Joseph Robertson (dean)

Joseph E. Robertson, Jr., M.D., M.B.A., is an American ophthalmologist who became the President of the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon in September 2006.

Education

Robertson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience at Yale University in 1974. He attended medical school at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, receiving an M.D. degree in 1978.

He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Oregon Health Sciences University (now Oregon Health & Science University). He completed a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the combined program of Oregon Health Sciences University and Devers Eye Institute. In 1997, he received a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon's Executive M.B.A. Program. In addition to his academic career experience, he has one year of private practice experience.

Career

Robertson has been on the OHSU faculty for his entire career except for one year in private practice. Later, he became chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Director of the Casey Eye Institute, taking over after the longtime chairman, Frederick Fraunfelder.

Dr. Robertson has proactively responded to Oregon’s healthcare workforce shortage. During his tenure as Dean, the entering class size in the medical education program incrementally increased from 100 to 120 students to help address the physician shortage. OHSU has partnered with the University of Oregon and the PeaceHealth System to expand medical education in the Eugene and Springfield areas of Oregon, and with other state universities to increase the number of physicians in Oregon and to address the issue of mal-distribution of providers. Dr. Robertson became dean of the OHSU School of Medicine in 2003, and in September 2006 replaced Dr. Peter Koehler as President of Oregon Health & Science University.

Dr. Robertson is an expert in vitreoretinal surgery, with research interests in ocular trauma, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and other proliferative retinal diseases, as well as in the development of new surgical techniques. His basic science research focused on the pathophysiology and cellular events related to vitreoretinopathy, the leading cause of redetachment of the retina. He has participated in numerous clinical trials, including acting as co-principal investigator of the fundus photography reading center for a major clinical trial investigating cryotherapy as a treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. He has served as a treating or examining investigator in multiple trials funded by both the NEI and industry. Dr. Robertson’s other professional interests include the development of healthcare delivery systems and the application of cost accounting principles to medical practice, with the goal of reducing expenses for care while enhancing patient outcomes.

Robertson has authored numerous peer review articles and book chapters. During Robertson's tenure as the university President, the Portland Aerial Tram went into service. The tramway was built to connect the main OSHU campus with university land near the Willamette River and with the OHSU Center for Health & Healing. The tramway was the proposed solution to link the two locations. [http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=169069]

Family life

Robertson was born near a small town in the hills of Southern Indiana. He married Dr. Margaret Hewitt in 1976, after they met in medical school. They had two children, Katie and C.J. and were married until 1999. He lives in a gated community for floating homes on the Willamette and enjoys two vacation houses with his second wife, Patricia, whom he met in 1997.

References

External links

* [http://www.ohsu.edu/presidentialsearch/resources/robertson_bio.pdf Oregon Health & Science University Presidential Search info.]
* [http://www.ohsu.edu/health/meet-our-staff/doctors/doctor.cfm?id=11305 OHSU profile]
* [http://www.ohsucasey.com/bios/robertson.html Casey Eye Institute profile]