Department of Ophthalmology, Chair

About the role

The Department of Ophthalmology at UC San Diego School of Medicine seeks a visionary leader to serve as the Chair. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Medicine, the Chair will oversee the academic, clinical, and research programs of the department.

Responsibilities

• Establish and advance the Department’s strategic direction
• Hire and retain outstanding faculty and staff
• Advocate for critical resources and partner with other units
• Manage the educational, clinical, and research missions of the department
• Lead the planning and development of the Department’s academic, clinical, and research portfolio
• Form highly collaborative teams to achieve academic and research growth
• Promote a culture of inquiry and place value on the scholarship of discovery, application, integration, and teaching
• Cultivate and apply interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
• Pursue educational, academic, teaching, service, and/or research activities

Requirements

• MD or equivalent medical degree from an accredited institution
• Board certification in ophthalmology, with eligibility for a California medical license
• 10+ years of professional, scholarly, and educational accomplishments as a faculty member
• Experience leading a large, complex academic department or division, ideally within an academic medical center and inclusive of multiple subspecialties
• Demonstrated experience in senior administrative roles, including oversight of financial, human resources, and operational strategy
• Experience managing and leading organizations through growth and change, with the ability to innovate and implement strategic initiatives effectively
• Strong track record of advancing a research enterprise, including supporting faculty productivity, fostering innovation, and securing extramural funding
• Demonstrated success in philanthropic development and building external funding streams, including partnerships with donors and institutions
• Exceptional leadership in faculty recruitment, retention, and development, with a focus on building high-performing, collaborative teams and mentoring future leaders
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision and engage a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience operating effectively within a complex, matrixed healthcare system, with strong systems thinking and strategic insight
• Track record of enhancing clinical programs and advancing high-quality, patient-centered care delivery
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and emotional intelligence, with a commitment to supporting faculty, trainees, and staff development

Qualifications

• MD or equivalent medical degree from an accredited institution
• Board certification in ophthalmology, with eligibility for a California medical license
• 10+ years of professional, scholarly, and educational accomplishments as a faculty member
• Experience leading a large, complex academic department or division, ideally within an academic medical center and inclusive of multiple subspecialties
• Demonstrated experience in senior administrative roles, including oversight of financial, human resources, and operational strategy
• Experience managing and leading organizations through growth and change, with the ability to innovate and implement strategic initiatives effectively
• Strong track record of advancing a research enterprise, including supporting faculty productivity, fostering innovation, and securing extramural funding
• Demonstrated success in philanthropic development and building external funding streams, including partnerships with donors and institutions
• Exceptional leadership in faculty recruitment, retention, and development, with a focus on building high-performing, collaborative teams and mentoring future leaders
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision and engage a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience operating effectively within a complex, matrixed healthcare system, with strong systems thinking and strategic insight
• Track record of enhancing clinical programs and advancing high-quality, patient-centered care delivery
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and emotional intelligence, with a commitment to supporting faculty, trainees, and staff development

Benefits

The position comes with benefits as per the UC San Diego Health Sciences Compensation Plan, which includes limitations on outside professional activities and clinical moonlighting.

Pay

The salary range for this position is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

The schedule for this position is standard term of five years with annual performance review and goal setting.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Letter of Interest - 500 words or fewer
• Covid-19 Statement - Reflect on how the pandemic may have impacted your academic productivity

About UC San Diego

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.