Rohde

Rodney E. Rohde, Ph.D., M.S., SV, SM, MB (ASCP)CM received his Bachelor of Science (microbiology) and Masters (Biology, emphasis in virology) degrees from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). Dr. Rohde received his Ph.D. in Education in 2010 (Adult Professional Community Education) with a focus on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Texas State.Dr. Rohde is an associate professor in the College of Health Professions, Clinical Laboratory Science program at Texas State University. In June of 2011, he was appointed as Associate Dean of Research for his college. He is also a clinical assistant professor (joint appointment, non-paid) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Laboratory Sciences & Primary Care, Clinical Laboratory Science Program. Additionally, Dr. Rohde continues to enjoy being an adjunct associate professor of biology in the nursing program for Austin Community College. He holds certifications as a Specialist in Virology, Specialist in Microbiology, and Molecular Biologist from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Rodney spent a decade as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Bureau of Laboratories and Zoonosis Control Division prior to his academic career. While there, Dr. Rohde helped establish the DSHS laboratory as an internationally recognized regional reference laboratory for rabies typing. He also participated in the internationally successful Oral Rabies Vaccination Program which helped eliminate canine rabies from parts of Texas. Rodney received the prestigious J.V. Irons Award for Scientific Excellence from the DSHS Bureau of Laboratories for his efforts in rabies control and prevention.

His research interests are very diverse but focus on adult education and public health microbiology, specifically with respect to rabies virology, oral rabies wildlife vaccination, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and molecular diagnostics/biotechnology. Dr. Rohde has published over 25 research articles and abstracts and presented at over 100 international, national, and state conferences. He has received a variety of grant support for his research. He was awarded the 2007 ASCLS Scientific Research Award for his work with MRSA and the CDC/ATSDR Charles C. Shepard Scientific Award nominee (Assessment Epidemiology category for 2006 publication “Bat-associated Rabies Virus in Skunks”). Dr. Rohde has been the College of Health Professions Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities nominee since 2003.

Dr. Rohde also serves as an Associate Editor for BMC Research journal and as a reviewer for the Emerging Infectious Diseases and International Journal of Molecular Sciences journal. He has been an invited reviewer for numerous clinical microbiology and molecular diagnostic textbooks. Dr. Rohde is considered a subject matter expert in rabies and MRSA, as well as other public health and clinical laboratory topics. Recently, Dr. Rohde has been invited to serve on the Healthcare Environmental Disinfection Advisory Board by the MedErgy Health Group. This group will be focused on the impact of the healthcare environment on Health Acquired Infections (HAIs), including a scientific discussion of how the hospital environment contributes to HAIs, including common infectious agents, how they are spread, and environmental contributors to morbidity and mortality. The Advisory Board is a broad multidisciplinary group focusing on understanding gaps in current evidence, policy, and practice, and discussing how to encourage change in beliefs and behaviors relative to each of these aspects, to ultimately reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.

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Rodney enjoys teaching and mentoring students towards productive and exciting careers in clinical laboratories. He also enjoys incorporating research into his student’s and colleagues’ educational experience and challenging them to strive for lifelong learning.