Department Chair, Ophthalmology

Job Summary

The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University invites applications for the position of Chair, Department of Ophthalmology. This position is responsible for the growth and development of clinical, research, and teaching excellence within the department. The Chair reports to the Dean and serves as the departments academic and administrative leader, providing direction in educational programs, faculty recruitment, retention and development, budget management and oversight, and strategic planning, as well as maintaining strong collaborative ties with basic science faculty as a key partner in the Vision Discovery Institute, a robust hub for interdisciplinary vision research.

Responsibilities

The new Chair must demonstrate a leadership style centered on faculty success across all missions: clinical, research, and education. This includes a strong commitment to both departmental and institutional leadership, and the ability to think strategically while executing tactically to achieve departmental goals. The new Chair will be skilled at building consensus and leading transformative change. As a trusted steward and advocate for the department, the Chair will guide its continued growth, innovation, and impact.

This leader will be an energetic and visionary communicator, capable of articulating the department's potential and inspiring others to follow. They must embody transparency, professionalism, and an unwavering ethical compass, while fostering a culture of inclusivity and interdisciplinary collaboration. The new Chair must be deeply committed to mentoring and developing faculty and fellows, as well as supporting multidisciplinary efforts that strengthen relationships and align diverse stakeholders.

With a focus on patient satisfaction, quality, and safety, the Chair will also ensure the department meets the clinical service needs of Wellstar MCG Health while advancing the academic and research missions of the medical school. In partnership with institutional leadership, the Chair will work to expand access and capture market share by extending services to new and existing communities across the care continuum.

Key Goals/Objectives

• Responsible for education, clinical, and research missions of the department.
• Lead efforts in building cross-disciplinary programs.
• Support and develop departmental education and research programs.
• Oversight of recruitment, retention and professional development of departmental faculty.
• Cultivate relationships locally, statewide and nationally.
• Oversight of departmental administrative and budgetary operations.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must hold an MD, DO, MD/PhD, or DO/PhD degree, possess current board certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology, be eligible for licensure in the state of Georgia, and have academic accomplishments that merit appointment at the rank of professor.

Professor- Senior level career faculty member with at least five years at the rank of Associate Professor or comparable training, background, and experience.

The ideal candidate will be an academic ophthalmologist with a distinguished record of clinical care, research, and teaching with national stature. The successful candidate will have demonstrated success as a leader in a department or division of ophthalmology, an interdisciplinary institute, or an academic entity of comparable size and scope. In addition, the successful candidate will have:

• A national reputation as an academic leader with a strong commitment to research.
• Experience in the development and successful implementation of new clinical programs and services.
• A successful track record of recruitment and development of faculty, trainees, and students.
• A record of solid performance as a skilled manager with the ability to grow revenues, meet budgets, measure and improve productivity and outcomes.
• A strong commitment to mentoring and faculty development.
• A proven track record of working collaboratively across clinical disciplines as well as with senior management within an academic setting.
• Ability to drive philanthropic activities.
• Appreciation of the need to be involved in the greater Augusta community, especially related to promoting Ophthalmologic care.
• A commitment to advancing the research initiatives within the department, including fellowship programs and collaborations with basic scientists.

Preferred Qualifications

A commitment to advancing the research initiatives within the department, including fellowship programs and collaborations with basic scientists

Shift/Salary/Benefits

This position is fiscal year based and works year-round.

The intended work commitment or full-time equivalent (FTE) for this position is 1.0 and considered full-time.

Professor- Senior level career faculty member with at least five years at the rank of Associate Professor or comparable training, background, and experience.

Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and much more

Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

Rank and salary are determined at the time of hire and are based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, education, credentials, specialty, training, etc. while also considering internal equity and market data.

Advancement through the faculty ranks at Augusta University is only through the annual Promotion and Tenure process in which faculty may apply if eligible (typically five-year increments). For more information on ranks, please review the Augusta University Promotion and Tenure Guidelines:

College/Department Information

The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) is one of the nation's largest medical schools by class size, with 304 students per class. The MCG educational experience is anchored by the main campus in Augusta, with regional clinical campuses for third- and fourth-year students across the state, and two four-year campuses located in Athens (in partnership with the University of Georgia) and in Savannah (in partnership with Georgia Southern University). MCG's expanding partnerships with physicians and hospitals across Georgia currently provide more than 350 sites where students can experience the full spectrum of medicine, from complex care hospitals to small-town solo practices. MCG and its teaching hospitals also provide postgraduate education to approximately 575 residents and fellows in 50 different Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved programs. Our researchers and clinicians focus on what most impacts the health of Georgia's and America's children and adults, including cardiovascular biology and disease, cancer, neurosciences and behavioral sciences, public and preventive health, regenerative and reparative medicine, personalized medicine and genomics. Our physician faculty also share their expertise with physicians and patients at about 100 clinics and hospitals statewide.

About Us

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 12,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today. Our mission and values make Augusta University an institution like no other.

Augusta University's distinct characteristics in education and research include real-world experiences and community engagement, as well as a culture of building community, corporate and government partnerships that address health, security, economic and societal concerns locally and across the state.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy and can be found online at

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at

Location

Augusta University

Our Health Sciences Campus:

1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.

If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.

Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle.

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.

How To Apply

To be considered an applicant for this position, you must apply online at

Please upload your Curriculum Vitae, Research Statement, Professional References, etc., as one document.

Other Information

This position is also responsible for promoting a customer-friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients, students, faculty, and employees. "Augusta University is a patient-and family-centered care institution, where employees partner every day with patients and families for success."

Augusta University is a tobacco-free environment, and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.

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