Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, a distinguished scholar with a Ph.D. and an MD, is set to take on a new leadership role at Texas A&M University as Vice Chancellor for Strategic Health Initiatives starting on June 1. This position was approved by the Board of Regents, recognizing his contributions to the institution as one of its esteemed scholars.
In his new role, Pettigrew will focus on expanding the System’s health science research portfolio and attracting top scholars to join the institution. Over the past 12 years, efforts led by Pettigrew to recruit top faculty members have led to a significant increase in National Academy membership among engineering, science, and medicine faculty members.
Pettigrew has been instrumental in securing funding from programs such as the Texas A&M System Chancellor’s Research Initiative (CRI) and Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI) grant program that have played a key role in supporting recruitment of superstar faculty members. Under his leadership, the System has grown its National Academy membership from 11 to 58, and he is expected to continue enhancing these efforts in his new role.
Pettigrew is also a member of several prestigious organizations including the National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Inventors. He joined Texas A&M in 2017 with CRI and GURI funds where he launched EnMed at Texas Medical Center in Houston. EnMed offers a unique curriculum where students earn both medical degrees and master’s degrees focused on medical technology engineering.
As Vice Chancellor for Strategic Health Initiatives, Pettigrew will represent Texas A&M System within medical and academic organizations nationally and internationally promoting EnMed’s innovative integrated engineering medicine curriculum while continuing his responsibilities as dean until an interim is named and remaining on the faculty listings effective date June 1st