Kozmetsky Family Foundation establishes Endowed Chair in Pediatric Epilepsy at Dell Children’s. Dr. Dave Clarke to serve as inaugural chair holder.
We are thrilled to share that a philanthropic gift has been made that will elevate care at Dell Children’s for generations to come. The Kozmetsky Family Foundation has established the Kozmetsky Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Epilepsy at Dell Children’s to honor the innovative care and leadership of Dr. Dave Clarke, Chief of Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy within UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s. This gift serves as the first Endowed Chair within the neurosciences program.
The Kozmetsky Family Foundation’s gift honors their experience within the epilepsy program at Dell Children’s. Trustees Kimberly and Daniel Kozmetsky’s son benefited from the world-class care of Dr. Clarke and the Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy program.
“We are beyond grateful for Dell Children’s, the work of the entire neurosciences program, and most especially Dr. Dave Clarke. Our son, Chase, was able to return fully back to health thanks to Dell Children’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and their commitment to driving care forward for all children.” – Kim and Daniel Kozmetsky, Chase’s Parents and Trustees of the Kozmetsky Family Foundation
The Kozmetsky family is a longtime philanthropic leader in Central Texas and has invested millions of dollars in the growth of healthcare in our community. For more than 30 years, the Kozmetsky Family has been a philanthropic investor in Dell Children’s and our healthcare system as well as many other institutions in our community. They are true visionary partners in helping to build world-class healthcare right here, at home.
“Philanthropically Endowed Chairs serve as powerful tools for attracting and retaining the world class innovative minds we seek to care for Central Texas children. We congratulate Dr. Clarke and his entire team on this honor and remain grateful to the Kozmetsky Family Foundation for recognizing Dr. Clarke’s exemplary contributions to caring for children and families,” – Michael Wiggins, President of Dell Children’s.
In the last year, thanks to philanthropic support, Dell Children’s has established three Endowed Chair positions for physician leaders. Dell Children’s commitment to bringing the highest level of care to children and their families is greatly enhanced by these gifts. A named and Endowed Chair, created in perpetuity, represents the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a physician leader. An Endowed Chair represents the pinnacle of achievement and excellence and is reserved for our most distinguished colleagues.
“An endowed chair supports essential needs of an academic clinical program that cannot be funded by research grants or patient care funds. Generous families like the Kosmetsky’s contribute greatly to our ability to build an exceptional epilepsy program for children here in Austin,” – Dr. E. Steve Roach, Chief of UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s
Dr. Clarke, the intended inaugural chair for the Kozmetsky Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Epilepsy, earned his medical degree from the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. He completed training in pediatrics at Overlook Medical Center/Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also completed pediatric neurology training at the University of Michigan Medical Center and neurophysiology training (epilepsy and sleep) at the Hospital for Sick Children/University of Toronto in Canada. Dr. Clarke is a fellow of the American Epilepsy Society, an elected member of the North American Commission of the International League Against Epilepsy, and past president of the Epilepsy Society of the Caribbean. He was also selected to the National Association of Epilepsy Centers Board of Directors. Dr. Clarke is a boarded diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with special qualifications in child neurology, epilepsy and sleep medicine. He is also a diplomat of the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology with added competence in epilepsy monitoring. Dr. Clarke has received numerous awards throughout his career, including On-Time Doctor Award, Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors, Top 10 Doctor—State, Patients’ Choice Award, Patients’ Choice 5th Anniversary Award, Compassionate Doctor Award, and the Newcomers Award by the NAACP.
Dr. Clarke has a special interest in medical and surgical management of drug resistant epilepsy, and his recent collaborative projects have focused on reducing deficits and disparities in epilepsy care. Dr. Clarke has continued to advocate for unity, inclusiveness, and collaboration between centers in Texas and the Caribbean island countries. He sincerely believes this is the only way to reach and care for all children with epilepsy.
“The Dell Children’s Epilepsy Center, of which I am extremely proud to be a part, has a continued drive to reduce deficits and disparities in epilepsy care, and optimize care delivery. This amazing gift of being named the inaugural Kozmetsky Family Foundation Endowed Chair, affirms and heightens my resolve to help create an even stronger program that influences care of children with epilepsy regionally, nationally, and globally,” – Dr. Dave Clarke.
The Dell Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center is a specialty program within UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin. The Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center diagnoses, treats, and manages the care for children and adolescents with seizures and epilepsy. With access to expert staff and advanced technology for treating both acute and chronic neurological conditions, our nationally and internationally recognized and highly specialized physicians provide a wide range of services from evaluation, testing, and diagnosis to surgical treatment, disease management, rehabilitation, and more to give patients and their families the best quality of life. The Dell Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center is the only dedicated pediatric epilepsy center in Central Texas.