Robert E. Tranquada, M.D. Papers, 1979-2009: A Finding Aid

Biographical Note:
Robert E. Tranquada (1930- ) served as Chancellor and Dean of the University of Massachusetts
Medical School (UMMS) from 1979 until 1986. Prior to his arrival at UMMS he held positions at the
University of Southern California (USC) School of Medicine and at the University of California, Los
Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Tranquada graduated summa cum laude from Pomona College
in 1951. That same year he married Margaret Janet Martin with whom he had three children, John, James,
and Katherine. He earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1955.
From 1955 to 1957 he was an Intern and Resident in Medicine at UCLA Medical Center and from 1957
to 1958 he was Resident in Medicine at Los Angeles V.A. Hospital. Tranquada held a Fellowship in
Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases under the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) at UCLA
Medical Center from 1958 to 1959 and was a Fellow in Diabetes (USPHS) at USC School of Medicine
from 1959 to 1960. He held academic appointments at USC School of Medicine from 1959 to 1976,
including Chair of the Department of Community Medicine and Public Health from 1966 to 1969. From
1965 to 1966, following riots that devastated the Watts area of Los Angeles, Tranquada helped reestablish
health services as Associate Project Director for the Watts Health Center (South Central
Multipurpose Health Services Center).
In 1969 he was appointed Associate Dean of the University and was influential in developing and
strengthening educational components of the Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School, now Charles
R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. From 1974 to 1976 Tranquada was Regional Director of
the Central Health Services Region, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and in 1976 was
recruited to the University of California, Los Angeles as Associate Dean for Regional and Postgraduate
Medical Education. At UCLA he directed residency programs and coordinated teaching activities for all
of UCLA‟s affiliated teaching hospitals.
In 1979, Tranquada was appointed Chancellor/Dean of the University of Massachusetts Medical
School. During his seven years in office, Tranquada started the tradition of Fall Convocation and began
fundraising initiatives by appointing the first Director of Development. He also helped secure UMass
Medical‟s position in the community by making connections with other hospitals and smaller clinics in
the area. Under Tranquada‟s watch, both the MD/PhD. program and the Graduate School of Nursing
began. As Chancellor/Dean he represented UMMS in the transfer of land to the Worcester Business
Development Corporation for creation of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park, a collaborative
public and private enterprise.
Upon leaving UMass Medical School in 1986, Tranquada was appointed Dean of the School of
Medicine at the University of Southern California where he was also Norman Topping/National Medical
Enterprises Professor of Medicine and Public Policy from 1992 to 1997 and Director of the Health
Administration Program at the School of Public Administration from 1994 to 1997. He retired from
USC in 1997.
Scope and Content:
This collection documents Tranquada‟s role as Chancellor and Dean of the University of
Massachusetts Medical School from 1979 to 1986. Speeches and administrative documents make up the
bulk of the collection. Also included are documents concerning the formation of the Massachusetts
Medical Society‟s Corporation for Medical Information Development, press clippings, and transcripts of
oral history interviews with Tranquada.