Health Sciences VP to retire after 37 years

After seven years as executive vice president of Health Sciences, Dr. Philip Eaton is retiring July 1.

"I have been a faculty member here for 37 wonderful years," he said in a news release. "Serving as vice president of this extraordinary institution has been the most professionally fulfilling years of my career."

UNM President Louis Caldera said Eaton is at a point in his life where he wants to spend more time with his family.

During his time in the position, Eaton has increased the annual operating budget for Health Sciences by about $325 million and increased the amount in research grants and contracts by about $37 million, according to a news release.

He said Eaton will remain in the position 40 percent of the time while a national search is conducted to find a replacement.

When a replacement is found, he said, Eaton will still work up to 25 percent of the time.

"That is pretty typical for certain faculty who are retiring," Caldera said.

Other administrators will be expected to pick up more responsibility while the search is being conducted, he said. These include Paul Roth, dean of the UNM Medical School, Steve McKernan, chief executive officer of UNM Hospital and Paul Kirk, associate vice president for clinical integration.

John Pieper, dean of the College of Pharmacy, will take an interim role as deputy vice president for non-clinical activities, Caldera said.

"(Eaton) has so much good will with doctors and legislators from all over the state, so we want him to continue being involved," Caldera said.

Eaton said in a news release he is glad to stay on part-time . He said he was committed to finishing some of the projects he started for the HSC.

Some of those projects, according to the release, are finishing phase two of the UNM Cancer Research and Treatment Center and completing the Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion at UNM Hospital.