A legacy of service: Carolyn Clancy, MD’79, gives back to UMass Chan

Accentuating an extraordinary career in public service, Carolyn Clancy, MD’79—recent recipient of an honorary degree from UMass Chan Medical School—has established a scholarship alongside her husband, Bill Kaplan, to help medical students at UMass Chan pursue their own dreams of serving others through compassionate health care. 

In  addition to the recent gift, Dr. Clancy and her husband have included UMass Chan in their estate plans, with a generous bequest intended to fully support the tuition of multiple in-state medical students in the future—a profound legacy that will help shape the future health care workforce. 

Growing up near Boston as the oldest of seven children, Dr. Clancy set her sights on a medical career early in life. When the time came to train as a physician, the commonwealth’s first and only public medical school had recently opened its doors. She enrolled in 1975 as a member of UMass Chan’s first full class of 100 students and was, in her words, “completely enchanted” with the new institution, where she also completed her internship and residency.  

At UMass Chan, Dr. Clancy quickly distinguished herself as a “rising star” known for her empathy, foreshadowing a career defined by impact and integrity. A general internist and health services researcher by training, she has devoted her career to improving the quality, accessibility and delivery of health care in the United States through leadership positions with the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VA), and previously the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality.  

Described as an “unassailable spokesperson for veterans' health,” Dr. Clancy currently leads the VA’s Office for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks (DEAN), where she fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange among VA educators, researchers and clinicians and its affiliates.

“[DEAN] includes academic affiliations with nearly all of the nation's medical schools,” said Dr. Clancy. “We now support the training of about a third of U.S. medical residents, so we've got a big imprint on the future, and we support the training of about 60 other types of health professionals. It also includes our Office of Research and Development, and then last, we've got a group doing health care innovation.” 

In recognition of her accomplishments and inspirational leadership, Dr. Clancy was awarded an honorary degree at UMass Chan’s 52nd Commencement on June 1. 

“[In your current role], you have demonstrated value for the longstanding and close linkages that exist between the VA and our nation's medical schools, which, without exception, see you as an exceptional partner, a trusted conduit, inspiring role model and genuine friend,” said Chancellor Michael F. Collins at Commencement. 

Previously, Dr. Clancy served as acting deputy secretary of the VA, the second-largest Cabinet department, with a $247 billion budget and more than 420,000 employees serving in VA medical centers, clinics, benefits offices and national cemeteries.

“The sense of mission that permeates this system had a lot to do with why I came here to work,” said Dr. Clancy. “That, and my own father's experience being quite sick when he was in the Navy. He had rheumatic fever and back in the day, that meant sitting in the hospital for about nine months.”

Dr. Clancy was “thrilled and honored” to speak at the formal opening of the community-based outpatient clinic for veterans located on the Medical School’s campus in November 2021.    

“I think the opportunity for students to actually serve and learn from veterans in a VA facility right on campus is just amazing,” said Dr. Clancy. 

Now, through philanthropy, Dr. Clancy is investing in future generations of physicians. The newly established Catherine Walsh Clancy Scholarship, named in honor of her mother, a college scholarship recipient herself, will ease the debt burden for UMass Chan medical students with demonstrated financial need. 

“I’m so grateful for the opportunities afforded to me through my education,” said Dr. Clancy. “I have a great job, doing important, mission-driven work with a fantastic team. I’m honored to help aspiring physicians achieve their own dreams by easing the cost of medical degree, while also giving back to the Medical School, where I launched my career.”