By Tammy J. Gay

Jan and D. Kay Clawson unveil the new wing of the Kentucky Clinic.

"Without the proper infrastructure, we could not even hope to become a top-20 public research institution. During his tenure, Dr. Clawson tirelessly worked to raise funds for several additions to the medical center, helping it become what it is today."

-- Emery Wilson, M.D.,
dean, UK College of Medicine

Aug. 12, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Former University of Kentucky College of Medicine Dean D. Kay Clawson, M.D., received a special gift on his 75th birthday - a wing of Kentucky Clinic named in his honor.

Clawson made important contributions to the UK College of Medicine as well as to the Chandler Medical Center and the university. Because of these contributions, UK officials named Wing D of Kentucky Clinic after Clawson.

"I can't think of a more fitting tribute considering the contributions Dr. Clawson has made to the UK Chandler Medical Center," said Emery Wilson, M.D., dean, UK College of Medicine.

"Without the proper infrastructure, we could not even hope to become a top-20 public research institution. During his tenure, Dr. Clawson tirelessly worked to raise funds for several additions to the medical center, helping it become what it is today."

Clawson was vice chancellor for Clinical Professional Services and dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine from 1975 to 1983. While he was dean, the Ambulatory Care Center, now known as Kentucky Clinic, opened.

During Clawson's tenure, he reformulated the medical practice plan, appointed a number of outstanding department heads and center directors, and enhanced the administration of the college by establishing positive relationships with the student body.

Upgrades during his tenure included the upgrade of college facilities with new classrooms and the construction of Kentucky Clinic, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, the College of Medicine office building and Markey Cancer Center.