South Middlesex Times

Jeanne M. Clark, a board-certified internal medicine physician with extensive research experience and a nationally renowned expert in the epidemiology and treatment of obesity, will join Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School as the Henry Rutgers Professor and chair of the Department of Medicine.

Clark joins Rutgers from The Johns Hopkins University, where she served as the Frederick L. Brancati MD Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, and director of General Internal Medicine for the past decade. The division, supported by 85 full-time faculty, includes sections on ambulatory care, palliative medicine, bioinformatics and data sciences – as well as longstanding research fellowships in general internal medicine and clinical fellowships in hospice and palliative medicine, obesity medicine, and women’s health.

“The appointment of Dr. Clark, a nationally renowned clinician-scientist committed to the study of epidemiology and treatment of obesity, and its complications, especially Type 2 diabetes, greatly enhances the leadership of our Department of Medicine,” said Amy P. Murtha, dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). “Dr. Clark is also an esteemed graduate of our medical school, and we proudly welcome her home to continue her longtime commitment to groundbreaking research and the advancement of evidence-based medical care that improves lives.”

Regarding her vision for the Department of Medicine at Rutgers: “The Department of Medicine at Rutgers is poised to help the medical school become the leading learning health system in New Jersey," said Clark. "To do this, the department will grow its translational research and embed it into our clinical settings to enable transformational discoveries that can ultimately improve every aspect of our care for patients."

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Clark to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital family,” said Alan Lee, president of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), a medical partner with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “Dr. Clark’s exceptional reputation, experience, and passion for improving all aspects of patient care will be instrumental in helping us achieve our shared goal to become the best place to receive and deliver care In New Jersey.”

A general internist with an active primary care practice, Clark has extensively studied obesity, Type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. She served as principal investigator at Johns Hopkins for various studies including co-chairing the steering committee for NIH-funded Look AHEAD trial.

The author of more than 200 articles and four book chapters, Clark plans to continue her role as co-investigator in several ongoing projects including serving as medical safety officer for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network.

For Clark: “Education is at the heart of every medical school," she emphasized while discussing mentorship roles held previously at Johns Hopkins University where she worked closely with students ensuring their success.

At Johns Hopkins University: "Clark is a member... jointly appointed... Division... Gastroenterology..." Her recent research includes studying sex hormones' effect on cardiometabolic outcomes among patients with diabetes through NIH-funded LEAP trial evaluating long-term effectiveness anti-obesity medication Phentermine.

Clark has received multiple mentoring awards including Elizabeth Emily Blackwell Award from American College Physicians recognizing contributions advancing careers women medicine elected Association American Physicians 2019.

Clark received her medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in 1992 completing residency Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Lebanon NH chief resident followed clinical research fellowship General Internal Medicine Johns Hopkins master's public health joined faculty 2000 holds bachelor's degree French cum laude

Clark joins Rutgers RWJUH October