Description

Chair of the Department of Behavioral Science
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
 

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine invites applications and nominations for the position of chair to lead the Department of Behavioral Science.

Position Summary
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Behavioral Science seeks a visionary chair with demonstrated leadership abilities, a strong record in academic behavioral medicine, and a currently funded research program, ideally with a strong history of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funding. The ideal candidate has administrative experience, and can provide strong leadership skills as a listener, decision-maker, humanist, and effective advocate for the discipline, and its faculty and staff.

Role of the Chair
A successful candidate should be recognized for exceptional accomplishments as a researcher and academician in the behavioral science field. Additionally, the candidate will have a strong record of administrative experience as a department chair, division chief, or program/center director.

Furthermore, the candidate should collaborate effectively, possess a desire to learn and share, and have the intra- and interpersonal skills that promote, foster, and facilitate trust and effective relationships within the department, the college, centers, broader University, community, and state.  The chair should have impeccable integrity; demonstrate outstanding organizational skills; be an effective communicator; be nationally/internationally recognized for achievement in research, educational, and service pursuits that would warrant appointment as a professor; demonstrate upward movement in leadership or administrative positions in a medical school or academic medical center setting; and have a proven record of recruitment and retention of talented faculty and staff, as well as mentorship of faculty, staff, and trainees; and demonstrate a vision for strategic department growth and sustainment.

Reporting to the dean of the UK College of Medicine, Charles H. Griffith, MD, MSPH, the chair serves as the chief academic and administrative officer for the department. The chair will have the opportunity to enhance the educational and research missions of the department significantly and further its partnerships within UK HealthCare, the University, and with numerous external partners.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a behavioral science field (e.g., psychology, behavioral science, social science, health behavior, sociology, etc.) with a sustained record of scholarly activity and current research funding.
• National recognition as demonstrated through involvement in academic/professional societies at a national level.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, with preference for previous experience in administrative positions in an academic medical center setting.
• Proven record of recruitment, mentorship, and retention of talent.
• Demonstrated track record of teaching undergraduate and medical students, as well as research training for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
   

Position Description
The selected faculty member will be expected to conduct innovative, rigorous, grant-funded research and engage in scholarly activities (peer-reviewed publications, presentations, etc.) as well as providing leadership for behavioral science faculty, staff, and trainees.  

Anticipated Percentage of Time and Effort     

Activity                                                                                                             Percentage
Research/Scholarly Activities                                                                           55%
Instructional Activities                                                                                      5%
Leadership and Administration                                                                        25%
Service to Department, College, University, or Professional Organizations     10%
Professional Development                                                                                5%
 

Department Chair Anticipated Duties
This position is established in keeping with the mission statement of the UK College of Medicine.

Mission Statement
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine fosters an environment that promotes excellence in education, access to high-quality health care, and transformative research to enhance the health and wellness of Kentuckians and beyond.

Scope of Role
As an oversight position, the chair of science will ensure that department faculty work in conjunction with one another and with other groups across the college and campus, sharing research resources whenever possible. This will also include administrative, teaching, laboratory, and mentoring support. The chair will work closely to maximize the net yield of each project and avoid separation or duplication of work in multiple isolated units.

Specific Responsibilities

• Grow the department's research faculty and research portfolio, and provide oversight.
• Facilitate faculty mentoring in research.
• Facilitate an environment of collaborative research and conduct, including maintaining records of accomplishments and facilitating the acquisition of external funding.
• Continue their independent research in alignment with the department's goals.
• Publish in peer-reviewed literature as an author and co-author.
• Provide oversight for the department's educational portfolio.
• Participate in and advocate for quality teaching programs for all learners within the department.
• Assign faculty to teaching roles and manage the distribution of educational assignments among faculty.
• Mentor faculty in various professorial series and oversee the academic development and productivity of the department.
   

Ideal Candidate Experience and Attributes

• A strong visionary and inspirational leader who can artfully convey a long-term vision for the department yet is equally skilled at implementing a detailed plan to achieve that vision. Highly approachable and compassionate; a record of promoting a culture of innovation, collaboration, teamwork, respect, and honesty; a professional and personal demeanor characterized by integrity, graciousness, humility, genuineness, empathy, and sincerity; and a passion for the organization’s mission and objectives.
• Exceptionally team-oriented; skilled at working well and partnering with scientists across the college and University to identify, build, and negotiate “win-win” relationships and collaborations; able to break down silos and ensure a collegial and productive work environment.
• Highly adept and at ease managing the day-to-day operational details with the ability to make strong and decisive decisions when needed, while simultaneously creating unity within the department.
• Able to conceptualize and analyze complex business opportunities, understand an academic department's finances, and apply that knowledge to manage all department aspects appropriately.
• Able to lead progress in the department’s mission, strategies, and practices to build a more supportive workplace.

History
The UK College of Medicine Department of Behavioral Science (BSC) is a basic science department. It was founded in 1959 by William R. Willard, MD, the first dean of the College of Medicine, as the first department of behavioral science in the United States. The department’s first chair was Robert Straus, PhD, a member of the founding committee of the medical center. Although unique at the time, the decision to enhance the behavioral science content of medical education has now become a well-established priority for the NIH and the Institute of Medicine. Behavioral scientists in most medical schools, though, are still either scattered throughout clinical departments, located in medical education units, or placed in divisions within departments of psychiatry. As a free-standing basic science department, BSC is an academic teaching and research unit, administratively independent, but with strong collaborative ties to clinical departments and to other basic science departments.

