August 6, 2007 - The Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR), formerly the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (ATPM) would like to acknowledge with deep sympathy the death of Duncan Clark, M.D. He was 96. Dr. Clark has been an APTR member since 1950. He served as ATPM President (now APTR) from 1954-56. Dr. Clark also served on the ATPM Board of Directors from 1954-1971 and was the editor of the ATPM Newsletter from 1959-1971.

 

Since its inception, Dr. Clark was an intricate part of shaping APTR’s (then ATPM) organizational and membership structure. He is remembered for his significant contributions to improving community health and for increasing the focus on preventive medicine in medical school education. Dr. Clark led a distinguished career at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn , that included 28 years as Chairman of the Department of Environmental Medicine and Community Health, where he emphasized the need to understand the social and environmental conditions under which diseases occur.

 

Through extensive public service to dozens of local, state and national health organizations, Dr. Clark was dedicated to improving the health of all of the public. Dr. Clark’s wisdom and drive made him an influential figure to generations of medical and public health students, residents and fellows. His dedication to the field of preventive medicine led APTR to name their most prestigious award in his honor. The APTR Duncan Clark Award is presented to a senior level person with a distinguished record of achievement in the areas of teaching, research and/or advocacy in the field of public health and preventive medicine. Dr. Clark received this award twice in his career in 1974 and 1992.

Dr. Clark participated in the APTR annual meeting for many years. He leaves a legacy of honorable service to the prevention community. He will be surely missed at APTR and within the prevention community.

A memorial Mass will take place on Friday, August 10 at 10 am, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 225 Sixth Ave. (near Carroll Street ) in Park Slope, Brooklyn . He will be reposing at the Chapel of Joseph G. Duffy, 255 Ninth St. (between 4th and 5th Avenues) in Park Slope on Wednesday, August 8 and Thursday, August 9 between 2-5 pm and 7-9 pm.

 

 

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