Chair, Department of Surgery

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University (VHS) seeks an accomplished collaborative and visionary academic surgeon to serve as its next Chair of the Department of Surgery. Reporting directly to the Dean of the School of Medicine the Chair will have the opportunity to build upon the Departments distinguished legacy while advancing innovation growth and excellence across its clinical educational research and community missions.

The next Chair of the Department of Surgery will be a nationally recognized surgeon with a distinguished record of achievement in clinical care education research and leadership. The Chair will possess exceptional administrative and organizational skills a collaborative leadership style and a demonstrated ability to lead within a complex academic health system. The Chair will be responsible for the overall strategic financial clinical academic and operational leadership of the partnership with division leaders hospital and health system executives and departmental administrators the Chair will strengthen the Departments clinical enterprise expand its academic impact and advance its missions of patient care education research and community engagement.

The following represent key opportunities and expectations for the new Chair of Surgery to address within the first 18-24 months of their tenure (not in any particular order of importance):

• Develop and communicate a compelling vision for the future of the Department that aligns with the strategic priorities of Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and its affiliated clinical partners. The Chair will serve as a visible advocate both internally and externally for the Department and establish credibility as a trusted leader clinician educator and collaborator.
• Strengthen collaboration and alignment across the Departments diverse clinical sites and affiliated health system partners including Sentara Health CHKD and the Hampton VA Medical Center. The Chair will cultivate strong relationships across the enterprise and identify opportunities for programmatic growth integration and innovation.
• Advance and expand the Departments clinical enterprise by enhancing access to care growing key service lines including colorectal and transplant surgery improving quality and outcomes and positioning the Department as a leading destination for surgical care throughout southeastern Virginia and the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
• Recruit retain and develop a diverse high-performing faculty. The Chair will support and mentor current division leaders while leading strategic faculty recruitment efforts aligned with departmental and institutional priorities.
• Foster a culture of engagement collegiality accountability and professional growth. The Chair will champion faculty development and create pathways for success across the missions of clinical care education research and leadership.
• Strengthen surgical education programs at all levels ensuring continued excellence in medical student education residency training and fellowship programs. Evaluate opportunities to launch additional fellowship programs and add clinical training sites for residents. The Chair will support educational innovation and maintain strong accreditation outcomes while attracting highly talented and diverse learners.
• Expand the Departments research portfolio through strategic recruitment mentorship and resource development. The Chair will encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and support initiatives that increase scholarly productivity translational research clinical trials and extramural funding.
• Partner with institutional and Sentara health system leadership and other regional health care systems to support growth initiatives operational excellence workforce planning and the continued evolution of the academic-clinical enterprise.
• Advance a diverse culture of belonging by recruiting and supporting talented faculty trainees and staff from diverse backgrounds and ensuring an environment where all individuals can thrive.
• Build a sustainable leadership structure that supports succession planning operational effectiveness and long-term departmental success.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

• M.D. or D.O. degree board certification in a surgical specialty relevant to the Department of Surgery.
• Eligible for unrestricted medical licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Qualifications for appointment to the rank of Professor at Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University.

KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• An accomplished academic surgeon with a record of excellence in clinical care education research and leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading a complex academic department division surgical service line or comparable clinical enterprise.
• Ability to articulate and execute a strategic vision for a modern academic department of surgery including growth of clinical educational and research programs.
• Strong financial and operational management skills with experience improving performance optimizing resources and supporting sustainable growth.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships and collaborate across academic institutions hospitals health systems faculty practice plans and community partners.
• An inclusive transparent and approachable leadership style characterized by integrity emotional intelligence excellent communication skills and the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to faculty mentoring leadership development succession planning and the recruitment and retention of high-performing and diverse faculty.
• Experience supporting and advancing surgical education across all levels including medical student clerkships residency and fellowship programs with knowledge of ACGME requirements and a commitment to educational innovation.
• A record of scholarly achievement and academic accomplishment including peer-reviewed publications research leadership program development or other contributions that have advanced the field of surgery.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering innovation collaboration and interdisciplinary scholarship while supporting growth in sponsored research and academic productivity.