White studied medicine at the University of Sydney and travelled to Africa as a missionary in 1938. He established a hospital at Mvumi Mission which became the main medical centre of the Christian Missionary Society in Tanganyika.

In 1941 he return to Australia as his wife was ill and began to write on the ship home, producing his first book book, Doctor of Tanganyika, illustrating how missionary work was carried out with the local Chigogo people.

In Australia, White went on to write Jungle Doctor, the first in an extensive series based on African folklore and missionary adventure, but telling a Christian message. He also began his Jungle Doctor radio program, which continued for 25 years. Some of the stories were released on records in the 1960s, narrated by White. He also authored other books in the form of traditional African tales.

Original editions of the Jungle Doctor were illustrated by Graham Wade, who later produced the Jungle Doctor comic strips and comics. White became the founding Chair of Wade's Christian advertising agency.

White was a pioneering of Christian radio and television in Australia, was active in student evangelism and continued to practice medicine part-time until his death.