J. David Holcomb, Ed.D., Dean Emeritus of the School of Health Professions at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, died Sunday January 27 following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Holcomb earned his B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University, and the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Houston in 1969. He was proud to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for the University of Houston College of Education in 2008.
Dr. Holcomb joined Baylor in 1972 as an assistant professor. In 1995, he was named founding dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, now the School of Health Professions. Under his leadership, the PA program advanced from a certificate program to a bachelor’s program and then to a master’s program in 1989 and the Nurse Anesthesia program advanced to grant the Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2011. He was instrumental in developing other programs during his tenure, most recently leading development of the School’s Orthotics and Prosthetics Program in 2012. He was a foundational member in the early days of Texas Society of Allied Health Professions and a strong advocate for high caliber education and scholarship within the health professions.
He held the title of dean emeritus after he retired in 2015. The School honored Dr. Holcomb by naming its annual research event the J. David Holcomb Student Research Day and providing an annual J. David Holcomb Achievement Award for sustained leadership in allied health professions education, research, faculty development, and scholarship.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 5, at 3 p.m. at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, Texas.
In Memoriam