Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology - UAMS College of Medicine

Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology Opportunity:

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is seeking a dynamic, academic leader with a national reputation to guide the growth and development of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a regional and national leader in medical education, research, patient care and service. Departmental faculty promote women’s health throughout Arkansas, and deliver on the UAMS mission: To improve the health, healthcare and well-being of Arkansans and of others in the region, nation and world.  The Chair position presents an outstanding opportunity to impact positively a large and diverse population of women.

The Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology will lead a department that is clinically, educationally, and fiscally strong. The Chair will facilitate the seamless work of the faculty across their clinical and academic missions, working in close collaboration with the Women’s Health Service Line Director.  The Chair will have the opportunity to develop the Department’s research agenda, and to recruit faculty within the subspecialty areas of urogyneology and microinvasive gynecology.  As an integral member of the executive leadership team, the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports directly to the Dean of the UAMS College of Medicine.

All inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are welcome.

About the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology: 

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the UAMS College of Medicine provides full-spectrum care in women’s health. The combined efforts of this world-class team of physicians, nurses, and researchers focus on improving the lives of our patients while training quality physicians for the future. The department’s faculty physicians include specialists in General Obstetrics & Gynecology; Maternal-Fetal Medicine including Fetal Genetics; Gynecologic Oncology; Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility; Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology; and Women’s Mental Health. Our Maternal-Fetal Medical physicians are the only such board-certified subspecialists in the state. 

The faculty work in close collaboration with Neonatologists at both UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, supporting the only level 3B nursery in the state.  The faculty and residents provide ambulatory Ob-Gyn services at three ambulatory sites.  In-patient care is provided within the UAMS Medical Center which houses 14 delivery rooms, 4 triage rooms, and 2 operating rooms, with plans to open a 3^rd operating room in 2020. 

The department is leading the way in telemedicine/telehealth through our extraordinary Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System (ANGELS) program, allowing our specialists to virtually see patients in rural areas of our state through real-time, two-way video. This also provides worldwide teaching opportunities for our faculty.  The ANGELS Program provides a 24/7 call center, staffed by registered nurses, who facilitate consultations between community-based physicians and our maternal-fetal medicine specialists.  When a pregnant women needs the tertiary care available at UAMS, they arrange timely patient transport.  For less acute issues, they provide information directly to women seeking support for concerns related to their pregnancy, labor and delivery, and/or postpartum care.

Education is an especially strong focus of the Department.  The Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program, continuously AGCME-accredited since 1953, offers 5 positions annually within its 4-year categorical program.  The program provides meaningful clinical experience covering the breadth and depth of Obstetrics & Gynecology.  The current board pass rate for the qualifying exams is 100%.  Graduates of the program have pursed rewarding careers in private practice and academic medicine, with many pursuing fellowship training.  The Department also sponsors an ACGME-accredited Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program.  The Department provides medical student education including a required third-year clerkship, seven senior-year elective rotations, and support for the Ob-Gyn medical student interest group. 

Role & Responsibilities:

• Formulate, in conjunction with the faculty and administration, a clear vision and strategic plan of the short and long term goals and objectives of the Department and provide regular feedback on performance - jointly identifying goals and monitoring progress toward those goals.
• Demonstrate the leadership, management ability, and administrative expertise to grow and support the department’s education, research, and clinical missions. 
• Collaborate with the Women’s Health Service Line Director to optimize clinical activities and ensure the department’s faculty distribute their time and effort productively, in order to advance all three mission areas.  
• Support a culture of excellence, identifying and building on the talents of the faculty.
• Partner with Neonatology and Anesthesiology colleagues to address institutional priorities for quality and safety.
• Champion the educational needs and contributions of students, residents, faculty, and staff in the Department. 
• Collaborate with the ANGELS Program and the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation to lead Women’s Health services throughout the State of Arkansas.
• Be actively involved in demonstrating the value of the Department to the community – supporting continued philanthropy.
• Develop a Departmental research portfolio that stresses collaboration and maximizes opportunity for synergistic productivity across the University’s campuses.
• Remain abreast of essentials of accreditation, certification, and regulations. 
• Promote and support advances in clinical care while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Lead projects and initiatives as requested by the Dean of the College of Medicine.

Candidate Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

• M.D. degree
• Board Certification
• A minimum of 10 years practice experience in OB-GYN or a subspecialty of OB-GYN
• Demonstrated commitment to research and education, and demonstrated track record of mentorship and faculty development

• Qualified for faculty appointment in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the College of Medicine at the rank of Professor. The ideal candidate will have national recognition in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an educator, clinician, research scientist, and/or physician leader  
• Leadership as well as organizational and interpersonal skills needed to operate effectively within the complex environment of an academic health center

Preferred Professional Experience and Characteristics

• Balanced commitment to educational, clinical and research missions
• Commitment to employee, environmental and patient safety and quality initiatives
• Strong commitment to interdisciplinary cooperation and learning
• Demonstrated track record of mentorship and evidence of having developed others in their academic careers
• Experience in operational and financial management and leadership in a hospital, academic health center, or group practice environment
• Philanthropic, alumni relations and development experience a plus
• Fellowship training

Personal Characteristics

• Well-developed emotional intelligence with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills;
• Passion for excellence and a high level of energy and enthusiasm;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed organization with multiple lines of reporting;
• Demonstrated record of promoting collaboration and cultivating strong internal and external relationships;
• Capacity to embrace change with an appropriate respect for culture and tradition;
• Analytical and intellectual skills to lead cogent planning and sound management systems;
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity;
• Motivator and mentor capable of developing strong teams and developing others; and
• Unquestioned personal integrity.

Interested individuals are asked to submit their CV and a letter addressing their experiences that fulfill the criteria for this position to Executive and Faculty Recruitment at recruitment@uams.edu  Contact Julian Tunno by phone at 501-686-2590 or Khris Bone by phone at 501-603-1316.

Written nominations, inquiries, and applications (including emails) may be subject to disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

UAMS is an inclusive Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans and is committed to excellence