Vanderbilt University Medical Center celebrated the life of George Stricklin, MD, PhD, after his death on February 28, 2024, at the age of 74. Dr. Stricklin served as Chief of the Division of Dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where his research focused on enzymes regulating the extracellular matrix. In his 27 years at the institution, he secured vital funding through the National Institutes of Health Skin Disease Research Center Grant, helped establish the Department of Dermatology as an independent department, mentored generations of dermatology students, and sought to improve patient care in skin diseases. Before joining Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Stricklin served as Chief of Dermatology at the Nashville VA Medical Center and taught at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Tennessee. He will be remembered for his devotion as a researcher, physician, and faculty leader. “Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine and its many dermatology residency graduates owe [Dr. Stricklin] a debt of gratitude for all that he contributed toward the promotion of rigorous clinical education … , the provision of outstanding patient care … , [and] for all that he did over so many years … that finally led to the establishment of departmental status,” concluded Dr. Stricklin’s colleague Jo-David Fine, MD, MPH, Professor of Dermatology, Emeritus at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
April 24, 2024