Michael B. Clearfield, D.O. ’71

Michael B. Clearfield, D.O. 71, is a doctor of osteopathic medicine, distinguished author and dean of the College of Medicine at Touro University. Clearfield has used his liberal arts education to its fullest.

In 2006, he was appointed as dean at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Previously, he served as both a faculty member and an administrator at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC)/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine from 1979 to 2006. Clearfield joined the faculty of UNTHSC in 1979 following internal medicine residencies at Chicago Osteopathic Hospital and Metropolitan Hospital in Philadelphia. In 1980, he was appointed vice chairman of the department of internal medicine and then served as chairman of the department from 1982 to 2002. In 2002, Clearfield was appointed associate dean for clinical research and named the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Distinguished Chair in Clinical Research, a position which he held until moving on to Touro University.

His research interests have focused on preventative heart disease, cholesterol management & metabolism and obesity. He served as the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) representative to the National Cholesterol Education Program for a decade, has authored many manuscripts and was the co-primary investigator for the Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study, which was the largest primary prevention trial conducted in the United States relating the reduction of cholesterol to that of cardiovascular events.

In 1995, Clearfield received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 1997, he was honored as the Internist of the Year by the American College of Osteopathic Internists, where he also served as a member of the board for a decade and as president in 2009-10. Michael has also served as chairman of the AOA Bureau/Council of Research, as well as chairman for the Research Committee of the American College of Osteopathic Internists. In 2003, Clearfield was the recipient of the American Osteopathic Foundation’s AstraZeneca Healthy Heart Award. In 2004, he received the inaugural Darryl A. Beehler D.O. Research Mentor Award, and in 2005, he was presented with the Gutensohn-Denslow Award for outstanding contributions in research and scholarly activity. In both 2003 and 2005, he was acknowledged by his peers as one of the top doctors in internal medicine as reported in Fort Worth Magazine. In 2013 Clearfield received the Researcher of the Year Award from the American College of Osteopathic Internists and in 2016 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California. In 2017, he was selected into the Gillum Society of Master Fellows of the American College of Osteopathic Internists.