UTRGV’s School of Medicine dean takes job in Tennessee

BY OMAR ZAPATA

Staff Writer

Michael Hocker, dean of the School of Medicine and senior vice president of UT Health RGV, is set to depart the university for a new appointment as executive dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley announced his departure via a news release Tuesday. Hocker starts his new position for The Volunteers in June.

Hocker started at UTRGV in May 2021 coming from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University where he served as the senior associate dean and designated institutional official for graduate medical education.

There were several milestones for the university during Hocker’s tenure.

He secured full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education; oversaw the opening of the Institute of Neurosciences and the Human Genomics Center; and expanded Graduate Medical Education (GME) by launching a consortium of 10 new residency/fellowship programs.

In March 2024, Under Hocker’s guidance, the School of Medicine was awarded a $17.5 million grant to expand its GME programs by offering more financial support to help build more opportunity for medical workers.

The School of Medicine is in partnership with local hospital systems to sponsor fully accredited Academic Council for GME programs.

Hocker said the grant is a testament to the dedication to “nurture a new generation of healthcare professionals,” according to the release.

“We appreciate the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s ongoing commitment to academic medicine and their investment in initiatives that help combat the physician shortage in Texas,” he said in the release. “These contributions will ensure we continue expanding academic medicine and improving healthcare services in (the) Valley.”

Hocker in his last year with the university guided the $156 million UT Health RGV Cancer and Ambulatory Surgery Center which is set to open later this year, according to the press release.

“We are deeply grateful for Dr. Hocker’s remarkable service and vision,” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said. “His commitment to innovation, education and community health has propelled our medical school to new heights. We thank him for his dedication to our region and wish him every success in his new role.“

UTRGV announced Tuesday, March 18, 2025 the departure of Michael Hocker, MD, MHS, dean of the School of Medicine and senior vice president of UT Health RGV.

UTRGV Archival Photo by David Pike