CHICAGO — Robert G. Clark, chairman and CEO of Clayco, Inc., will join the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), a leader in patient care, research and medical education.
The Medical Center is consistently ranked among the leading hospitals in the United States and serves as the primary teaching location for students at the institution’s Pritzker School of Medicine. Members of the Board of Trustees provide oversight and input regarding large scale programmatic goals and financial and physical resources, and advocate for UCMC locally, nationally and throughout the world.
Clark is the founder of Clayco, a national firm that specializes in real estate development, architecture, engineering and construction. As chairman and CEO, Clark spearheads the company’s growth strategy and vision and also serves as the business group leader for its Downtown Chicago office. Born and raised in St. Louis, Clark recently relocated to Chicago.
Along with his late wife, Ellen, Clark has dedicated extensive time and resources to a broad range of critical issues including children’s needs, education and particularly stem cell research projects. The “Ellen S. Clark Hope Plaza” at the Washington University Medical School was a recent gift from the Clarks. Designed by world renowned artist Maya Lin, the plaza serves as a public haven for the students, medical staff and patients.
His numerous civic and charitable activities include serving as a member of the Chicago Economic Club, a director of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and an advisory board member of the University of Chicago Medical Center’s Urban Health Initiative. Clark also is a member of the St. Louis Airport Commission, the Board of Trustees of Saint Louis University, the Board of Trustees of the St. Louis Symphony and the Board of Managers for the Central Institute for the Deaf (CID). In February 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Clark to be a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. The Committee advises the President, the First Lady and the Director of the National Park Service on preserving the museum quality of the public spaces of the White House.
Clark is known for his boundless energy and ability to facilitate positive change. Several years ago, he took a partial sabbatical from Clayco to become acting executive director at CID as the institution completed its merger with Washington University.
“I am honored to be associated with such a premiere healthcare institution as the University of Chicago Medical Center,” said Clark. “I look forward to contributing to its continued success in fulfilling its mission of advancing medical innovation, serving the health needs of the community and furthering the knowledge of those dedicated to caring.”
