Chair, Department of Surgery

The Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine provides visionary leadership to develop and strengthen the department and oversees departmental operations, faculty and resources. The chair develops and maintains collaborative and dynamic partnerships with leaders of other clinical departments and units across the medical center and health system.

The chair is accountable for ensuring the department fulfills its education, research and clinical commitments to the organization while advancing towards the KU Medical Center’s vision to improve the lives and communities in Kansas and beyond through partnership and innovation in education, research and health care.

The chair also serves as the clinical service chief in The University of Kansas Health System, which is comprised of the University of Kansas Hospital Authority and The University of Kansas Physicians. 

This position reports jointly to the Executive Dean of the School of Medicine and leadership of The University of Kansas Health System. 

Required Qualifications:

• Education:  M.D., D.O. or equivalent degree
• Skills:
  • 10 or more years of department/division leadership experience.
  • A currently held rank of associate professor or professor.
  • A well-established, distinguished record in peer-reviewed scholarship as well as demonstrated excellence in teaching and educational leadership in diverse learning environments.
  • Evidence of successful mentoring skills.
  • Exceptional administrative and collaborative capabilities.
  • Demonstrated leadership and communication skills; the ideal candidate is a strong motivator and coach, counselor, and negotiator in achieving the vision and goals set for the department.
  • Experience with inspiring others by setting a personal example.
  • Proven experience with operating budgets and fiscal management, and an understanding of the challenges facing academic medicine.

Responsibilities and Expectations:

The chair provides strategic direction for the department in alignment with the university and health system partners, thoughtfully stewards departmental resources and supports faculty growth and contributions to all mission areas.

Leadership and Institutional Commitment

• Promote and support the vision, mission, and strategic objectives of KUSOM.
• Engender and advance a culture of academic excellence.
• Develop a departmental strategic plan to grow clinical programs, research and teaching activities.
• Achieve national external measures of reputation and excellence.
• Actively and regularly participate in KUSOM and university leadership meetings and committees.
• Promote faculty authorship of articles in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Ensure faculty and staff compliance with university and KUSOM policies.
• Provide effective leadership and mentoring to faculty members.
• Promote a positive and equitable workplace environment.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a talented and diverse faculty to fulfill the needs and missions of the department and KUSOM.
• Actively participate in KUSOM and departmental fundraising initiatives.
• Develop and implement a policy of annual reviews for all faculty members in accordance with KUSOM and university policy.
• Supervise and evaluate faculty and staff members.

Education

• Actively promote the participation of department faculty in the teaching of medical students, graduate students, residents, fellows, and other learners.
• Ensure that clinical rotations in the department are well organized, well taught, and demonstrate a high degree of student satisfaction.
• Ensure that postgraduate training programs (residencies and fellowships) are of the highest quality and continuously accredited by the ACGME.
• Actively participate in continuing medical education activities sponsored by KUSOM.
• Support the developmental and professional needs of medical and graduate students, residents, fellows, other health professionals, staff, faculty, and community physicians.

Research

• Promote a departmental culture which values and encourages scientific discovery and innovation.
• Develop and maintain an independent, extramurally funded portfolio of research.
• Promote the development and recruitment of clinician-scientists
• Achieve and maintain desired ranking in NIH research funding to medical school departments.
• Strive for research efforts to be self-supporting and based on extramural funding.        

Finance and Administration

• Oversee financial affairs and long-term fiscal stability of the department.
• Work with KUSOM and UKHS to develop annual financial and programmatic goals.
• Partner with key financial stakeholders to develop annual budgets to include sources of income and expenses.
• Adhere to university and KUSOM financial, HR, and administrative policies.
• Provide effective oversight of administrative and financial leadership within the department.
• Reinvest departmental funds in growing the academic and research enterprises.
• Design department compensation plans for faculty and oversee administration.
• Resolve inquiries and complaints from employees, students, regulatory agencies, or members of the academic or business community.
• Effectively present information to faculty, academic and campus leaders, corporate leaders, professional colleagues, and public groups.

The University of Kansas Medical Center Vision:

To improve lives and communities in Kansas and beyond through partnership and innovation in education, research, and health care.

The University of Kansas Health System Vision:                                                                        

To lead the nation in caring, healing, teaching and discovering.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.