Chair, Department of Surgery

Faculty Title Clinical Associate Professor

Job Class Code 00024

FLSA Exempt

Posting Number FRGV1779

Working Title Chair, Department of Surgery

Number of Vacancies 1

Location Rio Grande Valley

Division/Organization Division of Health Affairs

Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position 1 year

Tenure Status Non Tenure Track

FTE 1.0

Scope of Job 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine (SOM) is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as the Chair for the Department of Surgery. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs/ Dean of the School of Medicine, the Chair will be responsible for building and maintaining a robust clinical practice, research programs, high quality graduate medical education programs, medical student education, and a collegial interactive culture. This leader will be expected to divide their time between administrative leadership while maintaining a surgical practice. This is a wonderful opportunity for a visionary leader with an entrepreneurial spirit and drive to oversee and build a thriving clinical enterprise.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Administration:

• Serve as the primary leader and representative of the Surgery ISU, including all represented / included surgical subspecialties.
• Oversee the General Surgery Residency Program across multiple affiliated facilities in the UTRGV service area.
• Collaborate with institutional leadership to build and grow a Surgical Oncology Program.
• Supervise and support the Division Chiefs of the Surgery ISU.

Education and Training:

• Foster excellence in medical education for residents and medical students.
• Ensure compliance with ACGME requirements and maintain accreditation for the General Surgery Residency Program.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for faculty, residents, and medical students.

Faculty Recruitment and Development:

• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline for faculty recruitment and retention.
• Promote faculty engagement in research, education, and clinical care.
• Cultivate a collaborative and supportive environment for academic and clinical growth.

Clinical Program Development:

• Oversee the expansion and success of clinical programs, including Surgical Oncology, McAllen ASC, and the Harlingen Limb preservation center.
• Collaborate with Clinical Service Line Administrators to enhance patient care and outcomes.
• Ensure the department meets quality and safety standards for clinical services.

Hospital and Community Relations:

• Maintain and strengthen clinical and business relationships with multiple hospital partners where residents train.
• Work closely with hospital leadership to align department goals with institutional priorities.
• Advocate for resources to support the ISU’s clinical, educational, and research missions.

Operational and Financial Oversight:

• Work with Department Administrator and Decision support to develop and manage ISU budgets to support academic, clinical, and research activities.
• Monitor and ensure financial sustainability of clinical and educational programs.
• Lead efforts to secure funding and resources for ISU initiatives.

The UTRGV School of Medicine, established in 2015 and located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, has a focus toward community health. The school’s program prioritizes social responsibility, respect, dignity, sensitivity, sensibility, advocacy and community service – with a mission to improve health, and life, at the individual and community levels.

• Minimum Qualifications
• MD with board certification in General Surgery or related subspecialty.
• Training in general surgery and/or general surgery subspecialties highly preferred.
• Qualified for appointment at the rank of associate professor or full professor at an LCME accredited medical school.
• Eligible for medical license in the state Texas.
• Five years of progressive leadership experience in a department of surgery for an academic medical center with a record of professional accomplishments on a national and international scale, with a strong focus on clinical and academic success for meeting the requirements for a faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or full Professor.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications

• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with residency program leadership and/or education.
• Strong clinical and academic credentials with a commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and research.
• Proven ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including hospital leadership, faculty, and trainees.
• Significant leadership experience and demonstrated success as a manager at the Chair, Associate Director, Director or program leader level gained within an academic medical center, including successful experience in the recruitment, retention, and management of clinicians and researchers.
• A distinguished academic record and national presence in one’s discipline as evidenced by such activity as peer-reviewed publications, major journal editorial responsibility, a senior officer position in one’s major national organization, or equivalent experience.
• Dynamic leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, and keen vision are required.
• Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability across the Rio Grande Valley.
• Strong organizational, management, financial, and budgetary skills with the ability to bring scientific leadership and organization innovation to the management of people and processes.
• A demonstrated ability to think strategically with a vision of how to develop clinical services, research, and education for the future while keeping an eye on the details of the implementation; has the ability to articulate a vision that will promote and integrate research, care, and education across UTRGV and the community.
• A proven background in recruitment, mentoring, and development of outstanding academic and administrative leadership. A dedicated leader and mentor to scientists, clinicians, and staff.
• An outstanding record of scientific achievement, grant support, scholarly accomplishments and mentoring.
• A proven ability to build strong teams, as well as to work as a team member with one’s colleagues in management and in team leadership positions with one’s direct reports.
• An ability to grow revenue and attract external funding from institutions and individuals; specific experience with donor fundraising a plus.
• A demonstrated record of building strong teams, both within and across disciplines. Evidence of support for interdisciplinary research and clinical program development is highly valued.
• Experience or ability to nurture and grow a successful residency program.

License or Certification Required? Yes

Salary Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Desired Start Date 01/06/2025

EEO Statement 

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Open Date 12/09/2024

Close Date 

Additional Information 

UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may

require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is

performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive

and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code

• 51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of

Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least

135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement

Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week

and at least 135 days in length.

Special Instructions to ApplicantsDear Applicant, Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following: *Date of Birth *Social Security Number *Gender *Ethnicity/Race Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission.

Please NoteTexas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to

demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based

test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of

English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the

International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Incomplete applications

will not be considered.

Quick Linkhttps://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/45376

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