Chief, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology/Executive Director, Digestive Disease Institute...

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (UACOM-P) seeks an accomplished leader to serve as its next Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.  The Chief will also serve as the Executive Director, Digestive Disease Institute at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix (BUMC-P), aligning clinical strategy and translational research in partnership with vital community physicians.  This is an extraordinary opportunity to build an academic division of excellence and expand complex subspecialty care for a rapidly growing community.

As the first college of medicine in the nation’s fifth largest city, the college was recently granted full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and seeks to substantially grow through its collaborations and commitment to impact the health of the city and state.  The February 2015 completion of the 30-year academic affiliation agreement between the University of Arizona and Banner Health, provides a unique opportunity to further the growth of the College of Medicine-Phoenix through the development of a robust, academically oriented Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The division currently has 12 full-time and eight affiliated faculty, 4 APPs, and support staff.  Its long-standing fellowship program spans two clinical sites, including BUMC-P and the Phoenix VA Health Care System, and has nine fellows.  BUMC-P also has a busy transplant program, performing more than 120 liver transplants each year.  The division offers multiple liver disease satellite clinics throughout Arizona, a swallowing and reflux center of excellence, Ytrrium-90 (Y-90) therapy for treating liver cancer, and is at the forefront in advanced therapeutic endoscopic procedures, especially biliary.  The division is also leading the way at this new medical school to rapidly expand clinical trials and research.

Reporting to the Department Chair of Medicine, Dr. Michael Fallon, MD, the chief will recruit and engage full time faculty as well as partner closely with affiliated community physicians practicing at the Digestive Disease Institute.  The successful candidate will be a collaborative and energetic leader who will continue building and strengthening the division by inspiring and supporting existing faculty, as well as recruiting new faculty toward supporting UACOM-P's missions in education, patient care, and research.  There are excellent opportunities to build an inflammatory bowel disease center, to further grow general gastroenterology, colorectal disease services, and advanced interventional endoscopy.

The successful candidate will be board certified in gastroenterology with at least five years of progressively complex administrative experience (e.g., program leader, center/section director, etc.) in an academic medical center setting.  Candidates will also show a demonstrated track record of national distinction in teaching, clinical care, and research discovery in an academic department of medicine or comparable environment, and be eligible for a University of Arizona academic appointment at the associate professor level or higher.  The university seeks a leader with experience in the development and successful implementation of new academic (educational, patient care, research) programs and services, and someone who can demonstrate collaborative engagement with private practice community for mutual benefit in program development and patient care.

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited.  Questions or materials should be sent electronically to UACOM-P's consultants Jeff Schroetlin and Megan Welch, at mwelch@wittkieffer.com or call 630-575-6904.