Physician Genetics, Pediatric Permanent Pay: Up to Negotiable

Physician Genetics, Pediatric Permanent Pay: Up to Negotiable

UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern) is conducting a national/international search for the next Chief for the Division of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism. UT Southwestern is a leader in genetics research and the treatment of genetic disorders. Reporting to the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, the Chief of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism will be charged with delivering state-of-the-art consultation, evaluation, counseling and clinical care to children with inherited diseases as well as known or suspected genetic conditions at Children's Medical Centers of Dallas and Plano and in partnership with the NICUs at UT Southwestern affiliated hospitals. The Chief will also be responsible for developing, scaling, and innovating the Division's research and education programs.

The Division has six full-time faculty members who play a pivotal role in advancing the Division's clinical and scholarly programs focused on a wide variety of genetic conditions such as inborn errors of metabolism, newborn screening, lysosomal storage disorders, craniofacial malformation syndromes, and incontinentia pigmenti. Faculty provide consult services and outpatient care at Children's Health and support the NICUs at Parkland Health and University Hospital.

The Division is a major regional resource for children and families with genetic diseases. The team evaluates more than 250 patients each month with known or suspected genetic diseases. Particular strengths of the clinical program include: The largest regional practice specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of children with inborn errors of metabolism 24/7 coverage for patients, with an M.D. Medical Geneticist on call at all times Several clinics specializing in malformation syndromes and genetic forms of developmental delay Expertise in the use and interpretation of advanced genetic diagnostics, including tests involving next generation sequencing The only clinic in Dallas, and currently the only one in North Texas, that accepts referrals from the Texas Department of Health's newborn screening program for biochemical disorders Participation in multidisciplinary clinics specializing in relatively common disorders such as Down syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

The Division partners closely with the McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, which serves as the Center for Human Genetics at UT Southwestern. The Center provides expertise and resources for clinicians and basic scientists to identify genes and sequence variations that contribute to human diseases and traits. Dr. Ralph DeBerardinis, the prior Division Chief of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism, is the Director of the McDermott Center. This sets the stage for even greater synergism between the Division and the McDermott Center. The McDermott Center has several core facilities that provide specialized services, including: DNA Genotyping Core DNA Next Generation Sequencing Core DNA Sanger Sequencing Core Human Genetics Clinical Laboratory

The Division is a vital part of UT Southwestern Medical Center's mission to train medical students, residents, fellows, and allied health professionals in pediatrics, genetics, and metabolism. Faculty in the Division teach medical students and pediatric residents throughout their training, manage an accredited residency program to train the next generation of physicians in Medical Genetics, co-direct a fellowship program in Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, and provide continuing medical education in genetics and metabolism to the Dallas-Fort Worth medical community.

The Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern has a long and rich history that is interwoven with the roots of UT Southwestern Medical School and with the development and growth of Children's Health, its primary clinical partner with leading inpatient care at Children's Medical Center in Dallas and Plano and multispecialty outpatient centers in Dallas, Plano, Prosper and other health care units throughout the Dallas Metroplex. The Department is structured into 17 academic divisions, consisting of greater than 415 faculty members and several clinical multidisciplinary programs to cover the full spectrum of child health and disease.

UT Southwestern, one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, is located just a short drive from downtown Dallas. The campus integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty number more than 2,800 and includes six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985, 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 16 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 investigators in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in about 80 specialties to more than 117,000 hospitalized patients, nearly 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 3 million outpatient visits a year.

Children's Health is hailed as one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country. The institute is comprised of 8,400 employees, providing care for more than 288,000 patients annually. Through a longstanding academic affiliation with UT Southwestern, Children's Health serves as a leader in life changing treatments, innovative technology and ground-breaking research.

The Joint Pediatric Enterprise (JPE), formed in 2019, is structured to facilitate shared decision-making and operational alignment between UT Southwestern and Children's Health, which have been affiliated for more than 60 years. Together, the institutes are better equipped to meet the rapidly growing needs of the North Texas pediatric community and beyond. This powerful partnership strengthens patient outcomes by providing access to renowned faculty, biomedical research, and clinical trials.

The Role

UT Southwestern is seeking a national leader as the new Chief of the Division of Genetics and Metabolism in the Department of Pediatrics. The position will report directly to the Department Chair, Dr. Jorge Bezerra, and will play a critical leadership role within the Department. The Chief will serve as a galvanizing and inspiring leader and will provide strategic, administrative, financial, and operational leadership and direction for the Division, with responsibility for the clinical, research, and education missions. This leader will build on a foundation of success while defining the future culture of the Division, leveraging the talents of a diverse group of faculty, staff, fellows, residents, and students as the Department of Pediatrics and its primary health system partner, Children's Health, enter a period of unprecedented growth.

The Chief will provide clinical leadership to enhance quality of care and support continued growth and expansion of clinical capabilities. The Division's growth and evolution will be a critical element to achieving the Department of Pediatrics' vision of transformation and advancement of subspecialized care and programs. Through collaboration across Divisions and with Children's Health, the Chief will establish and promote best practices, improving high reliability of clinical services and high-quality transitions of care through the health system. This leader will leverage data and analytics to measure outcomes and drive quality improvement. The Chief will ensure alignment of the clinical and academic missions of the Division with the Department of Pediatrics, Children's Health, and the Joint Pediatric Enterprise.

The Chief will elevate and promote the importance of the academic mission in the Division, building on the strong partnership between UT Southwestern and Children's Health, which marries the University's success in scientific discovery and innovation with the investments of Children's Health in clinical practice and the care environment. The Chief will build a robust portfolio of research, while encouraging the importance of grant-funding, scholarly output and publications in high impact journals. This Chief will foster an outstanding teaching environment, while continuously improving and advancing the medical education curriculum and training programs available.

Key to success in advancing the academic, research, and clinical missions, the Chief will have strong business acumen and be responsible for operations and financial performance for the Division. The Chief will prioritize recruiting, training, developing, and retaining world-class faculty to advance the Division and Department's bold growth strategy. This leader will maintain a collaborative and transparent atmosphere, further develop existing programs, and identify potential opportunities for additional development.

Through the continued advancement of research, education, and clinical care, the Chief will significantly elevate the national reputation of the Division of Genetics and Metabolism. To be successful, this Chief must take a concerted approach to partnering with key constituency groups in and outside the Department of Pediatrics effectively collaborating across Children's Health to realize the shared mission of the medical school and the health system.

Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center is located in Dallas, Texas. Relocation is required for this role.

Candidate Profile

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

Education and Experience

MD or MD/PhD (or equivalent) from an accredited medical school is required

Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics

Must qualify for an unrestricted Texas medical license

Nationally recognized as a leader in the field of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism with an outstanding track record of accomplishment in clinical care, research, and education

Demonstrated administrative and leadership experience in academic medicine, with an ability to build and expand upon a strong foundation

Operationally minded; ability to outline a clear road map for the execution of the division's refinement and expansion, and ascent as a national leader in pediatric genetics and metabolism

Highly organized individual with strong leadership skills, administrative dexterity, and a demonstrated ability to create and lead within a complex, matrixed, evolving environment

Strong business