The Dallas News reports that Trustees at Baylor College of Medicine and Peter Traber have agreed that he will step down as the school’s president and CEO, as of December 1. After serving as the medical school’s president for the last five and a half years, Traber will continue his affiliation with Baylor as president emeritus, professor of medicine, and consultant to the board.
Dr. William Butler, 76, who was Baylor’s president from 1979 to 1996, will serve as the interim president until Baylor finds a replacement.
Baylor, one of only nine stand-alone medical schools in the United States, is reported to be in merger talks with Rice University. Such cooperation between the two schools would be mutually beneficial, enhancing Rice’s reputation and bringing Baylor a university affiliation and thereby greater financial security. The new president will have to be heavily involved in such discussions.