Duncan Clark
Encyclopedia
Duncan William Clark, MD (1910 – 5 August 2007) was an American public health
expert and preventive medicine
specialist. He is best known for advocating the addition of fluoride
to the New York City
's water supply to prevent tooth decay.
. He studied at Fordham University
and gained a medical degree at Long Island College of Medicine in 1936.
, Brooklyn
from 1951 to 1978, becoming a professor emeritus in 1982.
He edited a textbook, Preventive Medicine (1967), with Brian MacMahon
(republished as Preventive and Community Medicine, 1981).
(1983–84). The Annual Duncan W. Clark Lecture in Health Policy of the New York Academy of Medicine is named in his honour.
The Duncan Clark Award and the Duncan Clark Lectureship of the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research are also named for him. He was the first recipient of the Duncan Clark Award in 1974 and received the Duncan Clark Lectureship in 1992.
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
expert and preventive medicine
Preventive medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms...
specialist. He is best known for advocating the addition of fluoride
Fluoride
Fluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
to the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's water supply to prevent tooth decay.
Education
Clark was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He studied at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
and gained a medical degree at Long Island College of Medicine in 1936.
Career
Clark served as Dean of the Long Island College of Medicine. He chaired the Department of Environmental Medicine and Community Health at the State University of New YorkState University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
from 1951 to 1978, becoming a professor emeritus in 1982.
He edited a textbook, Preventive Medicine (1967), with Brian MacMahon
Brian MacMahon
Brian MacMahon was a British-American epidemiologist who chaired the Harvard School of Public Health from 1958 until 1988...
(republished as Preventive and Community Medicine, 1981).
Awards and legacy
Clark served as president of the New York Academy of MedicineNew York Academy of Medicine
The New York Academy of Medicine was founded in 1847 by a group of leading New York City metropolitan area physicians as a voice for the medical profession in medical practice and public health reform...
(1983–84). The Annual Duncan W. Clark Lecture in Health Policy of the New York Academy of Medicine is named in his honour.
The Duncan Clark Award and the Duncan Clark Lectureship of the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research are also named for him. He was the first recipient of the Duncan Clark Award in 1974 and received the Duncan Clark Lectureship in 1992.
Publications
- Clark DW, MacMahon B, eds. Preventive Medicine (J&A Churchill; Little, Brown; 1967) (ISBN 0316145556); reissued as Clark DW, MacMahon B, eds. Preventive and Community Medicine (Little, Brown; 1981) (ISBN 0316145963)
Further reading
- Imperato PJ. (2007) Duncan William Clark, MD 1910–2007. J Community Health (Dec 7)