In 2003, Dr. Alan Roberts, an internist recruited to the Medical College of Georgia, initiated an ethics consultative service for our medical center. He recruited faculty, pastoral care, and risk management personnel to the original ethics committee. Dr. Roberts was dedicated to providing his patients the best care, and to his students, an ethically-based training. In October of 2011, Dr. Roberts died but left a legacy from which a new clinical ethics committee was formed and officially charged with ethics consultations, education of the AUMC faculty and staff, the development and revision of policy.
Kling, who passed away in August 2021, was one of the groundbreaking leaders of establishing ethical and humane treatment of laboratory animals, as well as ethical research standards. He began his professional career in 1967 at the Medical College of Georgia, where he served as the director of the Office of Research and Support Services, attending veterinarian and professor until his retirement in 2001. Kling taught numerous future veterinarians, physicians, physician assistants and even medical illustrators and won teacher of the year on numerous occasions. He also served as interim vice president for research and interim chair of pharmacology. In 2009, Kling was awarded an Alumni of the Year distinction from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of his graduation. In 2001, in recognition of his contributions, the Malcolm Kling Lectureship in Research Ethics was established at MCG. Kling obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the age of 23 from the University of Georgia in 1959. He went on to pursue a master’s degree from Auburn University in physiology and biochemistry in 1961 and a doctoral degree in pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Florida in 1967. He returned to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1961, where he taught anatomy for two years.
In 1969 William B. Strong, M.D. joined the pediatric faculty at the Medical College of Georgia. During his career he has been recognized as an outstanding clinician, teacher and researcher as well as for his leadership abilities. He became Chief of the Section of Pediatric Cardiology in January 1972. Dr. Strong was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1976 and Leon Henri Charbonnier Professor of Pediatrics in 1978. In 2012 Dr. Strong was asked to Chair the Medical Ethics Committee, and in 2013 to be Interim Director of the Georgia Regents University Institute for Public and Preventive Health and subsequently became Senior Advisor to the Director of the Institute. In 2016 Dr. Strong’s request to found and develop a virtual Center for Bioethics and Health Policy was approved by President Keel. In October of 2016, the Center for Bioethics and Health Policy was approved; Dr. Strong became founding Director of the Center.
Since his retirement, Dr. Strong continues to support and champion the work of Augusta University, and the Center he founded.
