department head of obstetrics

The University of Illinois College of Medicine (UI COM), Chicago Campus, is recruiting a Department Head of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UI COM is one of the oldest academic OBGYN training programs in the United States and a leader in women's healthcare nationally and globally. Our mission is to improve the health of individuals and the diverse communities we serve through the integration of innovative education, transformative research, outstanding patient care, and community-based partnerships. The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Health Sciences campus is in the heart of Chicago, the third largest city in the United States. The campus is strategically located within the Illinois Medical District. It is one of the largest health science centers in the country and includes the UIC Colleges of Public Health, Applied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work.

With specialized divisions and sections covering a broad spectrum of reproductive health, the department fosters a dynamic environment that educates, prepares, and supports medical professionals for the complexities of obstetric and gynecologic practice. The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology currently consists of 30 full-time faculty across a robust array of clinical, educational, and research activities. The department also employs and partners with the largest group of certified midwives in the state, as well as several other Advanced Practice Providers. The Department includes faculty focused as Academic Specialists, Complex Family Planning Specialists, Gynecologic Oncologists, Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinologists, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeons, and Urogynecologists.

The department provides clinical services at the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics (UI Health) and at multiple off-campus ambulatory clinical sites. Most of these practice sites are part of the UI Health system and they serve as outreach to the communities on the south and west sides of Chicago. State-of-the-art care is provided to pregnant patients who need specialized medical attention. UI Health also houses the only inpatient psychiatric unit in Illinois for pregnant people requiring hospitalization for mental health conditions. UI Health is designated a Level III perinatal facility through the state Department of Public Health, the highest-level designation in Illinois. The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology is known for its comprehensive and exceptional medical care and places an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is through this lens that the department strives to work towards an environment where our patients, providers, and staff grow and thrive.

We are proud that our department engages with medical education in many areas. Our faculty co-lead and teach in the pre-medical and pre-clinical curriculum spaces. We also manage the daily activities of an Obstetrics & Gynecology clerkship that trains approximately 185 medical students annually across five clinical sites. Of these, over half are trained at UI Health facilities, directly taught by members of our department. We also offer five senior electives and manage a robust waiting list. Within Graduate Medical Education, we have an outstanding Obstetrics & Gynecology residency, along with two accredited fellowships in Complex Family Planning and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Our longstanding history of investing in and developing skilled future clinicians comes through our ever-evolving commitment to educational innovations, robust simulation, and evidence-based curricula. The Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Program is fully accredited by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and is a four-year training program which accommodates seven residents entering per year. The overall residency goal is to provide training to build a strong foundation in primary, subspecialty, and preventive care for the practicing generalist, along with excellent foundational preparation for the future subspecialist. Residents complete rotations in inpatient and outpatient settings at UI Health, as well as at other urban and suburban training sites. Exposure to a diverse and medically complex patient population throughout the four-year program prepares residents to enter autonomous practice, ready to serve any healthcare community in meeting the needs of a broad patient base. Additionally, the department has two established ACGME accredited fellowships including the Complex Family Planning (two fellows) and Maternal Fetal Medicine (three fellows) Fellowship Programs. Both fellowships are rigorous in their respective disciplines and bolster our resident educational programming, providing excellent exposure to comprehensive reproductive healthcare and innovative clinical and bench research. Through our robust residency and fellowship programs, cutting-edge research, and innovative patient care initiatives, the department consistently strives to elevate standards in the field and positively impact the well-being of patients across diverse communities.

The department supports faculty who serve as primary researchers and as mentors for faculty, fellows, and residents in the development of innovative and impactful scholarly work. Through the research division, the department provides educational sessions to discuss how to develop a research agenda, to master the "nuts and bolts" of grant applications and IRB submissions, and to bring together researchers within the department to share knowledge and foster collaboration. Strong departmental infrastructure supports our research system and our faculty and trainees, enabling physicians to remain productive in research while pursuing their busy clinical commitments. Along with strong tradition in clinical service and education, our department encompasses competitive translational research programs and clinical trials that involve clinician scientists as well as research faculty, clinical fellows, and basic scientists. Our faculty are principal investigators in RO1 applications and NIH funded research and are well published in the field across a broad range of obstetrical and gynecological health with active participation in scientific societies and meetings worldwide. The focus of research in the department includes health disparities, health policy and its impact on access to reproductive healthcare, medical education, gynecologic cancers, and gynecologic surgery. Our research has been funded by NIH/SBIR and other grants securing substantial funding in the last five years, including collaboration with the College of Nursing. Our innovations have resulted in patent development with worldwide impact.

In addition to its mission in patient care, education, and research, the department maintains a strong commitment to the community. The department, UI COM, and UI Health seek to improve access to quality and patient focused care and education. We reach out to the Chicago community through engagement in various local health centers, through community outreach and patient educational sessions, and by engaging in wellness programs, community needs assessments and through care coordination. UI Health strives to be the health care destination committed to holistic, personalized, and socially responsible medical care. UI COM is invested in its mission to advance health for everyone through outstanding education, research, clinical care, and social responsibility. The department is committed to enhancing and uplifting that same mission.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will provide strategic, innovative, and operational leadership, and will have responsibility and accountability for the administrative, clinical, educational, and scholarly performance in all aspects of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. A strong record of collaborative leadership and commitment to excellence in clinical, research, and academic service is essential. Ongoing research development and achievement, community engagement, and educational excellence are highly desirable. The successful candidate must be committed to recruiting and mentoring faculty, trainees, and medical students as needed. In addition, the successful candidate will possess a demonstrated commitment to innovation and will have the leadership skills necessary for guiding faculty development and advancement across our research, clinical, and educational missions. As a leader, the department head will provide an energetic and inventive vision for maintaining and growing clinical, educational, and research programs; further highlighting specialized and sub-specialized clinical expertise; developing strategic interdisciplinary teams for furthering research, and continuing faculty development. This leader will also embrace inclusion and diversity and be able to inspire, manage, motivate, and develop a diverse team. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal and communication skills to complement the administrative qualities mentioned above. Proven and substantial scholarly activity and leadership experience are required. The successful candidate will have an MD or equivalent degree and will be OBOG board-certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology. In addition, they will possess experience and credentials commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment in the University of Illinois College of Medicine

For fullest consideration, please submit cover letter addressed to Dr. Maria Tsoukas, Search Committee Chair, and CV by September 16, 2024, through the University of Illinois Chicago HR web site.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

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