Vernon C. Clifton MD, MBA, FACP
Vernon C. Clifton
MD, MBA, FACP
Clinical Assistant Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Geriatric Medicine; Internal Medicine
Professional Summary:
Dr. Vernon Clifton is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at University at Buffalo. His areas of clinical expertise include hospital medicine, geriatrics and internal medicine. He serves as the director for inpatient quality, safety and service in the Department of Medicine. He also serves as inpatient site director for UBMD at Erie County Medical Center. He is an Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program for University at Buffalo focusing on Quality and Professional Development.
Dr. Clifton graduated from Dalhousie University with an undergraduate in Applied Mathematics and Biology. He earned an MBA under scholarship and worked in industry as a Management Consultant for several years. He later attended medical school in England, Grenada and New York City, and an Internal Medicine residency at the University at Buffalo. He successfully completed a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Finally returning to Buffalo, Dr. Clifton joined the University at Buffalo faculty in 2017.
Dr. Clifton’s research and interest focuses on high value care; health care quality improvement, including safety and costs in the geriatric population; and resident and student education.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Geriatric Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2017)
- Residency, Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo - SUNY (2016)
- MD, St. George's University (2013)
- MBA, Dalhousie University (2004)
- BS, Mathematics & Biology, Dalhousie University (2002)
Employment:
- Universal Physician Advisor, Medicine, Erie County Medical Center (2020-present)
- Vice Chair of Finance, Medicine, University at Buffalo - Department of Medicine (2020-present)
- Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo - State University of New York, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2019-present)
- Hospital Quality Improvement & Site Director, Medicine, UBMD (2019-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo - State University of New York (2017-present)
- Fellow, Geriatric & Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2016–2017)
- Resident, Medicine, University at Buffalo - State University of New York (2013–2016)
- Manager, Advisory Risk Services, Ernst & Young LLP, Canada (2004–2008)
Awards and Honors:
- Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductee (2020)
- MEERI Recipient (2020)
Professional Memberships:
- American College of Physician Advisors (2020–present)
- American Geriatrics Society (2017–present)
- American College of Physicians; Fellow (2016–present)
Presentations:
- "Life/Work Balance: Successfully navigating residency & building resilience" Internal Medicine Residency Didactics, University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2019)
- "Successful Aging with Exercise – the effects on Dementia" Community Presentation / Healthy Living Series, Clarence Senior Center (2019)
- "Temporal Arteritis: When you hear hoof beats...Think Quagga" Ambulatory Case Conference, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine (2017)
- "Old Fluid Guidelines in Old Adults: Reducing Volume Overload in Sepsis Protocol" Morbidity & Mortality Conference, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine (2017)
- "“To intubate or not to intubate?” Using a Frailty Index Assessment for the Prediction of Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients" EBM, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine (2016)
- "Exercise & Aging and the effects on Dementia" Community Guest Speaker, 92Y, Special Interest Group (2016)
- "Losing Sleep Over Chronic Insomnia in the Elderly" EBM, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine (2016)
- "Resuscitating a DNR: The Importance of Communication" Morbidity & Mortality Conference, University at Buffalo - State University of New York, Department of Internal Medicine (2016)
Service Activities:
- UBMD Internal Medicine Board of Directors; Vice President (2020–present)