PHOENIX — Dr. Robert C. Robbins, president and CEO of Texas Medical Center, is the top pick for University of Arizona president, the Arizona Board of Regents announced today.
The regents voted unanimously for Robbins over their other finalist, Sethuraman Panchanathan, a vice president at Arizona State University. The announcement came more than an hour later than regents had anticipated, after they met in closed session for several hours before voting in public session at 6:20 p.m. for Robbins.
On Wednesday, Robbins will visit campus for meetings with student leaders, faculty, deans, alumni and elected officials. The campus visit will culminate with a moderated question and answer session.
The regents plan a special meeting March 13 to begin negotiations on Robbins' contract. The hiring is not yet final.
“Dr. Robbins has an impressive track record of leadership, research accomplishments and demonstrated success in managing the largest medical complex in the world,” said Regents' Chair Greg Patterson, in a news release. “In addition to the obvious benefits to UA’s two medical schools, Dr. Robbins’ championship of cross-institutional research initiatives demonstrates that he is well-positioned to guide UA from its strong existing foundation to continued success in the areas of interdisciplinary scholarship and student success."
Regents' President Eileen Klein said in the news release: “Dr. Robbins’ comprehensive experience as both a visionary leader and highly-respected physician, as well as his evident talent for advancing research, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development, will serve the University of Arizona and our state well. I look forward to the possibility of collaborating with Dr. Robbins to advance the University of Arizona and achieve aggressive goals for the state of Arizona. His passion for students and higher education is genuine and I truly value his sincere openness, collegiality and integrity.”
Robbins, a highly regarded cardiac surgeon, spent 20 years working for the Stanford University School of Medicine as professor and department chair in cardiothoracic surgery. In 2005, he founded the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.
When Robbins left the California school in 2012 to take his current job in Texas, Stanford put out a news release saying his performance there had “won him wide respect.”
At Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical system, Robbins has introduced new research initiatives in areas such as genomics and regenerative medicine.
Robbins is a million-dollar man in his current post as president and CEO of Texas Medical Center, Arizona Daily Star research shows.
Robbins’ office wouldn’t provide his salary, but the medical center’s nonprofit tax records show he earned nearly $1.2 million in 2014, the most recent figure available online.
UA President Ann Weaver Hart's pay package totals $670,000 this year.
None of Arizona’s university presidents makes $1 million. ASU President Michael Crow comes closest, with a pay package totaling $788,000 this year.
It isn’t clear if the Arizona Board of Regents considered potential salary expectations when choosing the two finalists, or whether the board would consider increasing the pay level for the UA president.
Regents haven’t answered those questions. Nor have they provided a rationale for why the board eliminated one of the two finalists, leaving only the winner to visit the UA campus community on Wednesday.