The department is multidisciplinary, with faculty specializing in disciplines such as experimental psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral pharmacology, epidemiology, public health, anthropology, psychiatry, pediatrics, ethics history, pharmacology, sociology, and social work. Departmental faculty members collaborate with many other academic departments in the College of Medicine. The department has a primary role in medical student education, with responsibility for the course “Introduction to Clinical Medicine I and II” Graduate education includes an interdisciplinary certificate, master’s degree, and doctoral degree in clinical and translational science. Pre-medical education includes an undergraduate certificate in medical behavioral science offered in partnership with the Lewis Honors College. Behavioral Science faculty members also broadly support graduate education by serving on committees and leading or contributing to federally funded training programs.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Established in 1960, the College of Medicine produces highly qualified, caring physicians and biomedical scientists to serve the people of Kentucky and the nation. In 2021, the college tallied 718 medical students among its main and three regional campuses, 807 ACGME-accredited program residents and fellows, and 300 graduate students. It is one of six health-related colleges at the University (Dentistry, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health), encompassing 25 basic science and clinical departments and more than 1,100 full-time faculty members.

In the past three years, the college has expanded its educational and research efforts, adding two new regional campuses in Bowling Green and Northern Kentucky with educational opportunities that complement those offered at the main campus in Lexington. The college also has a campus in Morehead, a component of its effort to address the Commonwealth’s physician shortage by offering third- and fourth-year medical students a curriculum emphasizing rural medicine.

In recent years, the College of Medicine has focused heavily on research. In fiscal year 2021, the college’s research funding totaled more than $232.7 million, with its National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding doubling since fiscal year 2017. This has allowed, and will continue to allow, UK researchers to dedicate more time and resources to alleviating the health issues Kentuckians face.

Dean, College of Medicine – Charles H. “Chipper” Griffith III, MD, MSPH
Charles H. “Chipper” Griffith, III, MD, MSPH, leads the University of Kentucky College of Medicine as dean following a long, honorable career as a champion for medical education in the Commonwealth. His work to advance education, provide exceptional clinical care, and conduct transformative research at the University of Kentucky spans over three decades.

Dr. Griffith holds more teaching honors than any faculty member in the history of the College of Medicine, including the Alpha Omega Alpha/ Association of American Medical Colleges Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award (2004), the most highly regarded medical school teaching award in the country. In 2006, the Clerkship Directors of Internal Medicine national organization honored him by renaming its educational research award the Charles H. Griffith Educational Research Award.

Dr. Griffith has published multiple articles and served on numerous national committees, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Board of Directors (the national medical honor society) and numerous committees for the National Board of Medical Examiners, including the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Committee.

He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and then completed residency at the University of Kentucky, where he also earned his Master of Science in Public Health.

UK HealthCare
UK HealthCare, the College of Medicine’s clinical enterprise, is an award-winning, nationally recognized health care system dedicated to patient-focused care. Its designation as a Level 1 trauma center and its reception of Magnet status means its team of more than 9,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals are heavily qualified to treat Kentucky’s sickest patients. The hospital system, which includes more than 80 specialized clinics and 140 outreach programs, reported more than 41,500 discharges of patients and 1.8 million outpatient visits in fiscal year 2019. UK HealthCare has been named the No. 1 hospital in Kentucky by U.S. News & World Report for the past five years.

The University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky is a public, land-grant university, and Kentucky’s flagship institution. Its mission is to serve the Commonwealth through excellence in education, research, creative work, service, and health care.

The University has been named a “Great College to Work For” and is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers.” Those who work here enjoy competitive employee benefits and various enriching arts and entertainment experiences, including concerts, museum visits, and spirited athletics events.

For more information about UK’s campus, watch: https://visit.uky.edu/virtual-visit

Living in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and home to a welcoming community full of Southern hospitality. The city is a blend of scenic beauty from its rural countryside and a vibrant nightlife with campus happenings and downtown attractions. It also maintains a thriving economy thanks to its abundance of various industries. Large companies worldwide such as Lexmark and Valvoline are headquartered in Lexington, and other major employers such as Amazon and UPS have large warehouses here. For more information and an engaging video overview, click here: https://www.uky.edu/ofa/welcome-lexington 

Also known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” the city is located in the heart of the Bluegrass, surrounded by beautiful horse farms. The region’s fertile, limestone-enriched soil and vast green grasslands are major components of its capability to raise title-winning horses.

While Lexington is large enough to host various events and maintain a bustling downtown scene, it also holds many large parks and green spaces. When it is time for a weekend escape, popular areas for outdoor activities, such as Natural Bridge State Park and Red River Gorge trails, are just a short drive away.

For additional information on the city of Lexington, visit https://www.visitlex.com/about/visitors-guide/

How to Apply
Follow this link for the application: https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/611204 

Successful applicants must undergo a national background check and pre-employment drug screen upon being offered employment, as required by the University of Kentucky Human Resources.  The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Requirements

Required Education: PhD, DO, MD/PhD, or equivalent

Required Related Experience:

• Terminal degree in a behavioral science field (e.g., psychology, behavioral science, social science, health behavior, sociology, etc.) with a sustained record of scholarly activity and current research funding.
• National recognition as demonstrated through involvement in academic/professional societies at a national level.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, with preference for previous experience in administrative positions in an academic medical center setting.
• Proven record of recruitment, mentorship, and retention of talent.
• Demonstrated track record of teaching undergraduate and medical students, as well as research training for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.