Sole Finalist Named for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Presidency
A friend and the personal physician of President Bush, Mitchell is a proven leader with experience in high-level management, research, clinical services, media and public policy.
President and CEO of the Cooper Clinic Tedd L. Mitchell chosen as president.
March 5, 2010 | Written by Dailey Fuller
Dr. Tedd Mitchell has been named the sole finalist for the position of president of today, March 5, after approval by the MINI传媒 Board of Regents on Feb. 26. State law requires that 21 days must pass before final action is taken. He will begin his duties on June 1, 2010.
Mitchell is president and chief executive officer of the , an internationally recognized center of excellence for preventive medicine, located in Dallas.
鈥淚 am honored to become part of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center team,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭he Health Sciences Center鈥檚 rich history is something all Texans are rightfully proud of, and I鈥檓 thrilled to join them. I look forward to working with Chancellor Hance, the Board of Regents, administration, faculty, staff and students in maintaining the high standards of excellence the Health Sciences Center has established over the past 40 years while moving forward to address the changing health care needs of future generations.鈥�
Kent Hance, chancellor of the MINI传媒, chose Dr. Mitchell for the job from a group of candidates presented to him by the President Search Committee.
鈥淒r. Tedd Mitchell is a proven leader with experience in high-level management, research, clinical services, media and public policy. He is a consensus builder and a man of integrity, and we are looking forward to having him on our team,鈥� Hance said. 鈥淚 would like to thank the members of the Search Committee, Advisory Committee and our Board of Regents for the time and effort they put into this process. We are all excited about the journey ahead of us.鈥�
Mitchell became medical director of the Cooper Clinic in 1991 and president and CEO in 2006. He began writing the weekly column 鈥淗ealth Smart鈥� for USA Weekend in 1998. The publication is found in 600 newspapers across the U.S. reaching about 49 million readers each week. He also has written two books, 鈥淔it to Lead,鈥� in 2004, which focuses on the relationship between exercise and executive functions, and 鈥淢ove Yourself,鈥� in 2008, a research-based book on the role exercise plays in health maintenance, longevity and quality of life.
鈥淚 have known Dr. Mitchell for many years,鈥� said Texas Rep. Dan Branch, chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a man of high integrity, an outstanding physician and has been a strong leader for the nationally recognized Cooper Clinic here in Dallas.鈥�
Mitchell was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President鈥檚 Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 2002, a position he held until 2008. He became a member of the American College Sports Medicine Board of Trustees in 2007 and served on then Gov. Bush鈥檚 State Board on Aging from 1998 to 2002.
鈥淭edd Mitchell is a dear friend and a talented professional,鈥� said President Bush. 鈥淗e is a man of integrity who I trust as my personal physician. I congratulate Tedd and his family on this announcement.鈥�
A fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American College of Physicians, Mitchell earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 of science degree from Stephen F. Austin University.
鈥淒r. Tedd Mitchell鈥檚 selection as the president for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a great decision,鈥� said E.J. (Jere) Pederson, who served as executive vice president for the University of Texas Medical Branch from 1986 to 2005. 鈥淚 have known Dr. Mitchell for more than 20 years and he was at the top of his class both academically and clinically. He also has proven leadership skills. The combination of those assets makes him a perfect fit for this position.鈥�
Mitchell is married to Dr. Janet Tornelli-Mitchell. They met while in medical school, and have worked together since. They have three children, Katherine, Charlie and Chris.
Elmo Cavin has been serving as interim president of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center since Sept. 16, 2009. He will return to his position as executive vice president for finance and administration.