Transplant Surgery Division Chief, Open Rank Division of Transplant Surgery / Department of Surgery

Job Summary:

The Department of Surgery has an opening for a physician leader to serve as the Chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE) position open for candidates at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

The Division of Transplant Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine is looking to fill the position of Division Chief for Transplant Surgery. This key physician leader holds a critical role within the Department of Surgery, overseeing all administrative, clinical and educational activities for the unit. The Division Chief is responsible for leading a faculty cohort of approximately 15 surgeons, 25 advanced practice providers, 9 research faculty, in addition 30+ transplant multidisciplinary specialists, at both the Anschutz Medical Campus and at UCHealth. Preferred is an individual with an accomplished academic record, formal training in healthcare leadership or change management, demonstrated programmatic and clinical leadership, as well as experience within a high-functioning, diverse surgical program.

The candidate will be responsible for sustaining and growing the Division, managing system of care clinical practice sites, directing the administrative leadership team, enhancing the multi-discipline research program, and fostering strong, collaborative and sustainable relationships with both external and internal stakeholders. An ideal candidate would have a proven record as a problem solver with the ability to collaboratively and thoughtfully negotiate and implement innovative solutions to contemporary challenges in a fast paced and highly matrixed environment. An inclusive and collaborative management style is crucial to the success of this position.

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals - UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado - that treat more than two million adult and pediatric patients each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by over $757 million in research grants. For more information, visit www.cuanschutz.edu.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide excellent clinical care to patient population
• Create a collaborative and professional culture
• Promote and develop the division's research - through the development of new knowledge in the basic and clinical sciences, as well as in health policy and health care education.
• Strive to provide and guide others in providing the best level of patient care - through state-of-the-art clinical programs which reflect the unique educational environment of the University, as well as the needs of the patients we serve.
• Provide mentorship and encouragement in the development of future faculty via education - through outstanding educational programs for medical students, allied health students, graduate students, house staff, practicing health professionals, and the public at large
• Ensure the highest quality and national visibility of the Division's patient care, education research, other scholarly/academic activities, and community outreach programs.
• Promote the Departmental priorities of interdisciplinary program development, physician-scientist career development, diversity of its workforce, and integrated program development with its affiliates.
• Assure the mentorship of trainees and faculty with the goals of career development and progression toward promotion.
• Recruit, retain, and academically develop faculty in the Division.
• Administer the Division in a fiscally responsible manner within university policies.
• Personally participate in regularly scheduled meetings of the Department of Surgery's Division Chiefs, and other ad hoc Departmental meetings.
• Work positively and collaboratively with affiliated hospitals, the School of Medicine, and the Anschutz Medical campus leadership to foster the growth and development of the multiple missions of the Division.
• Support, develop, and provide leadership for transplant surgery initiatives and innovation within the department, school, and the healthcare system.
• Demonstrate a willingness to work with students, fellows, and colleagues, and mentor students and junior colleagues.
• Develop and implement new programs that address the research and clinical skills required but will also help in the implementation of approaches to mitigate burnout, a critical problem in academic medicine
• Develop performance metrics for faculty.
• Support community providers through education and consultation.

Work Location:

Onsite - this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO; and network of care sites.

Why Join Us:

The Division of Transplant Surgery's multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive care for complex hepatobiliary surgical patients as well as liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant patients. Our providers are committed to a mission of excellent patient care, research, and innovative surgical techniques. Our goal is to provide our patients waiting for transplantation with seamless care in navigating the complex medical system and to offer them the best opportunity at early transplantation and favorable outcomes.

The University of Colorado is proud to be the longest-running liver transplant program in the world, started by Dr. Tom Starzl, who performed the first kidney transplant in Colorado in 1962 and the first liver transplant in a human in 1963. Dr. Igal Kam, who served as Chief of the Division from 1988 to 2016, succeeded Dr. Starzl. Under Dr. Kam's leadership the program grew rapidly, thrived, and remained in the forefront of surgical innovation, performing the first adult-to-adult live-donor liver transplant in the United States in 1997.

Our transplant program is one of the largest in the United States, and our goal is to continue to grow and lead in the arena of innovative clinical transplant surgery, research, and educating the next generation of transplant surgeons. To date, the University Colorado has performed over 6,000 solid organ transplants, with over 1,000 of these involving living donors. In collaboration with Children's Hospital Colorado, we can provide transplantation and complex hepatobiliary surgical care for patients of any age.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Professor

• MD or MD/PhD, or international equivalent terminal degree with board certification
• Colorado Medical License at time of hire
• Medical Board certification
• Full professor rank

Associate Professor

• MD or MD/PhD, or international equivalent terminal degree with board certification
• Colorado Medical License at time of hire
• Medical Board certification
• Mid-career associate rank

Preferred Qualifications (all ranks):

Clinical Excellence and Eminence

• Exceptional reputation for transplant surgery care and outstanding patient outcomes. Leadership and participation in national or international societies are a plus.
• A national/international reputation for personal academic accomplishments
• A record of outstanding credentials, academic accomplishments within transplant surgery, and the experience and national reputation necessary to sustain the history of excellence within the Division. A history of federally funded basic or translational research or experience with large, multicenter clinical trials or outcomes research is desirable. A record of recruiting, developing, and retaining clinicians and investigators is crucial.

Healthcare Administrative Leadership

Accomplished administrative leadership experience in a complex academic institution. Knowledge of the financial complexities, payer models, and associated reimbursement in providing high-quality, cost-effective specialty healthcare.

Critical Leadership Capabilities:

Leading People

The incoming Division Head should possess the requisite leadership skills to take the Division of Transplant Surgery to the next level of academic and clinical excellence. The Division Chief will demonstrate an ability to build and lead cohesive, high-performing teams focused on achieving optimal quality and outcomes across patient care, education, and research by:

• Displaying the vision and energy to build a strong, research-intensive faculty.
• Communicating openly while encouraging constructive debate to manage projects, solve problems, and discuss challenging issues.
• Establishing clear, challenging, and metrics-based performance goals for individuals, divisions, and other units, and securing and deploying resources to meet these goals.
• Reviewing the Division's vision, plans, and activities while adjusting to meet evolving expectations of academic and clinical partners and institutional goals.
  
  

Collaborating and Influencing

The successful candidate will possess excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and transparent communication skills, as well as the ability to successfully engage, unify, build and sustain relationships with diverse constituents (e.g., Dean, chairs, faculty, staff, hospital administration, residents, community stakeholders, and other external representatives). They will have a track record of forging collaborations across different groups to advance the reputation of the Division. The candidate will demonstrate this by:

• Facilitating discussions that enable people to collaborate, promoting collaboration across multiple parties through a transparent and action-oriented leadership style.
• Identifying and meeting with key stakeholders to help them shape a consensus collectively, compromising as necessary for results.
• Developing an explicit understanding of which relationships are most important to the organization and nurturing them.
  

Clinical and Operational Excellence

The successful candidate will bring the ability to oversee an operation in a fiscally prudent manner, including:

• Demonstrate experience in making balanced, fair, and appropriate decisions.
• Have an appreciation of and ability to balance the fiscal pressures facing academic divisions of transplant surgery and to recognize the long-term trends in medicine that are occurring at a policy level throughout the healthcare environment.
• Possess experience in pursuits to support programmatic development.
• Have a history of running an operationally strong and financially solid operation.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: Dr. Joseph Cleveland/or Dr. Richard Schulick

Screening of Applications Begins:

Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, but preference will be given to complete applications received by April 18, 2025. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:

Associate Professor: $525,000 - $575,000 plus potential leadership stipends and the possibility of incentives based on clinical FTE. Administrative positions offered by UCH as it relates to the role of Division Head comes with additional administrative stipends.

Professor: $575,000 - $625,000 plus potential leadership stipends and the possibility of incentives based on clinical FTE. Administrative positions offered by UCH as it relates to the role of Division Head comes with additional administrative stipends.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.