By Lin Lofley

Dr. Carlos Girod, Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs for the Parkland Health & Hospital System, has been named the inaugural holder of the Ron Anderson, M.D. Professorship in Clinical Care and Education at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Carlos Girod

The endowment that created the Ron Anderson Professorship was established in 2012 by the Dallas-based Hoblitzelle Foundation as a tribute to Dr. Anderson’s commitment to public health and to care of the indigent.

Dr. Anderson, who died in 2014, created over a period of nearly 40 years a legacy of caring and of clinical expertise. He also engendered an early commitment to diversity in the workforce of caregivers and clinicians at Parkland, including the inaugural holder of the Anderson Professorship.

“I couldn’t believe it when I was informed that I would hold this professorship,” said Dr. Girod, who earned his medical degree at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in 1988 before completing an internship and a residency at UT Southwestern. Following completion of a research fellowship at the Denver Veterans Administration, he returned to UT Southwestern at Dr. Anderson’s behest.

“Before I knew Dr. Anderson, I knew he was committed to bringing diversity to Parkland,” said Dr. Girod. “I knew of him because he had recruited minority candidates from Puerto Rico, and because of him we wanted to be here.”

Dr. Girod an unapologetic Parkland backer. “I bleed Parkland purple,” he said. “I hope Dr. Anderson would approve of me holding this professorship, and we at Parkland all hope to make him proud.”

“Dr. Girod is a fitting choice to receive the Ron Anderson, M.D. Professorship,” said Dr. David Johnson, Chairman of Internal Medicine. “Like Dr. Anderson, he is a consummate, caring physician dedicated to serving the Parkland patient population. Like Dr. Anderson, he also possesses preternatural people and managerial skills. I am confident Dr. Anderson would be delighted to know that he is the inaugural recipient of the professorship that honors him. “

The son of a cardiologist who was a member of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine faculty, Dr. Girod early saw what his own life could be.

“He established clinics in small town all across Puerto Rico,” Dr. Girod said, “I saw that, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.

 “Dr. Anderson was devoted to patient care, and I mean world-class care. Even back in the late 1980s when I came here it was a great place to train. There were great nurses here, a top-notch administration and the housestaff here provided the superb care that Dr. Anderson demanded.”

Dr. Girod, a pulmonologist by training, rose through the ranks at UT Southwestern, becoming not just a recognized clinician, but a recognized teacher as well. He has twice won the Internal Medicine Teaching Award, and was elected in 2014 to the Southwestern Academy of Teachers.

And it’s no small thing that he’s also a cancer survivor. “I know how that can rock your life,” Dr. Girod said.

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Dr. Johnson holds the Donald W. Seldin Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine.