2010 VMRF Honoring Service Gala - Presenting our Honoree
Dr. Roger Spragg, a colleague of Dr. Parthemore's, praised her contributions to the VA. "Dr. Jacqueline Parthemore�s extraordinary leadership has benefited the VA for more than 37 years. Her support of the VA research mission during her tenure as chief of staff, and also as a member of the board of directors of the Veterans Medical Research Foundation, has been critical to the outstanding success of that mission at the San Diego VA. Her excellence as an outstanding clinician has provided an important role model for many young women. As an administrator, Jackie�s levelheaded approach and willingness to debate sensitive issues with humor and fairness has encouraged excellence in those with whom she has worked." Dr. Parthemore began her affiliation with the VA San Diego Healthcare System and the University of California San Diego in 1972. As a new faculty member she attended on the Medicine inpatient service and in the clinics, taught house staff and students, and collaborated in research, particularly related to the hormones calcitonin and PTH. She also attended at University Hospital in the early years of her career. In the summer of 1974, she received a prestigious four year VA Research Career Development Award. Dr. Parthemore became Chief of Staff at VA San Diego in 1984. She was the first woman selected for this leadership position. While serving as chief of staff, Dr. Parthemore also continued to serve as a Medicine and Endocrine attending on the inpatient service and in the clinics. In 1984, she was also named Associate Dean for Veterans Affairs and Professor of Medicine at UCSD School of Medicine. In the early '90s, after Congress passed legislation permitting VA's to create medical foundations, Dr. Parthemore participated in a planning meeting in New Orleans for the purpose of discussing approaches to ensuring the success of this new national VA venture. She advocated for establishment of the Veterans Medical Research Foundation of San Diego (VMRF) and the formation of the National Association of VA Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF). She served on the NAVREF board for eight years and on the VMRF board, as a congressionally mandated member, from its creation until her retirement. She was also appointed to the VA National Research Advisory Group for a period of several years. She continues to serve on Committees of VMRF, including the Veterans Research Corporation (VRC). Dr. Parthemore has been an active student and faculty mentor. She taught for 10 years in the annual Association of American Medical College's program for junior women faculty and has been a board member and lecturer since its inception for the UCSD National Center for Leadership in Academic Medicine. She continues to mentor medical students at UCSD. In 2004 she was elected Governor of the American College of Physicians (ACP) for Region 3, Southern California, a position she held for 5 years. She continues to serve on the Regional ACP Board. From 2006 to 2009, Dr. Parthemore was also appointed to the Blue Ribbon Panel on VA-Medical School Affiliations by the Secretary of the VA. Dr. Parthemore was born in Harrisburg, PA and grew up in Narberth, PA, a small town west of Philadelphia. She attended Wellesley College (BA, 1962) and Cornell University Medical College (MD, 1966). She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at The New York Hospital/Cornell in 1969. She was an NIH fellow at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation before joining the VA. She married Alan M. Blank, M.D. in 1967. Dr. Alan Blank was in the Navy, which prompted their move to San Diego in 1969. They have two children - Stephen and Laura. The Blanks, their two children and their families, including three grandchildren, all live in San Diego. |
The San Diego Veterans Medical Research Foundation is proud to recognize Jacqueline Parthemore Blank as its 2010 honoree. Dr. Parthemore was Chief of Staff of the VA San Diego Healthcare System for 25 years. She has been recognized for her work in administration, research and teaching. She was the recipient of the 2002 American Hospital Association Award for Excellence and the 2005 National Library of Medicine Local Legend Award in recognition of her accomplishments as a woman in medicine. She has presented her research in bone and mineral topics at numerous scientific conferences, including the Endocrine Society, Bone and Mineral Society and American Federation of Clinical Research. She has published more than 70 scientific articles.