“We are fortunate to have recruited a superb academician to lead the department of pediatrics,” said Dr. Robert A. Kreisberg, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the USA College of Medicine. “Dr. Clement brings a strong background in both basic and clinical research to the USA College of Medicine, as well as a thorough understanding of clinical issues regarding the problem of childhood asthma and its impact on inner city health. He will also be an asset to our developing Center for Lung Biology.”

Clement received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, graduating with high distinction.He completed his internship and residency training in pediatrics at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., and at the University of California, San Francisco.

Following his residency training, Clement was a research associate in the Laboratory of Immunology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. In 1980, Clement completed an immunology research fellowship at the Mayo School of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.

In a career spanning nearly a quarter of a century, Clement has been successful in a wide range of medical and scientific endeavors. In 2001, he received the Physician of the Year Award from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Southern California Chapter. From 1995 to 1998, he served as Chief of the Section of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. A prolific researcher, he has published more than 130 scientific publications and abstracts.

In addition to his appointment at USC, Clement has served on the faculty at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City; Iowa, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in Birmingham, Ala; the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles; and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine in Kansas City, Mo.

Clement has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Immunology and the Journal of Clinical Immunology. He is a member of numerous medical societies including the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Society for Pediatric Research. He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.