Open Rank Faculty - Department of Health Policy (F35360)

Mission or Goal of Unit: The Department of Health Policy is a driving force that promotes health equity through multidisciplinary research, education, training, and service. We identify and address behavioral, social, organizational, and policy factors affecting the health of individuals and populations. We evaluate how these factors converge to perpetuate structures that have historically disadvantaged segments of the population. We assess the consequences of these factors to inform decisions locally, nationally, and internationally. Rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods employed by collaborative teams help us to develop actionable solutions. Importantly, we partner with communities (locally and globally) to conduct impactful research, evaluate and inform policy, and improve health and healthcare delivery to eliminate disparities and ensure equity. As educators, we aim to develop diverse leaders for professional and research careers through our doctoral program (Healthcare Policy & Research) and through our Master’s in Public Health (MPH) program. Our graduates are equipped with the skills necessary to excel in the academic, healthcare, governmental, non-profit, and industrial settings. For more details, please visit https://healthpolicy.vcu.edu/

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Health Policy in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health invites applications from health services researchers for a full-time 12-month, tenure-eligible, open rank faculty member. Candidates should possess training, proven experience, and expertise as a health services researcher in one or more of the following areas: access to healthcare, including the role of insurance coverage; healthcare delivery, including service to vulnerable populations; healthcare costs, including cost effectiveness; healthcare quality, including patient-reported outcomes; healthcare disparities, including the role of social drivers of health; implementation of healthcare innovations and their impacts on health outcomes; and the role and impact of federal, state, and local health policies on health and healthcare. Applicants may employ survey data, panel data, electronic health records, administrative claims data or other datasets in their work. Applicants may leverage quantitative or mixed methods approaches. Applicants whose health services research relate to cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases are particularly of interest. Those applying at the assistant professor level should show evidence of research productivity and the potential to obtain external funding. Applicants at the associate professor level should show evidence of a well-developed scholarly/research portfolio with evidence of multi-disciplinary applications and external funding appropriate to complement and expand existing expertise in the department.

Position Responsibilities:

Teaching: The faculty member will also support the department with teaching responsibilities on the graduate level, such as, but not limited to health policy, including foundational knowledge and processes, health services research, health economics, or other relevant topics or methodologies.

Research: The faculty members are expected to generate solid methodological publications, and thus develop their own research program leading to principal-investigator initiated extramural funding. They are also heavily encouraged to engage in collaborations with investigators within various Schools and Colleges of the VCU Academic Health campus, as well as across the university, publish, and seek extramural funding.

Service: The faculty members are expected to serve on Departmental, School, and/or University committees as necessary, as well as in a professional capacity in their discipline of interest (e.g., reviewer, conference organizer, etc.)

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Health Policy, or a closely related field
• Proven publication record in the area of health services research
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to establish their own program of research developing novel methodologies
• Strong collaborative skills
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment, or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral research training experience
• Experience in trainee mentorship
• Teaching experience at the graduate or undergraduate level
• Experience developing grant proposals.

ORP Eligible: Yes