Chair of Family Medicine and Community Health

About the role

The University of Minnesota (UMN), the public land-grant research university of the State of Minnesota, seeks a strategic and collaborative academic physician-scholar executive to serve as Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health (DFMCH) in the University of Minnesota Medical School, following the upcoming retirement of the current Head, James Pacala, MD, MS.

The Medical School is a highly prestigious, widely respected, and academically productive center for physician education and training, investigative science, graduate and undergraduate medical education, basic and translational research, and clinical excellence. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive medical schools in the country, with campuses in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud. The Department of Family Medicine & Community Health benefits from its location at the only U.S. institution housing schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, public health, and veterinary medicine on a single campus.

The Medical School is ranked 25th in NIH funding and is a global leader in regenerative medicine, transplantation, global medicine, device-based therapeutics, and basic science research. It collaborates closely with Minnesota’s biomedical companies to advance clinical technologies.

The Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, established over 50 years ago, is one of the original 16 family medicine departments in the U.S. It fulfills the Medical School’s tripartite mission of excellence in teaching, research, and clinical service. DFMCH is the third-largest department in the Medical School, spanning the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses, and sponsors 10 family medicine residencies and four accredited fellowships across Minnesota. It has been the number one NIH-funded family medicine department for the last three years, with several faculty ranked among the top 20 family medicine principal investigators.

The Department plays a central role in advancing healthy aging, a key strategic priority for the Medical School. It is establishing a new interdisciplinary Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care shared between DFMCH and the Department of Medicine, integrating clinical care, education, research, and community engagement to address the needs of Minnesota’s and the nation’s growing older adult population.

The Chair will provide strategic leadership and oversight for the department’s clinical, educational, and research missions, reporting to the Dean of the Medical School and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs. The Chair also serves as the Clinical Service Unit (CSU) Leader for Family Medicine within University of Minnesota Physicians (UMP), overseeing the faculty practice and collaborating with UMP executive leadership. Faculty physicians hold dual appointments with the University and UMP, requiring the Chair to lead effectively across both organizations.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, visionary leader with experience guiding complex academic and clinical enterprises, fostering multidisciplinary partnerships, advancing research and clinical innovation, and mentoring faculty and trainees. They will demonstrate the ability to build high-performing teams, support cross-departmental initiatives, and lead in a dynamic healthcare and academic environment.

Requirements

• MD, DO, MD/PhD, or equivalent degree.
• Board certification in Family Medicine and licensure or eligibility for licensure in Minnesota.
• Achievement in clinical, educational, and/or research pursuits warranting an academic appointment at the rank of Professor.

About the Department

Committed to innovation and diversity, the Medical School educates physicians, scientists, and health professionals; generates knowledge and treatments; and cares for patients and communities with compassion and respect. Core values include excellence, inclusiveness, collaboration, and discovery.

The Duluth campus is a national leader in improving healthcare access and outcomes in rural Minnesota and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. The St. Cloud campus, in partnership with CentraCare, offers diverse patient experiences and prepares students to serve rural and immigrant populations.

Founded in 1888, the University of Minnesota Medical School has three campuses: a four-year MD program and MD/PhD program in the Twin Cities, and MD programs in Duluth and St. Cloud.

Department Highlights

• 99 faculty members at the University of Minnesota, 260 adjunct faculty, and 50 affiliate faculty.
• 2,540 residents and fellows trained since 1971; currently 167 residents and fellows in training.
• Clinical net revenue of $20.5 million.
• Average of $16.9 million in sponsored funding and 54 awards over the last five years, with 90% federal funding.
• 70 active grants, including 40 federal grants; $15.5 million in grant revenue in fiscal year 2026, with $14.7 million (95%) from federal sources.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off.
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program.
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans; healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts; University HSA contributions.
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance; employee wellbeing program.
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity; financial counseling services.
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost.
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area.

Salary ranges provide a framework, with initial pay based on individual credentials and experience to ensure fair and equitable compensation.