Alan Clark, M.D., an enlightened physician and dedicated autism and vaccine safety activist, died on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006. On behalf of their son, Devon, and many other vaccine injured autistic children, Dr. Clark and his wife, Lugene, have been leading advocates of state laws banning the use of mercury preservatives in childhood vaccines. Alan Clark's vision and legacy will live on with every state law that has been passed - and will be passed - banning toxic mercury in vaccines. Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to his wife, son and family.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Alan D. Clark M.D. Memorial Research Fund in care of US Bank, 2208 S. Grand Avenue, Carthage, Missouri 64836.

Sympathy cards may be sent to his family at their home: 1803 S. Maple Street, Carthage, Missouri 64836.

Barbara Loe Fisher and Kathi Williams

FROM THE NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION:

The National Autism Association is deeply saddened by the loss of Alan D. Clark, M.D. A member of our scientific advisory board, Alan was respected and admired by all who had the honor of working with him. His love for his family was boundless, as was his compassion for all families affected by neurological disorders resulting from mercury exposure.

Although a genteel, soft-spoken man, Alan's words and intellect were powerful. He was a selfless seeker of medical truth, even when that truth might prove unpopular with the medical community in which he served. Alan was one of only a handful of physicians in the entire state of Missouri brave enough to confront the reality that overexposure to mercury through vaccines has led to epidemic numbers of neurologically injured children.

Alan's tireless pursuit to educate others about the devastating effects of mercury upon children led him to all parts of the country, where all who met him were struck by his sincerity, kindness, and dedication to helping others.

We have lost a much loved and irreplaceable friend in Alan Clark, and the autism community has lost a fearless advocate for truth and healing. Our sympathy and prayers go out to Alan's family and loved ones. We join with countless others nationwide in mourning the loss of a hero.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Alan D. Clark M.D. Memorial Research Fund in care of US Bank, 2208 S. Grand Avenue, Carthage, Missouri 64836.

Sympathy cards may be sent to his family at their home: 1803 S. Maple Street, Carthage, Missouri 64836

Full Article:

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS01/602090353

News-Leader.com, MO
Published Thursday, February 9, 2006

Doctor, autism advocate a 'total servant'

By Kathleen O'Dell
News-Leader

Former Springfield emergency room physician Dr. Alan D. Clark was remembered by friends and colleagues this week as a "total servant to public health" and a "genteel, soft-spoken man" whose words and intellect were powerful.

Clark, 55, died from complications of lung cancer Tuesday afternoon in Carthage, where he and his wife, Lugene, and son Devon lived.

Clark was diagnosed with cancer in August 2005 and had been undergoing treatments while continuing tireless work for the state's upcoming tobacco tax initiative, lobbying on behalf of autism research, and writing medical articles and an online general health column, "Ask Dr. Clark," for the St. John's Health System Web site. He recently wrote a forensics book on burns for medical and legal professionals.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday and the service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, both at First Assembly of God, Baker Street and Centennial Avenue in Carthage. Knell Mortuary of Carthage is handling arrangements.

In his memory, his widow established the Alan D. Clark M.D. Memorial Research Fund through U.S. Bank, 2208 S. Grand Ave., Carthage, MO 64836.

In recent years, Clark and his wife earned a national following as founders of NoMercury.org, a philanthropic venture designed to educate policymakers, physicians and the public about dangers associated with the use of a mercury-based preservative in vaccines. Clark also served on the National Autism Association's Scientific Advisory Board.

The Clarks, who testified about the issue before congressional leaders and state legislators, believe Devon developed a form of autism after receiving a flu shot containing the preservative.

"All we did every day was just try to do the right thing," Lugene Clark said Tuesday, hours after his death. "His work will continue. I made him that promise."

Friends praised the many roles Clark took on throughout his life.

"I think that my everlasting memory of Alan is just that he was a total servant to public health and to the communities he lived in," said Springfield physician Jim Blaine, who worked with Clark on the Child Advocacy Center, DWI Task Force and several tobacco tax and smoke-free workplace efforts.

"He wasn't afraid to take a risk and wasn't afraid to sustain criticism, and he had an absolute passion for helping others," Blaine said.

Clark's diagnosis came as a shock last year, being a lifelong tobacco foe who never smoked cigarettes, but grew up among smokers in Atlanta.

It only fueled his anti-tobacco advocacy, and Clark told the News-Leader, "It's time people were made aware of how serious this is."

Clark befriended many Springfield-area physicians during his committee work and term as 2003 president of the Greene County Medical Society and his years as an emergency room physician at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

"He was sort of the epitome of a southern gentleman," said Dr. Barry Spoon, a St. John's emergency room physician.

"A very bright individual, a superb emergency medicine physician, both from a practical as well as an academic standpoint," Spoon said. "He was very interested in teaching - coworkers, physicians, anybody who would be taught."

In a time when physicians are pressured to see more patients, Spoon said, "Alan always respected the time with his patients and Alan always enjoyed time with his patients."

Clark reluctantly left emergency room work after an injury forced him to retire several years ago, but remained on various St. John's and community public health projects in Springfield and Carthage and continued writing for medical journals.

More recently, Clark's name became synonymous with advocacy on behalf of parents with autism.

"Alan's love for his family was boundless, as was his compassion for all families affected by neurological disorders resulting from mercury exposure," said Rita Shreffler, a Nixa mother of two autistic children and a board member of the National Autism Association.

"He was a selfless seeker of medical truth, even when that truth might prove unpopular with the medical community in which he served," she said.

"My family and I have lost a much loved and irreplaceable friend in Alan Clark, and the autism community has lost a fearless advocate for truth and healing. We join with countless others nationwide in mourning the loss of a hero."

Dr. Roy Holand, a former Springfield state representative, credits Clark for educating legislators about the mercury preservative issue. Missouri ultimately banned the preservative from childhood vaccines.

Holand noted that the headquarters for the National Autism Association recently moved to Nixa. "That is a move that sort of symbolizes the energy and devotion of Alan Clark and his wife as well as others in this area to the point where it's a recognized area of expertise and energy on behalf of children and parents dealing with autism."

Clark's varied interests and talents - publishing an online novel, an online medical column, writing music, playing piano and his medical career - earned him the nickname "Renaissance Man," said his friend and St. John's coworker Cora Scott. Clark only laughed, she said.

Among her lasting memories of Clark, she said, is this quote by an unknown author that he used to close his e-mails:

"Don't tell God how big your storm is ... tell the storm how big God is."

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