Medical Director Section Chief of Pediatric Hepatology

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Children's Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for a full-time Medical Director Section Chief of Pediatric Hepatology . We seek an accomplished board-certified/board-eligible pediatric hepatologist with expertise in pediatric liver disease and transplantation to lead and expand our growing hepatology program.

This leadership position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of pediatric liver care within a nationally recognized academic health system. The successful candidate will receive a faculty appointment at the VCU School of Medicine at a rank commensurate with experience and will work collaboratively with the Departments of Pediatrics and Surgery to strengthen and advance CHoR's multidisciplinary pediatric transplant program. In addition, close collaborations with the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health (SSI) will facilitate cutting-edge clinical and research opportunities.

As Medical Director of the Section of Pediatric Hepatology, the successful candidate will provide strategic and clinical leadership for a growing program dedicated to delivering exceptional care to children with liver disease throughout Virginia and the surrounding region. This role offers the opportunity to develop and expand hepatology and transplant-related services while advancing the missions of patient care, education, research, and program innovation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the continued development and growth of pediatric hepatology services.
• Providing expert clinical care for infants, children, and adolescents with acute and chronic liver disease, including liver transplant candidates and recipients.
• Partnering with pediatric and adult hepatology, transplant surgery, and multidisciplinary care teams to strengthen and expand comprehensive transplant services.
• Mentoring faculty, trainees, and advanced practice providers while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence.
• Teaching and supervising medical students, residents, and fellows.
• Medical Director of the Section of Pediatric Liver Transplantation
• Supporting and advancing clinical, translational, and outcomes-based research initiatives in pediatric hepatology, metabolic disease and transplantation.
• Championing quality improvement efforts and programmatic initiatives that enhance patient outcomes and family-centered care.

CHoR is committed to building a comprehensive pediatric liver program supported by dedicated nursing, nutrition, psychology, pharmacy, social work, and care coordination resources. The Medical Director will have access to substantial institutional support and the opportunity to play a central role in expanding access to advanced hepatology and transplant care across the Commonwealth.

Academic and Research Environment

VCU Health and CHoR offer an outstanding environment for academic development and scholarly achievement. Faculty members are expected to contribute to research, quality improvement, and educational initiatives, with extensive opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration.

Unique and impactful collaborations with the SSI in the Department of Internal Medicine will bring pediatric research arcs and clinical expertise to the highest level. A world-class group of clinicians and researchers are in the SSI including Drs. Arun Sanyal, Juna Pablo Arab, Jas Bajaj and Saul Karpen.All part of robust basic and translational programs across the lifespan, including MASLD and biliary atresia research programs already in place led by Dr. Karpen. Pharma and governmental research arcs maintain a longstanding and nationally recognized clinical and basic science research program, creating unique opportunities for collaborative investigation across the lifespan.

Additional research infrastructure includes:

• The NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA)
• The VCU Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR)
• Robust clinical research support services
• A unique Research Imaging Center focused on Metabolic Health
• Access to basic science, translational, and population health research collaborations across the VCU campus

About Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

CHoR is the region's leading children's hospital and is part of VCU Health, a nationally recognized academic medical center. The health system includes a 1,000+ bed tertiary-care teaching hospital and serves as the region's safety-net provider. VCU Medical Center is home to the only Level I trauma center in the region with verified adult, pediatric, and burn trauma services.

The state-of-the-art Children's Tower brings inpatient, emergency, trauma, and outpatient pediatric services together under one roof, creating an exceptional environment for patient-centered care. The facility features:

• Private inpatient rooms
• Advanced operating room and procedural capabilities
• Dedicated pediatric emergency and trauma services
• Comprehensive child-life resources and family-centered amenities
• Advanced imaging, including MRI and CT technology
• Capacity for future growth and expansion of pediatric specialty programs

Candidate Qualifications

Qualified candidates should possess:

Required Qualifications

• MD, DO, or equivalent degree
• Board Certification or Board Eligibility in Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Transplant Hepatology certification
• Advanced training and clinical expertise in Pediatric Hepatology
• Experience caring for pediatric liver transplant candidates and recipients
• Eligibility for medical licensure in Virginia
• Demonstrated commitment to academic medicine, teaching, and scholarly activity

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior leadership or program development experience
• Established record of research, quality improvement, or educational scholarship
• Experience working within multidisciplinary transplant programs

Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment that supports diverse faculty, staff, trainees, patients, and families.

Why Richmond?

Richmond is a vibrant metropolitan region of more than 1.2 million residents, offering an exceptional quality of life. The city combines thriving food, arts, and outdoor recreation scene with a rich history and affordable cost of living. Residents enjoy easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia's coastal beaches, and Washington, DC, making Richmond an ideal place to live, work, and raise a family.

Learn more about Richmond:

For confidential inquiries, please contact:

Dr. Saul Karpen, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health: View email address on click.appcast.io

or Dr. Gisela Chelimsky, MD, Peds GI Chief: View email address on click.appcast.io