50 Heroes: Dr. Michael Clearfield

Dr. Michael ClearfieldDr. Michael Clearfield dedicated over two decades to developing HSC’s Internal Medicine Department into one of the largest and most productive academically in the osteopathic profession.

Dr. Clearfield served as both faculty and administrator from 1979 to 2006. He served for 20 years as the Chair of Internal Medicine until he was appointed Associate Dean for Clinical Research and named Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Distinguished Chair in Clinical Research.

Dr. Clearfield shared his love and enthusiasm for medicine with his students while stressing the importance their academic work in becoming a better physician. A former student, Dr. Eric Solomon, said that Dr. Clearfield “challenged students to think and be meticulous in examination, diagnosis and care of patients.” He reiterated the idea that “a patient’s welfare was their primary mission.”

His teaching efforts gained him national recognition in 2004 when he received the 2004 Darryl A. Beehler, DO Mentor of the Year Award at the American Osteopathic Association Research Conference for his significant contributions to mentoring and developing future researchers in osteopathic medicine.

Dr. Clearfield’s dedication to the osteopathic profession has had a profound impact on his former students’ careers and has helped shape future doctors at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.


50th Anniversary Logo

Honor your HSC hero today! Please make a tribute gift, submit a photo or share a story that you value.

Join us throughout 2020 as we celebrate the people, events and innovations that made UNTHSC all it is today — and look ahead to the next 50 years.

For the 50th anniversary, team members nominated people whose contributions make them HSC Heroes. Each week, a new Hero will be revealed.

View the list of all our Hero profiles published so far this year. There is a new one each week.

Recent News

Heads Up
  • Our People
|May 3, 2024

Pharmaceutical sciences faculty awarded patents

Two members of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s College of Pharmacy faculty have made significant strides in their respective fields. Dr. Kyle Emmitte, an expert in medicinal chemistry, and Dr. Jin Liu, specializing in computational drug design, joined forces on ...
Hsc Pt In Dc
  • Our People
|May 2, 2024

HSC students highlight importance of physical therapy in D.C.

Prior to coming to The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Do Kyung Yun advocated alongside community members in his Los Angeles neighborhood. As a community organizer, Yun, a second-year physical therapy student who is known to friends as “DK,” used to frequent meetin...
58ea6a4e 2ebd 4474 Aa12 D704cc7e3475
  • Our People
|May 2, 2024

Dr. Tracy Hicks reelected board member-at-large of the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Tracy Hicks, DNP, MBA, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, FIAAN, FAANP, associate professor at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s College of Nursing, was recently re-elected as board member-at-large of the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. ...
Justin New
  • Our People
|May 2, 2024

SaferCare Texas appoints new director

Justin Burton has been appointed as the new director of SaferCare Texas, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth's department dedicated to enhancing patient safety initiatives across the state. Burton is a registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience....