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Chair of the Department of Family Medicine

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Position description

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine invites nominations and applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Family Medicine. The next Chair will have the opportunity to lead an important component of UCI’s health science enterprise and one of the most visible service activities of the UCI campus. Together, the faculty, students, and staff of the Department play a significant role in improving the health and well-being of individuals and families in Orange County, particularly vulnerable members of underserved populations. On a day-to-day basis, year in and year out, the Department tirelessly provides excellent clinical care to their patients, transformative educational programs for their students, residents, and fellows, and impactful research vital to further strengthening the practice of family medicine. This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative, mission-driven, and entrepreneurial leader to effectively and inspirationally lead this dedicated family medicine team forward.

As the only university-based care provider in Orange County, UC Irvine Health is a multifaceted organization dedicated to the discovery of new medical frontiers, the teaching of future healers, and the delivery of the finest evidence-based care. UC Irvine School of Medicine is a top-50 medical school, a leader in research, and home to one of the country’s 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers. UC Irvine Medical Center has been rated one of the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News and World Report for 13 straight years, and it is the only Level I and Level II pediatric trauma center in Orange County. The Department of Family Medicine is a three pronged healthcare leader within UC Irvine Health that adeptly embodies the mission of discover, teach, and heal. The Department is recognized for its success in graduating well-rounded family physicians that are highly capable and dedicated to high quality, patient-centered care to diverse high-need populations.

Qualifications and Characteristics

• An academic record sufficient for appointment in the Line, Clinical X (Scholar) Line or HS Clinical series at the full professor level.
• A doctorate in medicine and board certification in family medicine, and either licensed or eligible for medical licensure in CA.
• A track record of personal academic accomplishments and credentials within family medicine. The experience and reputation necessary to ensure the continuation and enhancement of the clinical, educational and research missions of the Department.
• Significant, successful administrative experience as a clinical leader at an academic institution in positions such as residency program director, division chief, or vice chair.
• Experience developing academic leaders with a reputation for mentorship and career development of department faculty to establish a significant institutional presence.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and retain a diverse faculty at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain collegial relationships with peers, faculty, departmental staff, hospital administration, residents, students and other learners, and representatives of outside organizations and community stakeholders.
• Track record as strong advocate for his/her department or division, ability to negotiate with a broad array of institutional leaders and find common ground with diverse interests.
• Demonstrated managerial and business acumen. Experience in and demonstrated knowledge of the complex financial pressures facing academic medical centers and health care delivery organizations today.
• Ability to articulate a clear vision for guiding and preparing the department for the coming transformation of medicine from volume/fee based to value based, patient-centered care;
• A strong and impassioned vision for building excellence in all aspects of the academic mission;
• Ability to communicate the mission and guiding principles of family medicine, inspire and attract students to the field, and contribute to building a national primary care work force;
• Demonstrated commitment to community service as well as health and social justice;
• Demonstrated experience in having led significant growth in research, educational and clinical pursuits, and interest in the establishment of a center of excellence within UC Irvine Health;
• A track record of successful recruitment and nurturing of the potential of individual faculty;
• An understanding of and appreciation for healthcare policy, the current trends in the field of family medicine and the implications this has for a successful academic department.
• A track record of forging successful relationships;
• A reputation as a consummate professional who looks for creative ways to break down barriers, and an ability to see the bigger picture of issues as opposed to taking sides.
• Demonstrated experience in fair, inclusive, balanced, and transparent decision-making skills;
• An appreciation of and ability to balance the fiscal pressures facing academic departments of family medicine, recognizing the long term trends that are occurring at a policy level throughout the healthcare environment;
• Experience in philanthropic pursuits to support programmatic development;
• Track record of running an operationally strong and financially solid organization.
• A commitment to community service.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Strong organization and process-management skills.
• High energy coupled with an unfailing sense of responsibility.
• Strong work ethic with conscientious follow-through on tasks and commitments.

The successful candidate will address a set of key opportunities and challenges, listed below and detailed in this document:

• Provide strategic leadership of and advocacy for the Department of Family Medicine;
• Build and strengthen relationships within Orange County;
• Recruit, retain, and support the Department’s dedicated faculty and staff;
• Develop deeper relationships within the School of Medicine and the University;
• Embrace and promote the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion;
• Support growth of new programs and focus areas within the Department.
The profile was prepared by the Search Advisory Committee, with the assistance of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to provide background information and detail on the key opportunities and challenges related to the position.

The Context: About the University of California, Irvine

UC Irvine traces its roots to the late 1950s, when the University of California began planning for a new campus to meet the needs of Southern California's growing population. Since its founding in 1965, the University of California, Irvine has combined the strengths of a world-class research university with the friendly feel of a small residential college, all in an incomparable Southern California location. Through its first five decades, it has enjoyed an unparalleled combination of rapid growth in enrollment and an equally impressive increase in the quality and influence of its research, undergraduate, and professional programs. In recent years, the campus committed itself to more fully serve its local community, Orange County, and to that end has seen the development and launch of new programs in public health, pharmaceutical sciences, and nursing science. These programs are providing highly trained healthcare professionals to meet the critical needs of the community and complement the remarkable strength of the academic medical enterprise; the creation of the first new public law school in California in more than 40 years; and, most recently, the establishment of the UC Irvine School of Education in 2012. UC Irvine’s unyielding commitment to rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, leadership and character development, makes the campus a driving force for innovation and discovery that serves our local, national, and global communities in many important ways.

A true distinction of UCI is not simply its academic excellence, but rather the speed with which it reached preeminence across a range of programs. Consistently ranked among the nation’s best universities, UC Irvine excels in a broad range of fields, garnering national recognition for many schools, departments, and programs. The Center for World University Rankings places UC Irvine 43rd in the U.S. and 65th in the world in its 2013 ranking of the top 100 degree-granting institutions of higher education. Times Higher Education twice ranked UC Irvine the number one institution in the U.S. – and in the top 10 worldwide – among universities under 50 years old. It is the youngest member of the Association of American Universities. Three UC Irvine researchers have won Nobel Prizes, two in chemistry and one in physics, and 40 of the faculty are members of the National Academies.

UC Irvine School of Medicine

The School of Medicine is ranked as one of the top 50 U.S. medical schools for research by U.S. News & World Report and is dedicated to advancing medical knowledge and clinical practice through scholarly research, physician education, and high-quality care. The school is home to 560 full-time faculty and 1,300 volunteer faculty members. Each year, more than 400 medical students are educated in the School of Medicine per year and over 600 residents and fellows are trained at the UC Irvine Medical Center and affiliated institutions. With 26 departments, the School of Medicine offers an M.D. degree, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, a combined M.D./ M.B.A. program with the Paul Merage School of Business, and a distinctive combined M.D./master’s program called the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC).

Research in the School of Medicine is focused on promoting basic, clinical, and translational investigation as well as developing biomedical discoveries and innovations to improve the health and lives of millions. The School of Medicine received $62 million in sponsored research funding in 2015-2016.

About the Department of Family Medicine

The UCI Department of Family Medicine is home to 32 faculty members, 8 staff providers, and over 100 volunteer faculty, who are committed to the delivery of exemplary clinical care, advancing research, and training future healthcare professionals. The Department also directs a family medicine residency program with 27 resident trainees and a geriatric fellowship program. In 2015 UC Irvine received a Top Ten Award from the AAFP for percentage of graduates entering family medicine, signifying the commitment the Department has to its students and to the field of family medicine.

The Department includes the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, made up of 10 faculty members and an interdisciplinary group of professionals who address the changing health needs of older adults and their loved ones. The Division has repeatedly been named as one of the nation’s best programs for geriatric care by U.S. News & World Report. They are also recognized for their research in the field of elder abuse and neglect. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recently awarded the Division of Geriatrics a three- year $2.5 million grant to support quality care for older adults and respond to needs associated with advancing age.

The Department of Family Medicine is dedicated to serving underserved communities in Orange County and providing opportunities for students and family medicine residents to learn and engage with diverse populations. Faculty members teach medical students at four sites: Santa Ana and Anaheim which are federally qualified health centers, the Gottschalk Plaza in Irvine, and the Senior Health Center at the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange. Unique in the region, the Family Medicine Residency program is based at the largest FQHC in Orange County (the UCI Family Health Center), giving residents valuable training in the care of vulnerable, underserved and mostly Spanish speaking patients. The residency program is known for educational innovation, exemplified by two additional training tracks available to residents: the PRIME-LC (Program for Medical Education for Underserved Latino Communities), designed to offer additional leadership training for future community health leaders and the integrative medicine track which combines a sound foundation in the principles and concepts of Integrative Health with an emphasis on practical applications for integrative primary care of underserved communities. Residents also have the opportunity participate in sports medicine training and care of patients at team and community sports events.

Through the Family Health Centers, the Department provides community clinical service for whole families at the UC Irvine Health Family Centers in Santa Ana and Anaheim. These family health centers see over 20,000 patients and deliver high quality health care to underserved population in these two communities. The centers not only offer medical services to families but also serve as models for providing whole person, healing-oriented care to underserved patient populations by offering a variety of wellness classes and resources such as Yoga, Zumba and Healthy Cooking Classes, Stress Management Groups, Healing Touch, Nutrition and Integrative Medicine consultations, Osteopathic Treatment clinics, as well as a food pantry open to the community. The Health Scholars Program (HSP) is another important part of the clinic team. This program works to create a supportive environment through leadership opportunities for undergraduate pre-health students under the guidance and mentorship of the faculty. HSP provides many services that support the community’s health & wellness through various activities such as yoga classes, stress relief, cooking classes, diabetes and weight management group visits, health navigators connecting patients to needed community resources and much more. HSP has over 90 members, eight community partner projects, and a wonderful reputation for committed, reliable, passionate, and academically competitive student members. Through all of these services, patients are able to access health and wellness resources not normally available to disadvantaged communities, and learn and grow from not just family physicians, but also each other. UC Irvine Health Family Centers are truly community centers that serve individual patients and also the larger community as a whole. The Department also offers services a mobile clinic that travels to various locations to provide onsite care to several groups, including schools and assisted living facilities.

An additional site for student teaching and mentorship in the context of the underserved community is the UC Irvine Outreach Clinics, which is a student-run free clinic committed to delivering high quality medical care to individuals who have limited access to health services and insurance. They are based at the Lestonnac Free Clinic and serve Santa Ana, Tustin and neighboring communities. The clinics offer health care services, wellness education, social services, basic medications, referrals, and assistance in obtaining health care coverage. The target demographic for these clinics are uninsured people who fall between the cracks of the current health care system. The UC Irvine Outreach Clinics are dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of individuals and families ineligible for or unable to access existing programs, while inspiring future health professionals to explore and understand community-based, patient-centered practice in a multidisciplinary environment.

Role of the Chair

Reporting to the Dean of the School of Medicine, the Chair is responsible for developing and articulating a clear strategy and vision for the Department of Family of Medicine. The Chair also oversees the faculty and resident trainees and ensures high levels of interactive clinical services, teaching, and research dispersed across multiple locations in the region. Direct reports to the Chair include the Vice Chair, the Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, the Family Medicine Residency Director, the Chief Administrative Officer, Family Medicine Clinical Faculty; and the employees in the departments of Programs and Research. The Chair will manage a budget of $11 million dollars.

Key Opportunities and Challenges for the Chair of Family Medicine

The successful Chair will address the following opportunities and challenges:

Provide strategic leadership of and advocacy for the Department of Family Medicine

The Chair will serve as the ambassador for the Department of Family Medicine and seek to raise its profile within UC Irvine, as well as in Orange County, the region, and nationally. The Chair will clearly articulate the Department’s strategic goals, celebrate its innovative and patient-focused works, and seek opportunities to diversify its revenue by advocating for resources on behalf of the Department and by pursuing philanthropic prospects to support programmatic development and growth. As the largest academic family medicine unit in the area, the Chair will continue to stress the importance of serving a diverse and high-need population. A successful Chair will be seen as a spokesperson on innovative primary care practice models, population health and community engagement, and represent the Department of Family Medicine as the gateway to UC Irvine Health.

Build and strengthen relationships within Orange County

The Department of Family Medicine serves as a critical resource to the surrounding community and in many cases serves as the “front door” to UCI Health. The Chair will seek opportunities to continue to engage with and expand the patient population to further enhance the Department’s impact. Partnering closely with faculty, staff, and School of Medicine leadership, the Chair will deepen existing relationships and develop new relationships within the community, identifying creative pathways to the Department’s services; support innovative and forward-thinking research that leads to advances in patient care, and recognize opportunities to build external partnerships that benefit the Department and the university.

Recruit, retain, and support the Department’s dedicated faculty and staff

The Department of Family Medicine is comprised of a talented faculty and staff who provide support of the highest caliber to residents, students and patients. The new Chair will work to ensure the continued excellence of family medicine medical education by clarifying expectations of faculty teaching, research, and clinical responsibilities. It will also be vital for the Chair to collaborate with senior leadership to identify an appropriate equilibrium that allows faculty to be successful in all facets of teaching while serving the Department’s patient population. Furthermore, the Chair will lead efforts in the recruitment and professional development of an excellent faculty and staff, attracting and retaining an increasingly distinguished and diverse cohort for the Department.

Develop deeper relationships within the School of Medicine and the University

The School of Medicine is deeply committed to strengthening patient care, medical education, and cutting-edge research; a critical component of its success relies on the depth and breadth of its partnerships and interdisciplinary programs. The Chair will be a creative collaborator, actively seeking opportunities to work across departmental lines in the School of Medicine and more broadly across UC Irvine. In doing so, the Chair will serve as a strong spokesperson for the Department of Family Medicine, raising awareness of the multi-faceted work of the Department and advocating for the resources necessary for its continued growth and success while also being an active contributor to interdisciplinary efforts.

Embrace and promote the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion

In Santa Ana, which serves as a base for the Department, the average per capita income is $16,000 per year and 83% of the community speaks primarily Spanish in the home. The next Chair must display cultural competency practices and work closely with residents and students to understand the best approach to working with diverse populations. In addition, the Chair will have a clearly demonstrated personal commitment to diversity and inclusion and will work to increase student, staff, and faculty diversity and retention through meaningful outreach, strategic mentorship, and engagement. The Chair should be results-oriented with respect to diversity and inclusion initiatives, recognizing that both pieces must be in place to support and promote a welcoming and supportive campus culture for all.

Support growth of new programs and focus areas within the Department

The Department of Family Medicine is home to a number of small but emerging programs that have begun to see initial success. For example, pre-natal care is poised to expand and serve additional patients, there is an Integrative Medicine educational track in the residency program and a strong Integrative Health presence in the Family Health Centers and sports medicine has established a partnership with the USA Olympic Water Polo team as well as the Anaheim Ducks and currently works with the University’s Division I sports teams. There are significant growth opportunities in these fields, among others, that could benefit the Department as a whole. The Chair will identify opportunities to enhance and growing smaller programs in order to bolster the Department’s impact on patient care and in research.

The Chair will also work with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to negotiate all of the department’s service agreements. Currently the Department has multiple service agreements including: nursing facilities, an adult day care center, a local high school for sports medicine coverage, and the Orange County for Elder Abuse work. The Chair will strategize with the CAO to discover and obtain service agreement opportunities that will increase the Department’s impact.

Location

The position will be based in Irvine, California, which is located in the heart of Orange County with two major freeways, rail service and its own airport – John Wayne Airport. Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Catalina Island are only a short distance away. Irvine is located less than an hour from Los Angeles Airport and downtown Los Angeles. The city of Irvine, incorporated on December 28, 1971, is among the nation’s largest planned urban communities, encompassing more than 65 square miles. Located in the heart of Orange County, in a city named “Safest City in America” for six consecutive years, UC Irvine enjoys the best of what Southern California has to offer: beaches, mountains, deserts, and a broad variety of cultural, entertainment, and intellectual activities. To learn more about Irvine, see www.destinationirvine.com.

Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/5873. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

A separate statement that addresses past and/or potential contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion must be included in the application materials.

David Bellshaw, Cati Mitchell, Nate Brewer
Isaacson, Miller
1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.655.4900
Fax: 415.655.4905

To apply directly, please visit https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/apply/JPF03832.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing how past and/or potential contributions to diversity will advance UCI's Commitment to Inclusive Excellence.

  • Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

Job location

Irvine, CA