The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to a graduate who has achieved special recognition in his or her professional career. We are proud this year to honor:

Dr. Ben Raimer received his B.S. from East Texas Baptist University in 1969, and a M.A. in Human Genetics from the UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1970. He is a 1974 graduate of UTMB’s School of Medicine, and completed a pediatric residency program at UTMB’s Hospitals in 1977. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Dr. Raimer served as a community-based pediatrician in Galveston County from 1977–1993, when he joined UTMB as medical director for the Primary Care Outpatient Clinics. In 1997, he became the chief physician executive for UT-MED. Currently, Dr. Raimer is vice president for Community Outreach. The Office of Community Outreach (OCO) improves the health status of Texans community by community. OCO brings together several outstanding programs, including the Area Health Education Centers, the Summer Science Camps, the Work-School Program, and the Center for Telehealth and Distance Education.

Dr. Raimer has long had an interest in, and worked for, the health of all Texans as evidenced by being appointed by Governor William P. Clements to the Children’s Trust Fund of Texas and serving an eight-year term with the council. In 1997, Governor George W. Bush appointed him chair of the Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council, which was charged with producing the State Health Plan. In 2000, Gov. Bush appointed Raimer to chair of the Texas Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. This committee is developing a statewide-managed health care network that provides correctional system clients with timely access to quality health care while also controlling costs. Other awards recognize his work to prevent child abuse; Raimer received the 1998 Ray Helfer Award on behalf of the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds and the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Child Abuse. He also received UTMB’s Nicholas and Katherine Leone Award for Administrative Excellence in 1998.

As a long time champion of health care for all, Dr. Ben G. Raimer is a truly distinguished alumnus.

Ben G. Raimer, M.A., M.D.

Vice President for Community Outreach
Professor
Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch