Paul Joseph Rathouz, Ph.D., passed away Dec. 10, 2025, from complications related to multiple myeloma. A valued colleague, mentor and educator, Rathouz made extraordinary contributions that profoundly shaped Dell Medical School and the broader University of Texas at Austin community.
Paul Rathouz, Ph.D.
He is survived by his daughters, Hanna Lou and Annika; his siblings, Maggie Rathouz, Georgianne Mitchell, John Rathouz and Mark Rathouz; his stepmother, Dee Ebel; and a close-knit extended family. A celebration of life will be held the weekend of June 26-28 in Omaha, Nebraska, with the main memorial for family, colleagues and friends occurring on the afternoon of Saturday, June 27. Additional details will be shared on this page as they become available.
Rathouz joined Dell Med in 2017 as the founding director of the Biomedical Data Science Hub. He was a professor in the Department of Population Health at Dell Med and the Department of Statistics and Data Sciences in UT’s College of Natural Sciences. His biostatistical expertise influenced research across nearly every department at the medical school, strengthening the rigor and clarity of countless projects.
“Dr. Rathouz’s impact on Dell Med cannot be overstated,” said Dean Claudia Lucchinetti. “He was relentless in producing the highest-quality science, driven by curiosity and a desire to improve health.”
Before joining Dell Med, Rathouz served on the faculty at the University of Chicago and as chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he helped elevate the department into a nationally recognized program.
“Paul was a generous collaborator and a deeply committed mentor who consistently elevated the work of others,” said Bill Matsui, M.D. “He approached science — and his colleagues — with purpose and a wry sense of humor.”
Rathouz earned his undergraduate degree from Rice University and completed graduate training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Johns Hopkins University. His early service in the Peace Corps informed a lifelong commitment to public service, global health and population-based approaches to improving health.
He was a fellow of the American Statistical Association and a recipient of the Van Ryzin Award from the International Biometric Society in recognition of his wide-ranging contributions to methodological and applied biostatistics. He earned the respect of colleagues across fields and contexts through “both the depth of his contributions and his engagement with others,” as reflected in a national tribute published by the association in AmStat News.
Navkiran Shokar, M.D., MPH, his department chair, said Rathouz “held himself and others to the highest standards, not out of ego, but from a deep belief that excellent science is a form of service.”
Memorials
Rathouz’s family suggests honoring his memory by donating in his name to one of the following organizations:
- The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
- The Travis Lilley Memorial Fund at UT (designation Lilley)
- A local food bank — for those in Austin, the Central Texas Food Bank
Condolences may be sent to 5001 Avenue H, Austin, Texas 78751.