The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at UNM Health Sciences. The chair will provide strategic leadership and direction for all aspects of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation’s involvement in the University as well as the state and region. The individual we seek must be qualified for appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor rank, open track at the UNM School of Medicine.
The Chair of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation plays a major leadership role in all Health Sciences mission areas. It is expected that a successful candidate will have a record of advocacy across all the key missions to further grow the department in all areas while maintaining a collaborative team-focused approach. The chair will lead the department on behalf of the Dean of the UNM School of Medicine.
The UNM Health Sciences strives for excellence across four key areas: patient care, education, research, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and community engagement. The faculty of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation practices within the University of New Mexico Hospital system, which includes inpatient and outpatient clinics. University of New Mexico Hospital is a tertiary and quaternary referral center that also serves as the safety-net hospital for the citizens of New Mexico. The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is celebrated for its innovations in medical education and has earned a reputation for prioritizing diversity in its student body and physician workforce.
The Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation will work collaboratively with the Dean of the School of Medicine and other leaders of the UNM Health & Health Sciences to create excellence in existing teaching, team-based research, and clinical programs and to position the Department for significant growth as it expands to meet the academic and clinical service demands in New Mexico. The University of New Mexico Hospital is the primary teaching affiliate of the School of Medicine and the region’s only Level 1 trauma program serving approximately 2 million people.
As New Mexico’s only academic surgical center and provider of tertiary/quaternary care surgical services in a broad range of surgical specialties, we are most proud of these accomplishments but also recognize our responsibility and privilege to continue to provide state-of-the-art surgical care to the remarkable patients we serve.
The Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation includes 46 faculty with 10 divisions, within the UNM School of Medicine. The Department provides excellent education and support to our residents, fellows, students, and faculty. The educational programs within the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation include four residency programs (UNM Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program, the Orthopaedics Physical Therapy Residency Program, the Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency Program) and five fellowship programs (Ortho Hand, Ortho Sports, Ortho Trauma, PM&R Brain Injury and PM&R Sports Medicine).
The Mission of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine is to advance the health of all New Mexicans by educating and increasing the diversity of health professionals, leaders and scientists; providing outstanding and compassionate medical care; advocating for the health of all New Mexicans and pursuing new knowledge and excellence of practice.
UNM Health Sciences is in the high desert community of Albuquerque, New Mexico and is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). It is one of six states that are majority-minority and the state with the highest proportion of Hispanic or Latino inhabitants (50%) and 3rd highest proportion of American Indian and Alaska Native inhabitants (11%) in the U.S. UNM Health Sciences is part of the state’s flagship institution for higher education. The medical school was established in 1964, and became a component of the UNM Health Sciences in 1994. Albuquerque enjoys a temperate climate with 310 days of sunshine as well as four distinct seasons. Exposure to a wide variety of interprofessional educational opportunities, abundant outdoor activities, and diverse cultural experiences makes Albuquerque a special place to call home.
Minimum Qualifications:
The Chair of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation must hold an MD, MD-PhD, DO, or equivalent medical degree and be Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery. The candidate must have demonstrated expertise appropriate for appointment as an Associate Professor or Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. The candidate must have at least five years of administrative and leadership experience in an academic institution, be eligible for licensure in New Mexico, and must be eligible to work in the United States.
Preferred Qualifications:
The chair must be a person of high integrity with a significant record of achievement in academic medicine.
Demonstrated excellence in clinical service, is surgically active and clinically respected
Demonstrated ability to create a collaborative vision for the department’s missions through innovation and growth and bring it to fruition in an organized and timely manner
A proven leader in academic medicine with a national reputation
Evidence of leadership and experience in managing a complex clinical, research, and educational enterprise.
Exceptional communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to foster collaboration, teamwork, and creativity
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion of student, faculty, and staff success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities.
A strong record of skills in administration, finance, strategic planning, policy, and negotiation
Nomination Process
To nominate an outstanding candidate, please send the name and contact information of the nominee to:UNM Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
c/o April Rodriguez-Esparza
Telephone Number: (505) 272-8268
amrodriguez@salud.unm.edu
Nominations must be received by October 11, 2024. If self-nominating, you need only apply and not submit a self-nomination.
For best consideration, applications must be received October 31, 2024, however, the position will remain open until filled.
How to Apply: A complete application consist of (1) current curriculum vitae; (2) a comprehensive letter of interest that addresses how the candidates’ strengths and experience match the minimum and preferred qualifications for the position, and what the candidate sees as challenges and opportunities of the Chair in the current academic environment, and; (3) names and contact information for five references.
A leadership statement is available for candidates to review which was developed by the faculty and provides department information to assist with the application. For any questions related to this search or to obtain the leadership statement, please contact April Rodriguez-Esparza, AMRodriguez@salud.unm.edu.
For complete details of this position and to apply, access Faculty Posting at:
https://unm.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/18/home/requisition/31059?c=unm
For information regarding the confidentiality of inquiries and applications or general questions please call or email to the address listed above. UNM’s confidentiality policy (“Disclosure of information about Candidates for Employment, “UNM Board of Regents’ Policy Manual 6.7), which includes information about public disclosure of documents submitted by applicants, is located at http://www.unm.edu/~brpm/r67.htm
