Robert Owens Carpenter

Robert Owens Carpenter is a Clinical Associate Professor and clinical faculty member at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, affiliated with Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. He serves as Director of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery Education and former Associate Director of the General Surgery Residency Program. His work expanded bariatric surgery services to Round Rock and College Station regions. Dr. Carpenter holds an MD from Baylor College of Medicine, an MPH from Vanderbilt University, and a BS in Biochemistry (Magna Cum Laude) from Texas A&M University.

His research focuses on bariatric surgery outcomes, surgical education, and trauma care. Notable contributions include studies on postoperative effects of bariatric surgery, surgical training needs, and ethical dilemmas in residency work hours. He advocates for quality improvement in surgical care and has leadership roles in organizations like the Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery.

Scientific awards include Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and past presidency of the Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery. His educational initiatives emphasize communication skills and end-of-life care integration into surgical training.

Labs/teams: Spearheads bariatric surgery education programs and contributes to trauma research collaborations.