Franklin White is an Australian-born Canadian who has lived and worked in numerous countries with a focus on international and global development. Based on this work and related research, he is an acknowledged author in the health sciences. In Miner with a Heart of Gold, he diverges from this stream to address the life of his late father, a mineral science and engineering educator. As Frank White's son, he grew up talking geology, geography, minerals and metals "over the dinner table". Before entering medicine, he worked summers in the mining industry, and has followed its evolution over decades including its current challenges with social and environmental sustainability. Relevant to these challenges, a significant amount of his medical and public health career has addressed environmental and occupational health issues. For his professional work, he is the recipient of a Breakthrough Award for Creativity from the Academy for Educational Development, and a Medal of Honor from the Pan American Health Organization, the World Health Organization regional office for the Americas. He lives in Victoria BC where his interests include offshore sailing and flamenco-jazz guitar.