Kern Wildenthal - administrator, professor, physician - has served for 20 years as president of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. During his presidency, UT Southwestern has more than tripled in size and become one of the leading academic medical centers in the world. Four faculty members have received Nobel Prizes, and 17, including Wildenthal, have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Under his leadership, more than 200 endowed chairs and professorships have been established; several new hospitals, outpatient facilities, and research centers have been added; and the endowment has increased significantly. Wildenthal has been described as a "premier role model of scientist turned administrator, who inspires loyalty and citizenship in the quest for academic excellence." Wildenthal received his M.D. degree from UT Southwestern and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in England. He has been a visiting professor and conference organizer in more than 20 countries and has authored 130 scientific papers. He is a member of several research and health policy advisory boards and has served the community on numerous civic, arts, and philanthropic boards. For his visionary leadership in transforming a state medical school into a nationally renowned research institution, for his contributions in making Dallas a leading center for health care, and for his outstanding civic contributions, Southern Methodist University is honored to confer upon Kern Wildenthal the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.