New Dean Appointed at Osteopathic Medical College

Clinton E. Adams, DO, will begin his new duties as the Dean of the

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) at Western

University of Health Sciences on January 3, 2005. Adams is concluding a

distinguished 30-year career with the United States Navy where he

attained the rank of Rear Admiral and served as Command Surgeon, United

States Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

Prior assignments include service as Surgeon General to Allied

Command for Transformation (NATO), Joint Forces Command and Fleet Forces

Command. He worked with two four-star admirals and the office of the

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs leading the strategic

and transformational changes in medical preparedness, future programming

for major equipment purchases, and manning for all medical deployments of

all military services.

Adams served as the Director of TRICARE Mid-Atlantic Region, a $3.2-

billion managed care support contract for services from Humana Military

Healthcare Services in support of nine regional medical facilities. He

served as chief executive officer of the Naval Medical Center in

Portsmouth, Virginia. This center was recognized for award-winning care

of 425,000 clients via a 320-bed complex tertiary care teaching facility

with 10 branch clinics, 3,500 obstetrical cases and 1.5 million

outpatient visits per year.

Adams also served as the chief executive of the Naval Hospitals in

Naples, Italy, Beaufort, South Carolina, and as the chief operating

officer and surgical director of the Naval Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.

“”Admiral Adams was the unanimous choice of the search committee at

COMP after a national search to fill the position,”” said Philip

Pumerantz, president of the university. Pumerantz added, “”I am confident

that Admiral Adams will bring the kind of leadership and wisdom that will

continue the founding traditions of COMP.””

Adams earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is fully trained and board

certified in anesthesiology, family practice, and health care

management. He has been a member of the American Osteopathic Association

since 1976 serving on a variety of committees.

For his military service Adams has been honored with many awards,

including: Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit

Medal (three awards), Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine

Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal (two awards) and Overseas

Ribbon (four awards). Among Adams’ numerous assignments is service as

the ship’s medical officer aboard the Trident Nuclear Submarine USS

Georgia, SSBN 728.

Admiral Adams was asked about his upcoming transition from the

military, “”After 30 years of applying the basic skills the osteopathic

profession granted to me in support of the health of America’s military

family, I have a need to return to the heart of our profession. The

osteopathic medical schools continue to bear a huge social, ethical and

moral responsibility to produce the best possible graduates this nation

deserves. We have a duty to the communities we live in to produce

caring, compassionate, lifelong learners.””