Amy Waer, MD, FACS

Dean, School of Medicine

Dr. Amy L. Waer is the Dean of the Texas A&M College of Medicine, a position she has held since January 1, 2021, after serving as interim dean starting in 2019. She joined the college in 2018 as vice dean of education and academic programs. Under her leadership, the college has improved national rankings and expanded in research funding, enrollment, campuses, graduate programs, and clinical practice.

She is a lifelong learner and earned an Executive Master’s in Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M’s Bush School in 2023, graduating with distinction and serving as the class keynote speaker.

Before Texas A&M, Dr. Waer had an extensive medical and academic career at the University of Arizona, holding leadership roles in surgery and education. She is board-certified in surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a recognized educator and scholar with numerous awards.

Her academic background includes undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Arizona. Her research has focused on surgical education and breast cancer prevention.

She is married to Retired Navy Capt. Richard Waer, a faculty member at Texas A&M, and they have two daughters, Ashley and Lauren.

Jeffery Chancellor, PhD

Director, Aerospace Medicine

Jeff Chancellor is a recognized authority in space radiation and aerospace medicine. He serves as Director of the Aerospace Medicine Program at Texas A&M University's Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, where he leads research using advanced 3D Monte Carlo modeling and high-performance computing to study how space radiation affects human tissue and spacecraft materials.

Chancellor previously worked with NASA as a senior research engineer and flight controller, playing a key role in radiation risk assessment for several Space Shuttle missions, including the STS-125 Hubble repair mission. He also trained astronauts and contributed to radiation shielding designs for the Orion spacecraft.

In the private sector, he founded Atlantis Industries in 2020, securing multiple Department of Defense contracts before selling the company in 2024. He then launched Audax Exploration & Geospace Integrated Strategies, which partners with major aerospace companies like Sierra Space and Intuitive Machines. Audax is currently developing a charged particle detector that will fly on the upcoming IM-3 lunar mission to study the moon's radiation environment—advancing safety for future human exploration.