A reception last week honored Robert A. Clark, M.D., professor and chair of the department of medicine and the Dan F. Parman Distinguished Chair. Dr. Clark was recently selected to fill the newly created position of assistant vice president for clinical research.
Dr. Clark will also be the leader of the Health Science Center’s Clinical and Translational Science Award initiative and assume the directorship of the Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science (I2MS).
“The I2MS will serve as the academic home for integrated and collaborative clinical and translational research that will be the catalyst for research education, training, career development and community involvement in the South Texas region,” said Brian Herman, Ph.D., vice president for research. “The clinical and translational research that will occur in the institute will lead to the development of outstanding teams of collaborating researchers, which will help to accelerate the pace of health-related discoveries and the translation of these into improved health for the people of South Texas.”
Dr. Clark joined the Health Science Center as chairman of the department of medicine in 1994. While in this position, the department of medicine experienced impressive growth. The number of faculty members significantly grew, the addition of several different departments resulted and the departmental grant and contract support nearly doubled to $53 million during his 12-year tenure. He also played a pivotal role in advancing the Regional Academic Health Center. Under his leadership, the department of medicine is extending health care, research and education to South Texans.
Dr. Clark was presented with a university chair as an expression of appreciation for the advancements he has made in the department of medicine.
Dr. Clark received his M.D. degree from Colombia University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Laboratory of Clinical Investigation. The NIH later honored Dr. Clark with a prestigious MERIT Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. One of his most recent achievements includes being elected a Master of the American College of Physicians (M.A.C.P.) at the College’s Annual Session in Philadelphia, Pa., April 7.
