Founding Chair, Department of Population Health Sciences

University of Central Florida

Founding Chair, Department of Population Health Sciences

The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine (COM) invites applications for the position of Founding Chair, Department of Population Health Sciences. UCF seeks a visionary, highly accomplished, dedicated, and collaborative leader to advance the research, educational, clinical, and community outreach missions for the newly founded Department of Population Health Sciences.

The Organization

With more than 67,000 students, the University of Central Florida, located in Orlando, is one of the largest and most diverse universities in the nation, challenging long-held assumptions about the role and scope of higher education. UCF and our 13 colleges offer more than 210 degrees from UCF’s main campus, hospitality campus, health sciences campus, online and through its 10 regional locations. The university offers 93 bachelor’s and 86 master’s degrees, 27 research doctorates, three professional doctorates and three specialist degree programs.

Established in 2006 as a new research focused medical school, UCF’s College of Medicine is built on innovation, high-tech learning tools, and a pioneering spirit to educate new doctors and scientists. As part of a major metropolitan university and the Academic Health Sciences Center, the UCF College of Medicine is fully committed to serving its community and playing a key role in its economic development and quality of life. The college seeks to be extraordinary in all areas of our mission – education, research, patient care, and service – with diversity enhancing everything we do. The creation of the college was a true community effort as we built our medical school—belonging to and supporting the Central Florida community. The UCF College of Medicine is a forward-looking medical school with a culture based on partnerships and collaboration, consistent with UCF’s goal to be America’s leading partnership university.

In addition to the new Department of Population Health Sciences, the UCF COM is home to the Departments of Internal Medicine, Medical Education, and Clinical Sciences, and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. As a part of a vibrant Academic Health Sciences Center, the UCF COM currently offers an M.D. degree as well as undergraduate and advanced degrees in biomedical sciences through the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. It is anticipated that the Department of Population Health Sciences will lead in the development of an M.P.H. degree. Construction is currently underway for the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center which, built in partnership with HCA Healthcare, will be a new teaching hospital that is expected to open for patients by the end of 2020.

Population Health is a strong interdisciplinary interest among many units at UCF. In addition, an opportunity and need has been identified to build a close collaboration and complementary sharing of resources across the new Department of Health Sciences in the College of Health Professions and Sciences and the new Department of Population Health Sciences in the COM.

UCF is working to create a Population Health Collaborative of which the Department of Population Health Sciences will play a central role. The Population Health Collaborative aims to become an interdisciplinary collaborative structure that includes faculty from all units at UCF interested in pursuing population health initiatives. The Population Health Collaborative will cross all missions: research, teaching, clinical, and community/service. The Collaborative will be an organizational unit of the newly formed Academic Health Sciences Center.

Qualifications and Characteristics

The Founding Chair must hold an earned doctorate in a population health-related field (public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, health behavior, etc.), or an M.D. with a distinguished academic record. Equivalent experience in government or non-profit public health organizations that includes academic research and scientific leadership would also be appropriate. This position will be an appointment at the rank of Full Professor with tenure at UCF. In addition, it is preferred, our next Chair possesses:

• Demonstrated strategic thinking and leadership qualities to build a preeminent Department of Population Health within a growing Academic Health Sciences Center;
• A record of proven, transformative leadership with the ability to articulate a clear, compelling vision and to engage all constituencies in support of that vision;
• A strong record of ongoing, consistent research funding from extramural sources (NIH or equivalent) and scholarship in the field of population health, with the ability to cultivate the Department’s research agenda;
• A track record of accomplishments that warrant national and international recognition;
• Broad interests across disciplines and an open mindedness and respect for all areas that may comprise or collaborate with the Department of Population Health Sciences;
• A strong desire for excellence in all facets of the Department, College, and University mission;
• A record of collaboration and the ability to foster a culture of collaboration within the College of Medicine, Academic Health Sciences Center, and larger University settings;
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and retain a diverse faculty at all levels;
• Proven ability to mentor and develop faculty, staff, and students;
• Demonstrated engagement as an institutional citizen and commitment to advancing the quality of education among diverse students;
• A foundation in financial management with the ability to make sound judgments and develop and implement the budget effectively, as well as an understanding of the impact of community relations and funding mechanisms on the advancement of the unit;
• An understanding of and clear commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels to foster an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment;
• Proven capacity to lead the development of effective programs of student recruitment and student success activities; and
• A high level of personal and professional integrity.

Application Process

The Search Committee invites letters of nomination and applications (letter of interest, full CV, and contact information of at least five references) to be submitted to the search firm assisting UCF. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. For full consideration, it is preferred that all materials are received prior to November 20, 2018. For additional information, please contact:

Parker Executive Search

Jacob Anderson, Principal

(770) 804-1996 x 111

janderson@parkersearch.com

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at: http://www.oie.ucf.edu/documents/PresidentsStatement.pdf. As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.