Tenure Track Associate/Full Professor: Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine & Director of Center for Geroscience and Healthy Aging
About The Job
The University of Minnesota Medical School seeks a driven and innovative leader to serve as the Inaugural Director of the Center for Geroscience and Healthy Aging (CGHA). This individual will have the opportunity to leverage the strong clinical, education, and research infrastructure of UMN to build the division into a national leader in geriatric and palliative care medicine. This recruitment is backed by substantial philanthropic support and institutional commitment, providing the incoming Director with the resources to build a nationally recognized program.
Role & Responsibilities
Lead the Center for Geroscience & Healthy Aging (CGHA)
Establish and scale the CGHA as a flagship enterprise for healthy aging—creating programs that advance research, clinical care, and innovation; overseeing education to build a skilled workforce; and extending clinical care and research into rural Minnesota to reach all communities across the state.
Set the CGHA strategy and execution plan (near- and long-term) across discovery, translation, and implementation; align priorities with institutional strengths (e.g., iBAM, CHAI, CMRR/CCIR, Grossman Center, MN-GWEP, VA GRECC) to accelerate impact in geroscience, dementia, and age-friendly care.
Grow faculty and programs: recruit, retain, and mentor basic, translational, clinical, and population scientists; foster team science and high-value collaborations; steward philanthropic and institutional resources to catalyze research cores, training pipelines, and clinical innovation.
Division Director, Geriatrics & Palliative Care (GPM)
Set a strategic vision for the Division that advances clinical excellence, scholarship, and education within the Medical School and health system; build a bold growth plan for geriatrics and palliative care.
Recruit and mentor faculty and staff across geriatrics and palliative care (with appointments in Medicine and Family Medicine & Community Health); champion faculty development and protect time for scholarly activity.
Lead an age-friendly health system agenda across inpatient and ambulatory settings, embedding the 4Ms (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, Mobility) and person-centered, culturally responsive care.
Build a robust research portfolio spanning geroscience translation, dementia/brain health, symptom science, serious-illness care, and implementation science; leverage informatics and clinical trials infrastructure (including opportunities such as a future NIA Pepper Center).
Advance education and training for UME, GME, and CME; partner with Hennepin Healthcare to expand geriatrics and palliative fellowships; extend statewide training through MN-GWEP and interprofessional programs.
Promote inclusive excellence in recruitment, retention, mentorship, and advancement; partner with Medical School DEI leadership to ensure equitable policies, climates, and outcomes.
Cross-Cutting Leadership Partnerships & alignment: coordinate with M Health Fairview, Minneapolis VA, and community partners to integrate research, clinical innovation, and population health—especially for rural and underserved communities.
Stewardship & outcomes: set clear metrics for impact (patient outcomes, research funding, workforce training, statewide reach); ensure fiscal responsibility and effective use of philanthropic investment.
Qualifications
Medical degree (MD or equivalent) and board certification in a relevant field.
Eligibility to work in the United States and ability to be licensed in Minnesota are required.
Eligible for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
Record of clinical excellence and understanding of geriatric, palliative, and complex patient care.
Outstanding scholarship, including a track record of publications and extramural funding.
Demonstrated record in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Preferred Qualifications
Strong visionary, inspirational leader who can develop and communicate a long-term vision for the advancement of the division and is equally skilled at developing and operating a detailed plan to achieve that vision.
Hightly approachable and compassionate; a record of promoting a culture of innovation, collaboration, teamwork, respect, and honesty; professional and personal demeanor characterized by integrity, graciousness, sincerity, and a passion for the organization’s mission and objectives.
Exceptionally team-oriented; skilled at working well and partnering with providers across a large, complex organization and community.
Highly adept and at ease managing the day-to-day operational details with the ability to be decisive, to conceptualize and analyze complex business opportunities, and oversee multiple projects.
Demonstrated experience in recruiting, retaining, and mentoring a diverse and highly skilled cadre of faculty, staff, and students.