Vice Chair for Research & Innovation, Department of Surgery

Vice Chair for Research and Innovation in the Department of Surgery

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine invite applications for the position of Vice Chair for Research and Innovation in the Department of Surgery.

The Department of Surgery is entering a period of significant investment and growth in research and innovation, with the ambition to establish Penn State as a national beacon of excellence in surgical research and innovation. The successful candidate will serve as a central architect of this transformation, working with the Chair and institutional leadership to build nationally distinguished programs, recruit and develop surgeon-scientists, expand multidisciplinary research, and translate scientific discovery into improvements in surgical care.

The Department has established areas of strength in applied biomedical engineering, artificial organs, cardiovascular innovation, regenerative medicine, surgical oncology, and outcomes research. Our Division of Applied Biomedical Engineering recently celebrated 50 years of innovation in ventricular assist device development, supported by more than $100 million in extramural research funding. Building on this foundation, the Department and institution are making significant investments to accelerate the next phase of research growth.

We are seeking a nationally recognized surgeon-scientist with a sustained record of significant peer-reviewed extramural research funding, including R01-level funding or equivalent; demonstrated academic leadership; and a strong record of advancing multidisciplinary, translational, clinical, engineering, computational, or innovative research programs. The successful candidate will bring proven leadership experience in an academic environment and the vision to advance the Department of Surgery's research and innovation mission across Penn State.

The Vice Chair will have the opportunity to:

• Lead a strategic vision for research and innovation growth across the Department of Surgery.
• Expand peer-reviewed extramural research and recruit outstanding surgeon-scientists and translational investigators.
• Develop multidisciplinary research programs and strengthen mentorship for emerging and mid-career investigators.
• Advance translational research, investigator-initiated clinical trials, regenerative medicine, and surgical device innovation.
• Advance the Experimental Surgery Core and strengthen integration with Comparative Medicine and Applied Biomedical Engineering.
• Build collaborations across Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health, Penn State University, and engineering and scientific disciplines.
• Support technology development, innovation, and commercialization where appropriate.
• Enhance the Departments national academic visibility and build nationally differentiated research programs.

Candidates from all surgical specialties are encouraged to apply. We are intentionally seeking the strongest possible surgeon-scientist leader irrespective of specialty focus.

Substantial institutional and departmental support will be available to advance the successful candidate's research vision, including opportunities for faculty recruitment, startup support, protected research time, translational research infrastructure, multidisciplinary grant development, and clinical trials expansion.

Academic appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor of Surgery, commensurate with experience and academic accomplishments.

Qualifications

• MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent degree from an accredited institution with board certification in an established surgical specialty.
• Eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania.
• National or international reputation as an accomplished surgeon-scientist and academic leader.
• Current or sustained record of significant peer-reviewed extramural research funding, including R01-level funding or equivalent.
• Distinguished academic and research record meriting appointment to a senior faculty position at Penn State College of Medicine.
• Demonstrated success mentoring junior faculty toward major extramural funding and academic advancement.
• Demonstrated success recruiting and developing academically productive faculty.
• Experience building multidisciplinary, translational, clinical, engineering, computational, or other innovative research programs.
• Experience pursuing or leading T32, programmatic, center-level, or comparable collaborative grant initiatives.
• Proven ability to collaborate across clinical, translational, engineering, computational, and basic science environments.
• Strategic vision and operational capability to build durable research infrastructure and academic culture.
• Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative leadership style.
• Commitment to mentorship, faculty development, academic excellence, and scientific innovation.
• Ability to operate effectively within a complex academic health system and matrixed institutional environment.
• A visible, inclusive, and collaborative leader capable of building trust and consensus across diverse stakeholders.
• A systems thinker capable of identifying opportunities for sustained academic growth and national distinction.

Living in Central Pennsylvania

Hershey and the surrounding region offer an exceptional quality of life, excellent schools, a highly livable community, vibrant arts and culture, abundant outdoor recreation, and convenient access to major East Coast metropolitan centers.

Application Process

Candidates should submit a current curriculum vitae, a letter of interest, and a statement describing their vision for advancing multidisciplinary surgical research and innovation, surgeon-scientist development, and sustained extramural research growth within an academic Department of Surgery to:

Ashley Nippert, CPRP

Physician Recruiter

Penn State Health

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