Office of the Dean
Rick and Ginger Francis Endowed Dean
Eric M. Rohren, M.D., Ph.D., FACR is a nationally recognized Radiologist and academic leader, recently appointed as the Rick and Ginger Francis Endowed Dean of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. The medical school was established in 2007 by the Texas Legislature.
Before coming to Texas Tech Health El Paso, Dr. Rohren served as Chairman of the Department of Radiology at the Baylor College of Medicine, starting in 2015. Before that, he was the positron emission tomography Section Chief at MD Anderson Cancer Center, also in Houston, for eight years.
Dr. Rohren obtained his B.S. in biology from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and he received his medical degree and Ph.D. in immunology from the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, and the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, respectively. After completing his residency in diagnostic radiology at the Duke University School of Medicine he remained there for his fellowship training in nuclear medicine.
Dr. Rohren currently serves on the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors as Chair of the Commission on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. The Board is the executive governing body of the American College of Radiology, responsible for implementing policy and overseeing the organization’s programs and activities. In addition, he sits on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Radiology Review Committee, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping how the next generation of radiologists is trained, ensuring excellence, innovation, and accountability in medical education.
Dr. Rohren’s leadership extends across numerous boards and committees in the field of nuclear medicine. He has served with the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s PET Center of Excellence, the American College of Radiology’s Commission on Nuclear Medicine, and the American Board of Nuclear Medicine, where he was Chair of the Board of Directors from 2013-2014. He currently sits on the American College of Radiology Theranostics Committee, helping to advance theranostics as a standard of care in the United States healthcare system.
Alongside his leadership roles, Dr. Rohren has been honored with numerous teaching awards from students, residents, and fellows at the Mayo Clinic, Duke University, and Baylor College of Medicine. He is widely recognized for his contributions to cancer imaging and nuclear medicine, advancing patient care and academic medicine alike.
A distinguished scholar, Dr. Rohren is an expert in PET imaging with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications. He is also a sought-after speaker, having delivered over 100 invited presentations, lectures, and visiting professorships nationally and internationally, particularly on diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and the clinical applications of PET/CT in oncology.
In his role as Dean, Dr. Rohren is excited to expand the services of Texas Tech Health El Paso, particularly with the upcoming launch of the new Cancer Center and Clinics.