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| Gerald Clancy (83BA, 88MD) |
Alumni
Interviews:
Gerald Clancy, M.D.
"Never in my mind did I think I would be where I am today. One of the great things about academic medicine is you never get stuck in one job."
For Gerry Clancy, MD, memories of the UI where his father, the
late John Clancy, MD, was a psychiatry faculty member for more than
35 years date back to childhood. It has always been such a huge
part of my life, he said. But it wasn't until I left that I got
a real sense of how well-respected the UI is and the extent of community
connection there.
Born and raised in Iowa, Clancy followed his father into medicine and psychiatry, completing his medical education and specialty training at the UI, then joining the U.S. Air Force to “get out of the Midwest.” His work as an officer, administrator and flight surgeon further prepared him for an academic career.
“I had a fantastic time, and it was a great leadership opportunity,” he said. “All of a sudden I was in charge of 25 people in the psychiatry department and hospital administration.” Clancy spent three years at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, before returning to the UI psychiatry department, this time as a faculty member.
He credits several UI faculty members for their mentorship and support during he years that followed, which included his appointment as the College’s assistant dean for student affairs and curriculum in 1999. “Dr. Peter Densen was one person who showed me the importance of teaching and the vital role that education plays in the medical profession,” Clancy recalled. “I am also very appreciative of Dr. Bob Robinson, head of psychiatry, for many opportunities in the department.”
In 2001, Clancy became dean the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Tulsa, where he’s also a professor of psychiatry. He has established several outreach clinics for the Tulsa community and set up a mobile psychiatry team.
“I am noticing the dramatic improvement that outreach psychiatry and primary care can do,” said Clancy. “Even the most impaired patients can be brought back to entirely normal functioning. Severe complications can be prevented with early access to high quality care.”
Clancy hopes to use academic medicine to improve the health of the Tulsa community. “The residents of Tulsa need innovation and new ideas for how to improve health care,” said Clancy. “We have been able to improve access to care through creative funding and the redesign of how the care is delivered.”
Throughout Clancy’s work to date, one ongoing theme is education. He has received frequent honors for teaching—often from junior medical students—and awards for community service. This latest honor, recognizing a distinguished early career, carries special significance, coming from an institution that for so long has been part of Clancy’s life.
“Never in my mind did I think I would be where I am today.
One of the great things about academic medicine is you never get
stuck in one job,” said Clancy. I am very grateful to the
UI and Iowa City for this award and for the outstanding education
that I have received. |
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