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Peter Robinson plans to retire from the University of Rochester, after more than 35 years of service championing the institution through many initiatives. The UR veteran, who currently is vice president for government and community relations at the institution, will step down at the end of March.
A search for Robinson’s successor will begin soon, officials say.
“I have been grateful for Peter’s insight and experience as a member of my senior leadership team, and I’m equally thankful for his genuine enthusiasm and support for the continued success of the University of Rochester,” says UR president Sarah Mangelsdorf. “We have all benefited from his work to champion Rochester as an academic, clinical, and economic leader across our state and at the national level.”
Robinson’s achievements are many—including leading UR’s affiliation with NextCorps, drumming up support for the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and maintaining relationships with state and local leaders. He has been credited with securing hundreds of millions of dollars for the university and the UR Medical Center. Robinson’s efforts helped raise $50 million for the Saunders Research Building, $50 million for the Emergency and Inpatient Tower (under construction), and funds for the Eastman School of Music and numerous other projects.
“I am grateful to the (UR) presidents and Medical Center leaders who have given me the opportunity to serve,” says Robinson. “The university is a national leader in research, education, and health care and equally committed to the well-being of our community. Spending my career here at Rochester has been a wonderful gift.”
His UR career began in 1988 with strategic planning and marketing at the UR Medical Center. Robinson was tasked with establishing a sustainable, operational structure for URMC, officials say, drawing on his strengths in health care management.
By 1991, he became associate vice president for health affairs, with a goal to emphasize the School of Medicine and Dentistry, hospitals, and UR’s leadership in research. Roughly a decade later, Robinson assumed the title of chief operating officer, a role that expanded to include the Strong Health system, now called UR Medicine.
“Since joining our team in 1988, Peter has been instrumental at helping the Medical Center maintain relationships with public officials and community leaders that help us to support our staff and serve our patients,” says Kathy Parrinello, president and CEO of Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals. “When we’ve needed to respond to a public health crisis like the COVID pandemic, advocate for legislation to support hospitals, or seek funding to support essential capital projects, Medical Center leaders are able to work in partnership with public officials who know us well, thanks to the relationships Peter and his team have helped us build over the years.”
In addition to cementing UR’s role in entrepreneurship, Robinson became founder and board chair of Excell Partners, the university’s affiliated venture fund. From there came the creation of the Empire Discovery Institute, a drug discovery and development nonprofit that UR launched in equal partnership with the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Robinson’s departure will mark a change for those who worked closely with him in the community. He represented the university on the steering committee of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative, contributed to East High School’s Educational Partnership Organization, and played a role in expanding the University Home Ownership Incentive Program. Last year, the program’s home-purchasing grant increased from $9,000 to $20,000, and now applies to all neighborhoods within the city of Rochester, officials say.
“The incredible engagement of leaders like Peter has helped establish the university’s stature as one of the nation’s leading educational institutions, home to a world-class academic medical center and innovative research enterprise,” Mangelsdorf says. “This trajectory will only continue as we move forward.”
Smriti Jacob is Rochester Beacon managing editor. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name.
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Peter is a hard worker who help create many win-win solutions for our community. He will be missed.