Robert M. Rodriguez, MD, has been named associate dean for clinical research at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine (UCR SOM). He will begin his appointment on April 16, 2025.
The associate dean for clinical research provides leadership in clinical research at the UCR SOM and UCR Health, with responsibilities in expanding the clinical research footprint and fostering translational research through strategic planning, goal setting, grants acquisition, and implementation.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Rodriguez to the UCR School of Medicine. He has a proven track record in clinical research and mentorship and brings extensive experience in emergency and critical care medicine,” said Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the UCR School of Medicine Deborah Deas, MD, MPH. “His leadership roles at UCSF and other academic institutions highlight his commitment to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care. His expertise will be instrumental in driving innovation and addressing healthcare needs across inland Southern California."
"I can't say enough about how honored and thrilled I am to join the UCR family,” Rodriguez said. “It's truly a dream come true to join the team. Collaboration, innovation and transparency are my core operating principles, and research mentorship is my passion. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you. We are going to build something great!"
Rodriguez comes to UCR SOM from the UC San Francisco School of Medicine, where he was a professor of emergency medicine and vice chair of research. He also served as the research director and inquiry director for the SJV PRIME+ program at UCSF. Clinically, he worked as an emergency medicine physician at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
Rodriguez is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and did his residency at the UCLA Medical Center’s internal/emergency medicine program. He then completed a fellowship in critical care medicine at the Stanford University Medical Center.
Rodriguez has served as principal investigator on multiple RO1 and U grants, leading national teams examining issues in trauma, public health, infectious diseases and critical care. He has received multiple mentoring, humanitarian and scientific awards, including the Unidos US Xcellence in Leadership award, the American College of Emergency Physicians Outstanding Contributions to Research award, and the UCSF Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. award.
