Chair, Department of Medical Humanities (Omaha or Phoenix)

0.25 FTE position reporting to the Dean of the School of Medicine.

About the Role

The Chair of Medical Humanities is a senior academic leadership role focused on integrating the humanities—such as ethics, philosophy, literature, history, and the arts—into medical education, research, and practice. As the chief administrative and academic officer of the department, the Chair has authority and responsibility for the delivery of academic and research programs in accordance with departmental, school, and university strategic plans; hiring and evaluation of department personnel, including faculty and staff; and budgeting and resource management. This authority is subject to approval by the Dean and the Provost. As a member of the School administration, the Chair coordinates departmental activity with the activities of other units in the School and the University and, in collaboration with other members of the administration, assists in the development and implementation of School initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Leadership
  • Work with faculty, students, and staff to establish and maintain a long-term vision for the department that is consistent with the departmental, school, and university missions.
  • Assess department's progress in meeting department goals.
  • Make recommendations regarding departmental programs, policies, procedures, and practices.
  • Ensure departmental compliance with the School and University rules and regulations.
• Curriculum
  • Coordinate the development of classes from conceptualization to approval by the school of medicine curriculum committee, including development of interdisciplinary programs that embed humanities and ethics into medical, graduate, and faculty development curricula.
  • Initiate new academic programs and projects when appropriate.
• Research
  • Develop departmental direction and scope for the research mission.
  • Hire, manage, and mentor the research activities of research faculty.
• Operations
  • Manage daily operations of the department.
  • Develop and submit class schedules.
  • Monitor course registrations and make appropriate adjustments in course schedules and instructor assignments in cooperation with the Dean's Office.
  • Coordinate implementation of academic policies and regulations.
• Budgeting
  • Manage resources for the advancement of departmental and program vision and mission.
  • Develop and regularly monitor the budget for the department.
  • Review and approve requests for funding for departmental projects.
  • Review and approve departmental expenditures in compliance with university policies.
• Personnel
  • Administer the hiring and recruitment of full-time and part-time faculty.
  • Evaluate full-time and part-time faculty, including conducting Annual Performance Reviews.
  • Guide faculty in the construction of a professional development plan outlining goals in teaching, scholarship, and service as part of the Annual Review process.
  • Evaluate all promotion, tenure, and post-tenure applications.
  • Review and recommend, as appropriate, department faculty development awards and grants to the Dean.
  • Coordinate and approve faculty travel and reimbursement of travel expenses.
  • Recommend compensation increases, as appropriate, for department personnel based on evaluation and contribution to department, school, university, and community in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service.
  • Assist in the recruitment of staff members.
  • Coordinate course load scheduling, including flexible scheduling to meet the demands of the program while also facilitating faculty research and writing opportunities.
• Meetings
  • Schedule and lead department meetings.
  • Participate in appropriate Medical Dean leadership meetings.
  • Serve on school of medicine and/or university committees.
• Faculty Responsibilities
  • Participate in research and scholarly activities as appropriate.
  • Participate and assist department faculty in university and community service activities as appropriate.
  • Teach medical humanities and other School of Medicine courses.

Requirements

• PhD related to medical education.
• Rank of associate professor or higher.
• Evidence of research and scholarly activity.
• Record of leadership experience within the profession or the university.
• Evidence of successful teaching in higher education.
• Excellent communication and human relation skills.
• Knowledge of department in terms of requirements, policy, procedure, operation, and management; knowledge of academic pedagogy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Success in administration of programs in higher education to include strategic planning, budgeting, operations, and collaboration with colleagues.