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From left: Robert Sparks, M.D., Magda Peck, Sc.D., Philip Smith, M.D., and Sharon Medcalf. Photo by Becky Bohan Brown. |
Dr. Sparks, who served as UNMC chancellor from 1972 to 1976, was in Omaha last week to honor Philip Smith, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at UNMC, with the inaugural Robert D. Sparks Award in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The award recognizes University of Nebraska faculty, students and/or volunteers for outstanding work in health promotion, disease prevention and the advancement of effective public health approaches.
“There’s been incredible growth of facilities and programs,” said Dr. Sparks, who lives in El Dorado Hills, Calif. “It’s something we would never have imagined the scope of in the 1970s — just like we can’t imagine the scope today of what it will be in 2025.”
During his visit, he toured The Lied Transplant Center and Durham Research Center, which were funded largely through private donations. “I am overwhelmed by the private support,” he said.
Dr. Sparks’ distinguished career in medicine and public health also includes serving as staff and ultimately president and trustee of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (1976-88), chair of the Institute of Medicine Committee to Evaluate Treatment of Alcohol Problems (1990) and chair of The Future of Public Health Steering Committee of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health and member of their executive committee (1989-91).
The retired Newton, Iowa, native is an accomplished speaker in the fields of internal medicine, gastroenterology, alcohol and drug addictions and health planning policy.
“UNMC was a place of great potential,” he said, recalling his first impressions of the campus in the 1970s. “We were entering an era very different than the past 20 years had been. We had phenomenal support, great relationships with faculty and the legislature and enjoyed good communications.”
Dr. Sparks took the helm at UNMC July 1, 1972 — around the time NU’s other campuses saw leadership changes. In February, James Zumberge assumed the top post at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and in July, Ronald Roskens became chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. D.B. Varner had become president of the university system earlier in the year.
“It was a unique opportunity to turn the page,” he said.
During his tenure, Dr. Sparks oversaw construction of the College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, the Nebraska Lion’s Eye Institute and the Clinic (or ambulatory) Building. He also expanded the residency programs for physicians as a way of encouraging physicians to settle and practice in Nebraska.
“Nebraska had done a good job of educating medical students, but had not considered the importance of a large residency program,” he said.
In September 1976, he created the Board of Counselors, a group of 20 advisers for long-range planning and goal setting. Today, the Board of Counselors has grown to nearly 50 members and continues to be an important advisory group for the medical center.