The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences (UTCOMLS) and University of Toledo Health (UToledo Health) seek a transformative leader with outstanding clinical skills, academic credentials, and executive acumen to serve as Chair of Surgery at UTCOM, Chief of Surgery at the University of Toledo Medical Center, and Academic Chief of Surgery at ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
The Chair of Surgery will have a unique opportunity to advance the University’s academic surgical reputation through strategic leadership, faculty recruitment and management, operations excellence, and partnership development with regional teaching and research affiliate organizations. The Chair will report directly to the Dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. He/she will also serve as service chief at the University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC) and on the UTMC Medical Executive Committee of the Medical Staff.
The Chair of Surgery functions as a key leader within the UTCOMLS and the University’s affiliated surgical educational programs at UTMC and ProMedica Toledo Hospital. A keen systems orientation is critical to success in this complex, matrixed environment, as is a focus on building collaborative relationships across a multi-site regional healthcare education ecosystem. The Chair will be expected to work productively with a variety of key stakeholders to strengthen existing programs and create new educational and clinical initiatives.
The successful candidate will be a nationally recognized academic surgeon with a passion for surgical excellence, sophisticated leadership and mentoring skills, and a record of achievement in clinical, educational, and administrative roles. They will demonstrate a commitment to faculty, departmental, and institutional success; approach this work with a deep understanding of how culture influences organizational success; and a willingness to be both tactical and strategic in achieving organizational goals. The next Chair must be passionate about building consensus, yet unafraid to make tough decisions or lead change. As an advocate and trusted steward of the department, the new Chair will spearhead transformational changes and promote expansive growth to support the mission and vision of UTCOMLS, UToledo Health, and support the affiliation with ProMedica.
The Chair must share and demonstrate a passion for the institutional mission of providing exceptional clinical, educational, and research services, including interprofessional team building. He/she must possess the business acumen and cultural sensitivity to manage in a complex organization and demonstrate the interpersonal skills that will ensure successful relationship building with a variety of external and internal stakeholders, including community clinicians and leaders, donors, and other relevant external entities.
The Chair will collaborate with UTCOMLS, UToledo Health, and ProMedica leadership to develop and implement an academic strategic plan for all surgical specialties within the department, with a focus on excellence in clinical, teaching, and research mission. He/she will also oversee the involvement of volunteer faculty in the Department’s activities; manage department incentives within the faculty compensation plan; lead academic program development in collaboration with the UTCOMLS Dean, UToledo Health and, when appropriate, ProMedica leadership; and ensure that the residency program has adequate resources to remain nationally competitive.
Candidate Qualifications
- An M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or D.O. degree with board certification in Surgery and/or a relevant surgical subspecialty.
- Demonstrated progressive administrative experience, preferably within an academic health center or teaching institution.
- Recognized nationally through involvement in academic societies at a national level.
- Possession of, or eligibility for, a medical license in the state of Ohio.
Leadership & Management Experience
- Provide strategic and unifying leadership to guide the Department of Surgery in advancing its clinical, academic, research, and service missions in alignment with the goals of the UTCOMLS, UToledo Health, affiliated partners, and the broader Toledo community.
- Demonstrate a proven record of progressive leadership in an academic surgical department or health system, with the ability to integrate and expand comprehensive surgical services that meet the evolving needs of a complex and growing clinical enterprise.
- Articulate a bold, compelling vision for the Department’s future—one that inspires excellence in surgical care, innovation in research, and distinction in surgical education and training.
- Foster a culture of collaboration and partnership by working effectively with medical school leadership, hospital administration, surgical and non-surgical faculty, residents, and community stakeholders to improve the quality and scope of surgical care delivery.
- Serve as a consensus-builder and change agent, demonstrating the courage and influence to mobilize teams, navigate challenges, and unite diverse voices around shared strategic priorities.
- Possess strong business acumen and strategic insight, with the ability to anticipate and respond to emerging trends, regulatory challenges, and opportunities in academic surgery and health care.
- Lead the alignment of strategic and operational plans, ensuring people, systems, and resources are effectively coordinated to support high-quality, efficient, and patient-centered surgical services.
- Drive innovation in surgical quality, safety, and performance improvement, achieving superior clinical outcomes, financial performance, and high patient, physician, and staff satisfaction.
- Recruit, mentor, and retain high-caliber faculty and staff, building cohesive, mission-driven teams that exemplify professionalism, clinical excellence, and academic productivity.
- Support the development of future surgical leaders, fostering leadership pathways among faculty, residents, and fellows, and promoting a culture of lifelong learning.
- Advance interdisciplinary research and education, facilitating collaboration across departments and institutions to drive innovation in surgical science, education, and patient care.
- Promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, establishing and monitoring clear performance benchmarks aligned with departmental and institutional goals.
- Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of departmental life, contributing to a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative culture that supports individual and organizational success.