Charles Thomas, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Medicine, is the recipient of the 2011 School of Medicine Dean’s Award. The Dean’s Award recognizes exceptional service to the School of Medicine. The award was presented to Dr. Thomas at the recent School of Medicine Alumni Association awards banquet.

In making this award, Dean Mark Richardson, MD, MBA, singled out Dr. Thomas’s leadership as meritorious of this recognition. “Charles exemplifies leadership traits to which we all can aspire. Not only is he an excellent clinician, he demonstrates a strong commitment to education and research, faculty advancement, outreach and support for diversity initiatives,” said Dean Richardson. “His actions reflect the core values of academic medicine, generally, and the OHSU School of Medicine, specifically.”

Among his accomplishments this past year, Dr. Thomas was an integral part of the strategic planning process for the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Brian Druker, MD, Director, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute and Associate Dean for Oncology, described Dr. Thomas as “pioneering and entrepreneurial, yet collegial and collaborative and the ultimate team player. He is an outstanding example of OHSU’s commitment to service excellence and it is a privilege to work with him.”

Dr. Thomas uniquely demonstrated his commitment to service excellence recently when he helped to retain a key oncology specialist in Coos Bay. This past year, Carl Jensen, MD, announced he was leaving Coos Bay citing the isolation of rural practice in radiation oncology, and the fact that he was missing the opportunity to share knowledge with colleagues. After becoming aware of this situation, Dr. Thomas scheduled quarterly (one week each) visits to OHSU for him to have a professional change of venue and high-volume interaction with professional colleagues on Marquam Hill. While Dr. Jensen is at OHSU, and when he needs coverage for other reasons, Radiation Medicine faculty journey to Coos Bay to cover Dr. Jensen’s practice.

“The experience has been completely rejuvenating for Dr. Jensen,” wrote Mark O’Hollaren, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, in the nomination letter which led to Dr. Thomas receiving a Golden Rose Award. Not only is the community grateful that he decided to stay in Coos Bay, but “OHSU faculty physicians are making new connections and friends in Coos Bay across multiple areas of our mission.”

Dr. Thomas’ contributions to the education mission are recognized throughout the School of Medicine. Dr. Thomas advocates on behalf of OHSU at conferences, connecting with junior faculty and students who might not otherwise be inclined to consider OHSU and he regularly hosts visiting faculty scholars.

“As Director of the MD/PhD Training Program, I can say that he is one of our strongest supporters. It’s no accident that two of our top MD/PhD students selected Radiation Oncology and that both are staying at OHSU for their residencies,” said David Jacoby, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine. “It would be difficult for me to imagine a more deserving recipient for the Dean’s Award.”

Dr. Thomas joined the OHSU School of Medicine faculty in 2005 as Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine. Before that, he was on the faculty of the University of Texas Health Science Center. He received an MD degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, completed a residency at Baylor College of Medicine and pursued fellowships at University of Washington and Mayo Clinic.  

 

More on Charles Thomas, MD

Radiation Medicine program establishes clinical partnership in Coos Bay »

Meet the Staff: Charles R. Thomas, Jr., MD »

 

Recent past recipients of the Dean’s Award

2010: Lisa Grill Dodson, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine
2009: Susan Hayflick, MD, Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics
 

Pictured: (L) Mark Richardson, MD, MBA, (R) Charles Thomas, MD