Recruit
Chair, Department of Family & Community Medicine
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: September 18, 2026
Next review date: Sunday, Nov 29, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Saturday, Jul 31, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Chair serves as the strategic, academic, and administrative leader of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, responsible for advancing its clinical, educational, research, and community missions. Working closely with School of Medicine, the health system, and FQHC leadership, the Chair will expand the clinical enterprise, strengthen key partnerships, and foster a collaborative and supportive environment for faculty, staff, learners, and residents.
The Chair will promote interdisciplinary research, enhance the Department's nationally recognized residency program, and develop future leaders in primary care and health services research. With an appreciation for the matrixed nature of UC Davis, the Chair will integrate research, education, clinical care, and community engagement while ensuring the Department remains a thriving academic practice. This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary and collaborative leader to shape the future of family medicine and advance the health of the communities served by UC Davis.
The successful Chair for the Department of Family and Community Medicine candidate will:
- Develop and execute a clear strategic vision aligned with the priorities of the School of Medicine and UC Davis Health.
- Serve as a visible and influential advocate for the Department within the institution, the community, and nationally.
- Expand and integrate high-quality clinical services across the care continuum.
- Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding faculty, staff, and trainees while fostering a culture of engagement and professional growth.
- Advance the Department's research enterprise through mentorship, collaboration, and scholarly excellence.
- Ensure clinical quality, accountability, and continuous performance improvement across all providers.
- Maintain excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education programs.
- Strengthen partnerships across UC Davis Health, the School of Medicine, and the community to advance shared clinical, educational, and research goals.
- Provide strong financial stewardship to ensure the Department's long-term growth and sustainability.
The candidate must be eligible to hold an appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level. As a faculty member, responsibilities include clinical service in the area of specialty, as applicable; teaching medical students and post-graduate trainees; conducting bench/clinical/translational research leading to peer-reviewed publication; and University service. All responsibilities will be further determined based on faculty series.
For the full position description and to apply, visit recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07779.
Qualifications
- M.D., D.O., M.D./Ph.D., D.O./Ph.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited institution.
- ACGME-accredited residency training in Family Medicine and current Board certification.
- Eligibility for permanent, unrestricted licensure in California.
- Possess academic credentials and accomplishments for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or higher at UC Davis School of Medicine.
- Progressive leadership experience in an academic medical center environment.
- Demonstrated success as a leader in a Department or Division of Family Medicine of an academic entity of comparable size and scope.
- A national reputation in the field and a distinguished record of scholarly research activity, teaching, and clinical care.
- Track record as a respected leader with strong business acumen and the ability to grow a department, make sound fiduciary decisions, measure and improve productivity and outcomes, develop others, work collaboratively, and take appropriate business risks to achieve goals.
- Excellence in teaching and a track record of developing the careers of faculty, staff, and students.
- Proven ability to build productive teams and collaborate across departmental and institutional lines.
- Demonstrated success advancing and managing a diverse workforce, including an outstanding track record of recruitment and development of faculty and trainees; one who leverages a national reputation to attract the highest level of talent.
- A track record as a creative and strategic thinker who is able to envision and manage the future. Experience in managing growth and change, resolving conflict, and building consensus, as well as a demonstrated willingness to seize opportunities while assuming responsibility for appropriate risks.
- Possession of broad, contemporary market insight regarding the current status, trends, and outlook for the healthcare delivery system in Family Medicine and its related services. Demonstrated understanding of the accountable care environment and value-based care.
- A skilled negotiator who can advocate for resources and support for their team and Department in alignment with the goals and objectives of a broader organization.
- A visionary and transformational leader who can ideate and communicate a plan for the future and drive a group towards a set of goals over time.
- A mentor who can help individuals grow towards their strengths and interests and create synergies within a group to grow collectively.
- A competent businessperson with a grounding in financial principles and can deliver on ambitious goals in fast‑changing environments.
- A calculated risk-taker who can lead effective change with sensitivity to its potential impact on the Department, its culture, and individual faculty and staff members.
- An enthusiastic and positive leader who is accessible and visible to faculty and staff and can act as a model for behavior and work ethic for those they lead.
- An effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills and an ability to facilitate communication in all settings and methods of communication.
Application Requirements
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.
- 5 required (contact information only)
References will only be contacted regarding those candidates who advance to final consideration for the position and will not be reviewed unless needed. Candidates will be notified prior to the university initiating reference contact.
Help contact: essantizo@ucdavis.edu
About UC Davis
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.
UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.
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.
Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.
UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.
The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.
The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
