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Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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Position description

The University of California, Davis School of Medicine seeks a successful leader to serve as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. UC Davis Health is the region's only academic health center focused on discovering and sharing knowledge and providing the highest quality of care. UC Davis Health is a hub of innovation that encompasses UC Davis Medical Center, UC Davis School of Medicine, The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, and the UC Davis Medical Group.

The recruitment of the Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is essential to the continued growth and success of UC Davis Health, the School of Medicine, and the department, as it works to achieve its many academic and clinical aspirations and excel in all of its important mission endeavors.

The Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will provide broad leadership and administrative oversight of the department’s clinical and research initiatives. The Chair reports directly to the Dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine. The selected candidate will also hold the Joe Tupin Endowed Chair in Psychiatry.

The Chair will have direct oversight over 54 faculty, 462 staff members and 66 students. Direct reports to the Chair include department faculty, a Chief Administrative Officer, Forensic Division Chief, Clinical Director and an Administrative Specialist. The Chair will provide fiscal leadership for the Department, overseeing the $30M operating budget, $94M from research initiatives and $25M in external service contracts.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is a top-ranked organization with nationally recognized strengths in research, teaching and service. The Department received over $22 million in NIH research funding in 2016 and was recently ranked 12th out of 91 academic psychiatry departments nationwide by the Blue Ridge Institute of Medicine. In addition to making incredible advances in research, the Department also serves as a beacon of advocacy and quality care, serving as one of the largest providers of psychiatric care in the Central Valley. Complimenting this well-rounded department are the UC Davis MIND Institute, Center for Neuroscience, the Center for Mind and Brain, and the California National Primate Research Center, affiliate UC Davis partners that provide the department with exceptional opportunities for innovative, multi-disciplinary programs, and research activities.

In order for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to achieve its goals, the Chair will be expected to address the following opportunities and challenges:

  • Continue to provide executive leadership and vision to the department.
  • Promote a culture of equity and inclusion and support new diversity initiatives.
  • Further strengthen and grow clinical services to meet the needs of the community.
  • Broaden and enhance the Department’s academic and research portfolio.
  • Fully leverage the entire UC Davis academic community.
  • Identify and cultivate new fundraising opportunities and external partnerships.

Candidates should hold a M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. The candidates must also possess academic credentials that qualify for an appointment as Full Professor in the Ladder Rank (Regular), In Residence, Clinical Investigator (Clinical X), or the Health Sciences Clinical Professor series, demonstrated skill in the forward thinking and strategic administration of a major psychiatry clinical service, have a California Medical License (or be eligible for licensure), and be board certified. Candidates should have a strong background in academic medicine, including demonstrated excellence in clinical service, medical education, and research, and significant experience as a physician leader in an academic setting.

The successful candidate will possess most, if not all, of the following qualities and characteristics:

  • A distinguished record leading high quality clinical care and excellent research activity, and of realizing the mutually reinforcing gains.
  • A record of implementing initiatives to meet the changes of academic medicine and patient care.
  • Commitment to equity in gender, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc. with concern for the needs of a diverse faculty and employee population.
  • Ability to and interest to commit to UC Davis’s mission and with a goal to keep the institution’s priorities front and center.
  • Exceptional leadership skills, with proven success in fostering a spirit of unity and collaboration across a major clinical department.
  • A record of developing cross-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary initiatives, within an academic campus and beyond.
  • A commitment to transparency and an inclusive management style.
  • A strong understanding of both research and clinical practice in medicine.
  • Demonstrated commitment to community health and engagement.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with faculty, administration, trainees, and clinical staff.
  • Demonstrated experience in talent management and development to recruit top faculty, residents, fellows and students.
  • Proven business acumen and financial management skills.
  • The aptitude and desire to raise substantial resources to support clinical, research, and educational activities of an academic department; the ability to identify and leverage multiple revenue streams.
  • An ability to be a compelling and effective external representative of an organization, particularly with governmental organizations.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately. For full consideration, materials should be received by January 31, 2018; however the position will be open until filled through June 30, 2018. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters as well as a diversity statement addressing aspirations and contributions to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in their professional careers and a list of six references should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/6258. Electronic submission of materials is required.

For Ladder Rank faculty only: UC Davis supports Family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second person to accompany an invited faculty recruitment candidate who is a mother (or single parent of either gender) of a breast or bottle-feeding child less than two years of age.
http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/work-life/index.html

UC Davis recognizes the necessity of supporting faculty with efforts to integrate work, family and other work-life considerations. To recruit and retain the best faculty, the campus sponsors a Work Life Program that provides programs and services that support faculty as they strive to honor their commitments to work, home and community.
http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/work-life/index.html

The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) is a service designed to support departments and deans offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. Eligibility for POP services is limited, for full program details please visit http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/partner-opp/index.html.

For questions regarding how these policies/programs affect academic appointees, contact:

(530) 752-7643

UC Davis and UC Davis Health System are smoke- and tobacco-free campuses. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any property owned or leased by UC Davis and/or UC Davis Health System -- indoors and outdoors, including parking lots, industrial and residential space.

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 positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

UC Davis commits to inclusion excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct. If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the recruiting department.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Diversity contributions documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/diversity/equity_inclusion/index.html for guidelines about writing a diversity statement and why one is requested.

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 6 required (contact information only)
2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Diversity 2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Women

Job location

Sacramento, CA