Dr. Darren Boehning elected Fellow of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
March 6
Darren Boehning, PhD, associate dean for research and professor and head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), has been elected a Fellow of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia (The College), one of the nation’s oldest professional medical organizations.
Founded in 1787, the College advances medicine through education, research, and public engagement. Fellowship honors physicians and medical leaders whose professional achievement, scholarship, and service contribute meaningfully to the advancement of health and medicine.
Boehning earned his doctorate in pathology, anatomy, and cell biology from Thomas Jefferson University and completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University. Before joining CMSRU in 2019, he held tenured faculty appointments at the University of Texas Medical Branch and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.
A continuously NIH-funded investigator, Boehning studies calcium signaling, apoptosis, and cellular stress responses—mechanisms central to cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease. His work has been published in leading scientific journals, including Nature Cell Biology, PNAS, and Neuron, and has had a broad impact across the biomedical sciences.
In addition to his research accomplishments, Boehning is a dedicated educator and mentor. He has received multiple teaching honors, including the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award at UTHealth for four consecutive years. He has mentored graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical trainees who have gone on to successful careers in science and medicine. His mentorship also extends to programs that promote diversity in biomedical research.
As associate dean for research, Boehning leads CMSRU’s research enterprise, strengthening collaborations between basic scientists and clinicians and expanding the school’s research capacity. He founded the Ph.D. program in Cancer Cell Biology and Genomics. Program and has served nationally as a chair of NIH study sections and as a standing member of American Heart Association review panels. He has served on several editorial boards and contributes to regional scientific initiatives, including the Camden Cancer Research Institute.
“Dr. Boehning is a scientist of distinction whose NIH-funded research has deepened our understanding of cellular mechanisms underlying some of the most devastating human diseases,” said Annette C. Reboli, MD, dean of CMSRU. “Equally important, he is an exceptional educator, mentor, and research leader who has strengthened our academic enterprise and expanded opportunities for collaboration and discovery. His election to Fellowship reflects both his individual accomplishments and the continued growth of CMSRU’s research mission.”
Boehning will be formally inducted during the College’s annual College Night ceremony on May 8, 2026, a longstanding tradition celebrating new Fellows and their sponsors. His election underscores Rowan University’s continued commitment to excellence in academic medicine and research leadership.