Central College welcomes back nationally-renowned pediatrician and scholar, Dr. Tom Boat ’61

PELLA, Iowa — Dr. Tom Boat, a 1961 alumnus of Central College, executive associate dean of clinical affairs for the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and CEO of the University of Cincinnati physicians, will speak at his alma mater’s commencement ceremony Saturday, May 14, at H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse at 2 p.m. Boat will be awarded an honorary degree from Central during commencement exercises. Tickets are available by calling the alumni office at 641-628-5154 or e-mailing alumni@central.edu.

Rev. Chad Pierce, assistant professor of religion, will give the baccalaureate address at First Reformed Church in Pella at 9:30 a.m.

Boat, who centers his work around responsive care to patients and families, previously served as director of the Children’s Hospital Research Foundation in Cincinnati as well as professor, chair, director and physician-in-chief of the department of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Children’s Hospital Medical Center. A pediatric pulmonologist by training, he focused his early career on defining the pathophysiology of airway dysfunction and more effective therapies for chronic lung diseases of childhood, such as cystic fibrosis, a cause for which he served as co-director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. He has worked at local and national levels to improve research efforts, subspecialty training and clinical care in pediatrics. He has a special interest in issues posed by children’s mental health for pediatric care and training. Boat has researched tracheobronchial secretions, pathophysiology of lung disease in cystic fibrosis and mucous glycoprotein biosynthesis. A current focus is creating high value systems of care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the College of Medicine that are more responsive to the individual needs of patients and families.

Prior to his time in Cincinnati, Boat was professor and chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill and on staff at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland as professor and senior instructor in pediatrics.

He gained widespread acclaim and attention for his work at local and national levels to improve research efforts and training in clinical care in pediatrics. In 2006, he was selected to receive the Ronald McDonald’s House Charities Award of Excellence — past recipients include John Wooden, Jimmy Carter and Colin Powell. He was a recipient of the Daniel Drake Medal from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and also received the St. Geme Award from the Federation of Pediatric Organizations.

Boat is a member of the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and served as chair of the research development program advisory committee. He’s involved in numerous professional organizations including the Association of American Medical Colleges, American Pediatric Society, American Medical Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for Pediatric Research and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is chair of the board of directors for the Agency for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs. Boat is president of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs Inc. and has been a board member since 2004.

Boat earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Iowa School of Medicine. He earned a certification in pediatrics in 1971 and pediatric pulmonary medicine in 1995. In 1990, Boat was honored with Central’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and he has also served on the National Advisory Council.

“We are delighted to host and honor Tom,” said Mark Putnam, president of Central College. “Tom’s dedication to education is inspiring and his resume and distinguished career speak for themselves. Equally impressive is his genuine and caring personality. We’re pleased he can return to campus.”

Boat and wife, Barbara, and live in Glendale, Ohio. Barbara, a licensed clinical psychologist, is associate professor in the psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience department at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and director of the program on childhood trauma and maltreatment. She is also executive director of the Childhood Trust at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

His father, Bert Boat, was the original owner of Boat’s Home Furnishing in Pella. Both of Tom’s sisters, Andrea Boat Roorda and Barbara Boat Bush, graduated from Central College.

Baccalaureate

Pierce is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America. After completing a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College, Pierce received a master’s degree from Jerusalem University College, a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary and a doctorate in early Judaism from the University of Durham (United Kingdom). He and his wife, Jodi, and have three children, Jenna (9), Michael (6) and David (2).

About Central College

Central College is a four-year, private, residential, liberal arts college in Pella, Iowa, affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Central offers a bachelor’s degree in 39 majors and pre-professional advising. Central was recognized by U.S.News & World Report as one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges. It also was identified for its study abroad program. For more information about Central College, go to www.central.edu.