“In seeking to establish a new agency, the goal
was to establish a good reputation.”
- Frank J. Corbett

Your reputation was important to Frank Corbett. And your name was your reputation.

Frank J. Corbett was a leader and an innovator
in the medical advertising world, as illustrated by
the founding and successful leadership of his
namesake agency. Yet Frank's contributions to the
industry began long before he founded Chicago-based Frank J. Corbett, Inc. in 1962.

From starting out as a teenage delivery boy for
Cut Rate Drugs in Manhattan to earning a degree in pharmacy from Columbia University in 1938, Frank's passion for everything pharmaceutical was clearly evident. He graduated to sales/marketing positions at Upjohn, Rexall, and Warner-Lambert. But in 1956, the adventurer in him led Frank to the Midwest where he began a career in account management at the Jordan Sieber ad agency, which eventually became Jordan Sieber Corbett until 1962, when Frank and his wife, Dolores, launched Frank J. Corbett, Inc.

Under their leadership, the Corbett agency helped build brands for clients such as Westwood Pharmaceuticals, Baxter, Lakeside, and Eaton. The agency was a pioneer in the use of feedback mechanisms with direct mail and new media (including experimentation with Super 8 film for Beecham's Amoxil), and was progressive in advancing women to positions of authority.

In 1972, Frank J. Corbett, Inc. became the first medical ad agency to be acquired by a large consumer agency when it was purchased by BBDO (whose future merger with DDB created the holding company Omnicom Group Inc.). Corbett Accel Healthcare Group was formed in 2004 when Corbett Healthcare Group merged with Accel Healthcare Communications. Always the adventurer, Mr. Corbett.

Frank retired in 1997, but maintained an office at the agency's Chicago headquarters for many years and kept in touch with the business. In 1998, his successes were recognized with his induction into the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame. He was praised as the "complete professional" who put his personal knowledge to work for his clients with energy and creativity. In operating his agency, he ran a "tight ship," but at the same time was known for his warm sense of humor, the friendly work environment he created, and his polite, gentlemanly manner.

Frank leaves an enduring mark on the industry as well as those who were fortunate enough to know and work with him. His "good reputation" carries on.