He was the first black physician to train in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

White later directed the cancer center at Howard University College of Medicine where he also served as a full professor.

[1] At Memorial Sloan Kettering, White became the first black physician to complete training in surgical oncology at the institution that had been founded in 1884 and is a leader in cancer research and treatment.

Among other physicians White mentored, was LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., who also went on to specialty training at Memorial Sloan Kettering, became a Howard faculty member, and was elected president of the American Cancer Society.

[1] His research showed that black patients died of cancer at high rates and he found that many of those deaths could have been prevented with earlier detection and treatment.