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Contact: Julie A. Jacob
CHICAGO, August 18, 2010 — The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education lost a respected colleague with the passing of Nathan K. Blank, MD, who served as an ACGME field staff representative for the last 11 years. Dr. Blank passed away peacefully August 13 in his home in Indian Wells, California. Dr. Blank, a board-certified neurologist, joined the ACGME in 1999. During his distinguished career with the organization, he surveyed more than 1,100 programs and institutions across the country, providing comprehensive narrative reports to Review Committees conducting accreditation reviews. “Dr. Blank was respected and loved, not only at the ACGME, but in the broader academic medical community,” said John H. Nylen, chief operating officer of the ACGME. “The ACGME is grateful for his many contributions to the organization and graduate medical education. Nate was passionate about improving GME and the educational experience of residents. He was a skilled interviewer, which allowed him to convey to the Review Committees in an accurate and concise way the strengths and weaknesses of the training environment. His recommendations for improvement of both programs and ACGME processes were always thoughtful and attainable. He was a calming presence during times of great change in GME. He will be deeply missed.” Dr. Blank had a long and distinguished career in academic medicine. Following graduation from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Dr. Blank completed his internship and neurology residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. Blank served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant and staff neurologist at Boston Naval Hospital. He completed a neuropathology fellowship in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Following completion of his fellowship, Dr. Blank was recruited by Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, where he conducted research in regenerative neurology and had a clinical practice. In 1991, Dr. Blank was appointed program director and vice chair of neurology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP). He subsequently served as associate dean of graduate medical education and affiliate affairs, as well as associate dean for admissions following MCP’s merger with Hahnemann School of Medicine in 1997. He joined the ACGME in 1999. In honor of Dr. Blank, the ACGME and the Blank family are proud to announce the establishment of the Nathan K. Blank Fellowship. This fellowship will be awarded annually to selected field staff representatives for continuing professional development and projects toward improving GME. In lieu of gifts or flowers, Dr. Blank’s family has requested that donations to the fellowship in celebration of Nate’s life be sent to: The Nathan K. Blank Fellowship, c/o ACGME, 515 North State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60654.
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