Robbins leaving Stanford to be new head of Texas Medical Center

Robert Robbins

Robert "Bobby" Robbins, MD, who has served as both chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and as director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute since 2005, is heading to Houston as the new president and chief executive officer for Texas Medical Center.

His new position is effective Nov. 5.

"Dr. Bobby Robbins has been a major leader at Stanford University," said Philip Pizzo, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. "While we must be proud of the wonderful opportunity he has been given to lead the Texas Medical Center, Bobby will be deeply missed by our entire community — a sentiment I very much share. Ever since he joined Stanford as a resident two decades ago. Bobby Robbins' accomplishments have spanned across all our missions, each with notable success."

Robbins, professor of cardiothoracic surgery, is a world-renowned heart surgeon. His research has attracted major grants from the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. At Stanford, he has also pioneered a transformation in the training of future cardiac surgeons.

"It's been a privilege to be part of the Stanford family and its innovative culture for more than two decades," Robbins said. "I've been blessed to be associated with so many wonderful colleagues, friends and patients. Now I begin a promising new chapter as part of a dynamic team at the Texas Medical Center in Houston."

Robbins has been a member of the faculty since 1993. He received his BS degree from Millsaps College in 1979 and MD degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1983. He completed his general surgical training at Mississippi in 1989. Robbins completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at Stanford in 1992.

"His leadership has won him wide respect among both clinical and basic science chairs and faculty, and his role in establishing the Cardiovascular Institute at Stanford has created amazing bridges and connections across the medical center and university and deep into our community," Pizzo said. "I have been fortunate to count Bobby Robbins as a colleague and leader for nearly a dozen years and have been enriched through our friendship — and his love of Stanford."