Posted on September 13, 2004 at 4:30 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM, AL — Dr. Robert R. Rich, executive associate dean for research and strategic initiatives at Emory University School of Medicine, is the new UAB vice president and dean of the school of medicine position, announced UAB President Carol Z. Garrison. Rich’s appointment is October 1.
“Dr. Rich brings a history of taking strong research enterprises and enabling them to become elite programs,” Garrison said. “He is a noted researcher, having been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, an outstanding clinician, and an accomplished instructor.
“The search committee, headed by Drs. Max Cooper and James McClintock, has been tireless in its efforts to bring to UAB the person best able to guide our medical efforts for the future.”
Rich joined Emory in 1998. He was responsible for clinical and basic science research programs at the medical school and guided the unfolding of the school's new strategic plan for research. In that time, the school of medicine’s research funding from the National Institutes of Health has increased dramatically. For fiscal year 2003, Emory received more than $158 million from NIH, nearly double its amount when Rich arrived. UAB received more than $208 million in FY 2003.
Prior to joining Emory, Rich spent 25 years at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he rose through the ranks to become vice president and dean of research.
The author of more than 200 scientific writings, Rich’s research has focused on the biology and genetics of T-cell function, particularly on interactions between antigens and major histocompatibility complex molecules.
Rich received a bachelor's of arts magna cum laude from Oberlin College and his medical degree in his home state of Kansas, from University of Kansas Medical School. He completed graduate medical training at the University of Washington, clinical and research fellowships at the NIH, and a clinical fellowship in allergy and immunology at Harvard Medical School. Since joining the Baylor faculty in 1973, he has held a number of administrative and leadership positions.
In addition, Rich has served as a science policy advisor to the NIH and the Association of American Medical Colleges. He has served on the boards of directors of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (past chairman), the American Board of Internal Medicine and most recently, was appointed to the board of directors of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. He chaired the National Research Committee of the Arthritis Foundation and the Research Programs Advisory Committee of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He is past-president of the Clinical Immunology Society.
Rich follows Dr. Will Deal, who has served as dean of medicine at UAB since 1997 and announced his plans last year to return to the faculty when a successor was named.
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