Dr. Kevin R. Clark was selected as the 2021 Distinguished Person of the Year by the DeQuincy Chamber of Commerce. He will be honored at the Annual Banquet on Thursday, Apr. 29.
Having grown up in DeQuincy, Dr. Clark graduated from DeQuincy High School in 1996, after which he pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Radiologic Technology, dual Master’s Degrees in Instructional Technology and Teaching, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and Management. Currently, Dr. Clark is the Associate Director for the Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences Program with the School of Health Professions at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Early in his career, Dr. Clark worked as a travel radiologic technologist in Butte, Mont. and Boston, Mass.. He also worked as a staff radiologic technologist at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, West Calcasieu-Cameron Hospital, and Dr. Clark A. Gunderson, A.M.C. In 2007, Dr. Clark received certification in secondary mathematics, which allowed him to come home to teach at Hyatt High School and DeQuincy High School. He was selected as DeQuincy High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2012 where he advanced and received recognition at the district level.
In 2013, Dr. Clark left DeQuincy to pursue academia in higher education. At Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, Dr. Clark was active in local, state, national, and international professional organizations. He served on the editorial review board for leading radiologic science journals and served on the Workgroup on Gender Diversity for the American College Radiology.
Dr. Clark received the 2017 Editors’ Choice Award from the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, an international journal published by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. Because of his research, service, and reputation in the profession, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center asked Dr. Clark to join the School of Health Professions as faculty in 2018.
To date, Dr. Clark has published more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, received multiple research grants, and has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences. His scholarly contributions are considered to be unmatched in the radiologic science profession. He currently serves as Education Delegate and Chair for the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and is tasked with addressing current issues facing educators on a national level. His work as a delegate has focused on distance education and instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic and the removal of patient shielding practices during medical imaging procedures.
Dr. Clark’s current research projects include investigating the relationship between drinking alcohol and cancer development, and he is working with his graduate students to learn more about AIDS-related cancers. In addition, Dr. Clark is conducting research to learn more about risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment for rare cancers, such as gallbladder cancer.
He is the son of Nebert and Vicki LeJeune, grandson of Bud and Jackie Royer; brother to Mandi and husband Jon Franks, Kory and wife Amy Clark; and uncle to Chloe Savant, all of DeQuincy.