Biomedical Sciences Graduate: 1981

After attending college in the Northeast, Robert Lust, PhD, landed at TTUHSC. A school with an all-hands-on-deck atmosphere meant significant overlap in training doctoral and medical students — the only silos he found were in surrounding fields. Lust completed his doctorate and postdoctoral training and took his first faculty position as a research scientist in cardiology at TTUHSC.

When he left TTUHSC in 1986, Lust thought he’d never again find that unique mix of collaboration. And then, a cardiac surgeon at East Carolina University needed a scientist.

“I’m now again in a brand-new medical school. This guy is building a heart surgery research program, and I thought, ‘I’ve been in this world.’

“I had so much exposure to clinical translational research at TTUHSC. They were attracted to a scientist not afraid to go on hospital rounds or into an operating room. That’s exactly what I was trained to do.” The 2002 Distinguished Alumni honoree now trains the next generation. — Glenys Young