UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken announced that Ben Raimer, M.D., a physician-leader whose service to the Galveston community and the state of Texas has spanned five decades, has been appointed interim president of UT Medical Branch.
Raimer will take the reins from David Callender, M.D., who announced that he would be stepping down as UTMB president to become president and CEO of the Memorial Hermann Health System.
Raimer will serve as interim president while the Board of Regents launches a national search for a permanent president for UTMB, Milliken said.
“UTMB is a health science center of global influence that also is entrusted with caring for the people of Galveston and its surrounding communities,” Milliken said. “Dr. Raimer clearly understands this dynamic. He has been devoted to the Galveston community for decades and has considerable expertise in patient care and health care management. Dr. Raimer will be a strong and capable leader for UTMB during this transition period.”
Raimer, currently senior vice president for the Office of Health Policy and Legislative Affairs at UTMB, is a tenured professor in the departments of Pediatrics, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine and Community Health. He has held numerous academic and administrative positions at UTMB over the past 40-plus years.
Raimer’s connection to UTMB goes back even further. After receiving his undergraduate degree from East Texas Baptist University, Raimer earned a master’s degree in human genetics from the UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a medical degree from the UTMB School of Medicine.
Much of Raimer’s practice has been devoted to the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. He is a nationally recognized expert and author on the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect and also has extensive experience in health care practice management, correctional health care, and telemedicine.
“The Board of Regents is profoundly grateful to Dr. Raimer for his willingness to assume this position during a critical time of growth for UTMB,” said Kevin P. Eltife, board chairman. “His extensive experience will serve UTMB well as we prepare to appoint a presidential search advisory committee and launch a national search for Dr. Callender’s permanent successor.”
Throughout his career, Raimer has held numerous leadership positions with statewide, community, and health-related organizations. He is a former president of the Texas Pediatric Society, was previously appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to serve as chair of the advisory council of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and is a past-chair of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, among others.
Raimer has been honored by several state and national children’s advocacy organizations and also has received numerous accolades for his public service. The Galveston County Daily News bestowed Raimer with its Citizen of the Year Award in 2008, and he is a recipient of the Ray E. Helfer, M.D. Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds.