Chair, Department of Pediatrics (F67160) - SOM

Mission or Goal of Unit: The Department of Pediatrics is dedicated to the highest quality patient care. With nearly 200 faculty physicians, the department features a team of pediatric healthcare providers, all recognized experts in their individual fields, who are specifically skilled in treating children, from infants to adolescents. Our central hub is at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at VCU in downtown Richmond, with satellite locations and community clinics all throughout Central Virginia. We provide the full gamut of pediatric services, and fellowship-trained faculty members lead each of our academic subspecialty divisions.

Chief Purpose of this position: We are seeking candidates for the Department Chair of Pediatrics. This position is a senior-level, faculty position with a key leadership role in both the School of Medicine and VCU Medical Center. The Chair of the Department of Pediatrics reports to the Dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and the CEO of Children's Hospital of Richmond (CHoR). The Chair will direct the patient care, research, and education missions of the department while providing leadership in integrating clinical, educational, and research programs to promote a strong academic department. The Chair will be responsible for establishing a bold vision for the Department that includes continued development of the clinical enterprise to a nationally prominent level, recruiting additional faculty who embrace the potential for growth and expansion of both the clinical and research enterprises, and maintaining fully accredited, high-quality residency and fellowship programs.

Position Responsibilities:

Clinical Provide visionary, inclusive and innovative leadership for all clinical programs in the Department of Pediatrics and Children's Hospital of Richmond in delivering exceptional patient care. Work with the leadership at VCU Medical Center to build and grow areas of acknowledged clinical excellence. Will provide direct patient care in areas of training and specialization in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Teaching
Advance the education, research, and clinical missions of the academic medical center in all areas of medicine in collaboration with the leadership of VCU. Facilitate and support the training of the next generation of scientists and physicians who will further pediatric care, regional practice and science. Champion improvements in education of medical students and residents in the Department of Pediatrics.

Research
Define and lead the department’s research strategy by expanding clinical, translational and basic research. Support principal investigators and other faculty within the school in efforts to secure appropriate grant funding (including NIH) and philanthropy to support research/academic priorities.

Service
Serve on School and University committees, study sections, academic societies, and review groups as a journal editor and/or on editorial boards. Maintain a commitment to service within the community. Develop relationships with key stakeholders.

Administrative/Leadership
Collaborating and Influencing
The Chair will recognize the importance of building strong relationships in a multi-stakeholder environment and will position the Department as a major contributor within the larger Institution and external community by:
- Seeking to broaden the Department’s scientific impact through deeper collaborations with institutional partners
- Creating or contributing to interdisciplinary initiatives from bench to bedside
- Demonstrating exceptional emotional intelligence
- Leveraging opportunities to build relationships that will expand the scale, scope, and accomplishment of the Department.

Strategic Vision
In a dynamic and evolving environment, the incoming Chair/Physician-in-Chief will lead with a bias for action, implementing strategies that advance the Department as well as VCU Health and the School of Medicine by:
- Developing, articulating, and executing a Departmental vision and strategy consistent with those of the School of Medicine and VCU Health
- Anticipating developments in pediatrics and positioning the Department appropriately
- Encouraging innovative approaches to mentorship and training e.g., curricula, technologies, and teaching/learning methodologies
- Demonstrating commitment to interdisciplinary and inter-professional activities
- Contributing as a senior leader of the School of Medicine and CHoR

Leading People
The Chair will build and lead a diverse, engaged, and productive faculty focused on meaningful discovery, collaboration, and training by:
- Displaying the vision and energy to build a strong Department
- Communicating openly and advocating with a sense of fair and values-based leadership while encouraging broad participation and constructive debate
- Engaging with faculty and staff to develop a clear perception of everyone’s long-term capabilities and potential through informal and structured approaches and by providing consistent and balanced feedback and mentorship
- Establishing clear, challenging, and metrics-based performance goals for divisions, individuals, labs, and other units, and securing and deploying resources to assist in meeting these goals

Required Qualifications:

• A record of outstanding credentials and academic accomplishments within Pediatrics with the ability to develop clinical and research programs, advance the careers and achievement of faculty and staff, and lead the educational activities of students, residents, and fellows
• Recognized clinical expertise in pediatrics and the formative leadership experience to enhance the clinical, educational, and research missions of the department
• A record of accomplishment in recruitment, development, retention, and mentorship of outstanding faculty, staff, trainees, and students, including those traditionally underrepresented in medicine
• Demonstrated administrative and operational management experience, including familiarity with the complex financial pressures facing academic medical centers and health care delivery organizations. Experience in managing inpatient and outpatient clinical areas is required.
• Outstanding credentials and a record of academic accomplishments within Pediatrics. MD/DO degree and board certification in Pediatrics are required. Eligible for medical licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leadership by example with intent/desire to continue clinical practice while serving as Department of Pediatrics Chair
• Ability to contribute in highly matrixed academic environment as member of SOM leadership team
• Leadership in continuous quality improvement and demonstrated commitment to quality and safety in healthcare
• Willingness to engage broadly with VCU as an institutional leader and to be a highly visible ambassador for SOM both internally and in Richmond's and Virginia’s communities
• Outgoing and personable demeanor and a track record of forging win-win relationship

ORP Eligible: YES