Faculty - Chair, Department of Pathology - WMU Homer Stryker, M.D. School of Medicine

Overview

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is seeking an outstanding individual to lead the Department of Pathology. Reporting to the Dean, President, and CEO of Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed), the Chair of Pathology is responsible for providing leadership in all aspects of the Department of Pathology. Embodying the highest levels of personal and professional commitment, enthusiasm, and integrity, the Chair shares WMed’s vision of health equity for all in Southwest Michigan and leads the Department’s delivery of the highest standards of teaching, research, and Medical Examiner services. The Chair stewards resources, developing departmental budgets and overseeing the implementation of practices which foster the improvement of services provided by the Department, and ensures all required accreditations are maintained.

The Department has a long history of national leadership and regional prominence in the area of forensic pathology. The successful chair candidate will be either a forensic pathologist that can directly lead the forensic pathology program, or a non-forensic pathologist who will support growth and excellence in forensic pathology and build out new programs in experimental pathology, pathology education, and anatomic pathology (AP), or anatomic pathology/clinical pathology (AP/CP). The Chair will mentor and encourage activity for promotion and tenure of faculty in the core areas of leadership, service, education, and research.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong and impassioned vision and leadership building on excellence in all aspects of the Department of Pathology.
• Identify, hire, and retain outstanding and diverse faculty and provide supportive performance evaluation.
• Mentor and encourage activity for promotion and tenure of faculty in the core areas of leadership, service, education, and research.
• Promote continued integration of innovative pathology education and training in undergraduate and graduate medical education. Ensures excellence in teaching of graduate and medical students, post-doctoral fellows and pathology fellows.
• Support and promotion of faculty, fellow, and student research in Pathology.
• Encourage the adoption of innovative diagnostic, analytic, technological and communication tools across the Department.
• Advances continuous process improvement initiatives to further the Department’s capabilities.
• Integrates the adoption of innovative diagnostic, analytic, technological and communication tools across the Department to differentiate the Department.
• Assure compliance with state and federal laboratory regulations.
• Effectively steward department resources; supervise the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of the Department-related budgets, encompassing all funding sources and ensuring compliance with grant, legislative, and institutional guidelines.
• Build strong interdepartmental and organizational relationships wherein WMed and hospital-based faculty collaborate to ensure mutual achievement.
• Maintains and develops professional knowledge and personal competence through publications and professional organizations.
• Represents the Department and medical school in various institutional, local, regional, and national levels.
• Availability to work on weekends and evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 

• An MD, DO, MD/PhD, or equivalent degree is required.
• Must meet qualifications for medical school faculty appointment at the level of Associate Professor or Full Professor.
• Progressive management experience and business acumen.
• Strong record of ability to build and sustain collegial relationships with peers, faculty, departmental staff, hospital administration, students, other learners, representatives of outside organizations and community stakeholders.
• Evidence of commitment to and success in advancing institutional initiatives in health equity.
• A substantial record of leadership and achievements in academic medicine.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS:

• Physicians with clinical responsibilities must maintain current licensure or eligibility to practice medicine in the State of Michigan.
• Current Board certification required.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Creativity, vision, strategic thinking, and the ability to conceive the long-term implications and impact of current events and trends.
• Broad understanding of academic medical centers and faculty roles.
• Understanding of the importance of fostering a supportive workplace culture.
• Ability to effectively educate and communicate (in written and oral form) with a variety of individuals and groups.
• High level of interpersonal, management, consensus building and negotiating skills.
• Mentoring skills that will help faculty and trainees reach their full potential.
• Accountability for oneself and the department.
• Commitment to continued professional development in leadership.
• Able to perform duties independently, with a minimal need for direct supervision.

About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)

We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-entered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a just culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.

The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs and an annual estimated economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.

WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program and a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and five fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.

The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.

WMed builds upon Kalamazoo’s century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school’s advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery. 

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer of females, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans, and actively strives to increase diversity within its community. We provide a drug- and tobacco-free workplace. 

EEO Minorities/Women/Disabled/Protected Veterans.