On behalf of the executive leadership team and the selected search committee representing the Department of Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR), CareerPhysician, the national leader in academic child health executive search is pleased to inform you of the national search to identify a transformational leader to succeed Dr, Tim Bunchman as the next Chief of Pediatric Nephrology, charged with programmatic development, fostering an environment for continued scholarly output and collaborating with departmental and hospital leadership to be innovative in educating medical students and residents about the impact of nephrologists for children and families.

The selected Chief will be charged with:

• Leading the Division of Pediatric Nephrology assuming all administrative duties associated with this Division Chief role to achieve our clinical, educational and research missions.
• Evaluate the clinical platform to effectively plan for clinical growth and strategic expansion specific to outreach.
• Create opportunities and pathways for research and scholarly production for faculty members who have interest.
• Effectively recruit high quality nephrologists to join the faculty and work with departmental leaders to develop retention strategies for all faculty.
• Work closely with leaders in education to identify residents who demonstrate the appropriate skills and interests that may be fostered as future nephrology fellows.
• Serve as the nephrology lead, collaborating with a strong multi-disciplinary pediatric renal transplant team.

Programmatic strengths include:

• Cohesive and respectful team. Each physician and NP described the division as a “family”. Wellness and work-life balance has been prioritized creating an outstanding culture.
• The Nephrology division sees a combined 6500 inpatient and outpatient visits per year, with both an inpatient primary nephrology as well as a consultative nephrology service.
• The division houses a busy end-stage renal disease program including dialysis and transplantation, as well as procedures including acute dialysis (PD, HD and CRRT) and renal biopsies.
• The division has an active ACGME approved fellowship program, and an active clinical research program with involvement in the Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium (PNRC), the ASN, ASPN, IPNA and IPTA.
• The Adult VCU nephrology division is eager to collaborate and support the new chief in both clinical and research areas. Dr. Gupta, the Chair of adult nephrology, is a dynamic and very positive individual who would be an excellent person for candidates to meet during on-site visits.
• The division is very well-staffed and supported by experienced advanced practices providers as well as registered nurses. Clinical competency and excellence is demonstrated by low patient wait times and a very good volume.
• VCU’s new, state-of-the-art Children’s Tower (opened in April 2023) centralized inpatient, emergency/trauma, and outpatient care under one roof. Families will benefit from the consolidation, while maintaining the benefits of being connected to a large urban academic medical center. The new 9 story tower houses 72 private rooms; an emergency department; expanded child life services; family amenities; new operating rooms and all forms of advance imaging (CT/MRI) and is currently in the process of building out two additional floors.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Board certified in General Pediatrics
• Board certified or board eligible in pediatric nephrology
• Leadership experience in an academic medical center
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment, or commitment to do so as a faculty member and leader at VCU. 

• At least 5 years of educational leadership experience with house-staff or medical students

• A leader who can advocate and negotiate in a productive way for the division and patients and develop stronger relationships with administration and other physician leaders.
• A highly collegial and generous leader with strong interpersonal skills.
• Preferred: Experience in fostering scholarly production with success in clinical, translational or outcomes research.

Richmond, VA, is diverse, vibrant, and growing city of greater than 1.2 million people.  It offers an abundance of culture (Ballet, Symphony, Fine Arts Museum, Opera), American history, and fine dining, and recently ranked as one of the top 10 food cities in America. Richmond serves as the economic hub of Virginia and is home to many Fortune 500 companies including Dominion Energy, CarMax, Westrock and Altria. The city of Richmond is centrally located between the coastline and the Blue Ridge Mountains providing access to world-class outdoor recreation and a subtropical climate ideal for year-round activity. Washington D.C. and Dulles International Airport are within close proximity to Richmond.

For more details about this opportunity, or if you would like to recommend an individual(s) who exemplifies the qualities we are seeking in a candidate, please contact Mark Lozano at mark@careerphysician.com, or at 469-553-9311. All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant.

As a preeminent national, urban, public research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion - an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence.

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CareerPhysician is the national leader in executive search and leadership development in academic pediatrics with 23 years of unprecedented success supporting the complex faculty and executive leadership needs of Departments of Pediatrics and Child Health Organizations. No one understands the pediatric leadership paradigm and its inherent supply, resource and system challenges better. The firm’s innovative talent acquisition and retention processes are recognized as the gold-standard in academic pediatric recruitment and leadership development. Through its Core Leadership Competencies and partnership with the Child Health Advisory Council, CareerPhysician is exclusively committed to the continued development of current and future physician leaders.

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