Texas medical school selects radiologist as next dean
Texas Tech Health El Paso has selected radiologist Eric M. Rohren, MD, PhD, as the next dean of its Foster School of Medicine.
He’ll take on the new role beginning Oct. 1, vacating his post at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where Rohren served as professor and radiology department chair. A recognized expert in oncologic imaging, PET and theranostics, he led a staff of over 120 at Baylor across multiple health systems.
Texas Tech said Rohren’s leadership will be “invaluable” as it works to open the new Fox Cancer Center, which will be home to a “state of the art” imaging facility.
“His experience, leadership and vision are a perfect fit for the school’s foundation of service, innovation, and community-focused education,” Richard Lange, MD, MBA, founding president of Texas Tech Health El Paso, said in a statement June 5. “I’m confident he will continue to advance our mission of training the next generation of world-class physicians for our Borderplex and beyond.”
As part of the transition, Lange will step down as dean but continue as Texas Tech Health El Paso president, “providing continuity and leadership.” Founded in 2009, the Foster School of Medicine was established to address a “critical physician shortage” around the Texas-Mexico border. Since its opening, El Paso County’s doc workforce has increased by 66%, up to 1,715.
Rohren also served as president of the Baylor Medicine Board of Governors, leading the school’s practice plan across all specialties, Texas Tech noted. Before Baylor, he was chief of PET at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, leading a team of 40. During his tenure, PET/CT volumes at the institution doubled, and the program expanded to deliver other advanced imaging. He has spoken internationally on imaging and is “sought after for his knowledge of PET and computed tomography imaging for detecting cancer and guiding treatment.” Rohren also has led the Radiology Partners Research Institute and chaired the organization’s Education Committee.
“It is an honor to be joining the Texas Tech Health El Paso Foster School of Medicine as the next dean,” Rohren said in the announcement. “I look forward to working with the outstanding faculty, students, residents and staff to continue building the school’s impact, reach and reputation across the state of Texas and the country, while maintaining focus on the unique needs of the Borderplex region.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.