Clarke To Head COPIC Malpractice Insurer

NU Online News Service, Jan. 13, 2:11 p.m.EST?COPIC Insurance Company, Colorado's largest medicalmalpractice insurer, has named Theodore Clarke as the company'schairman- and chief executive officer-elect.[@@]

Dr. Clark, an orthopedic surgeon based in Denver, is scheduledto assume his new post March 31, 2005. He will spend 2004 as atransition year, switching over from his medical practice tospending time at COPIC and traveling with the company's managementteam. Dr. Clarke, 52, has also been serving on the COPIC board ofdirectors since March 2002.

"Ted Clarke has the outstanding qualities, desired attributesand practiced values to lead COPIC and to maintain and enhance ourphysician-centric mission and ideology," said Jerome Buckley, thecurrent COPIC chairman and chief executive officer. Dr. Buckley,64, said he plans to retire next year after handing over the reinsto Dr. Clark.

COPIC, based in Denver, insures about 80 percent of thephysicians in Colorado who require private malpractice insurance.The company also insures Colorado hospitals, health plans and othermedical entities, and offers physician and hospital coverage inNebraska.