at Buena Vista University. Sixteen years ago he started Sports Medicine Northwest, a service that covers 26 high schools and their athletes. He serves on the Iowa Donor Network Board and was instrumental in starting Positively Spencer Youth, an organization that supports healthy life styles for youth. In addition, his service extends to multiple years on the medical staff of the NCAA Division I and Division III National Wrestling Tournaments, being in the medical pool for the United State Wrestling for six years; and volunteer work at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Dr. Wilkerson is a 25-year member of the AOSSM, has served on their board and for 16-years was on their Council of Delegates. In addition he is a member of the Iowa Sports Medicine Committee and edits the sports medicine section of the patient education website for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has been honored twice for his work with athletes by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. He has dedicated much of his time to training physicians and caring for patients in third world countries, and has been involved in Health Volunteers Overseas working with Orthopedic Overseas for 22 years. He has spent extensive time in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Uganda. Seven times through Orthopedic Outreach he has gone to Iraq to train and assist Iraqi physicians with education and support. That relationship has been extended to Iraqi doctors coming to his home in Spencer to learn in three month stays. Since the 2010 Haiti earthquake he has made numerous trips for medical support and to work with a foundation, Love Takes Root, he and his wife started. Dr. Wilkerson is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves with 13 years of active duty as an Infantry Officer and Medical Corps Officer. He served in Desert Storm in 1991. An avid climber her has climbed Aconcagua, Mt. McKinley, Kilimanjaro and Mt. Elberus and was recently on a Cho Oyu expedition. He has been on many American peaks with his wife and family. He also runs marathons and loves to bike. He and his wife Barbara are the parents of nine children.