On behalf of Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University Medical Center, we write to announce the official start of the search for the next Chair of the Department of Medicine (DOM). The search will be chaired by Dr. David Nelson. The committee membership is herein attached. A special thanks in advance to Dr. Nelson and to all those who have generously agreed to serve on the Search Advisory Committee.

The DOM Chair will be responsible for fostering the clinical, educational and research missions (clinical, translational and basic) of the Department. The Chair will operate in a unique position, where he/she will be employed by Georgetown University Hospital and have a dual reporting structure to Dr. M. Joy Drass, President of Georgetown University Hospital for DOM clinical operations and residency education, and to Dr. Howard Federoff, the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences of Georgetown University for DOM research and medical student education. This dual reporting structure was designed to provide maximum support to the strengths and mission of each of these areas and has contributed greatly to the recent success of the DOM. It also provides access to resources and opportunities for growth from multiple entities. The DOM Chair position brings with it unparalleled opportunities for leadership, innovation and initiative.

The ideal Chair candidate will have: a) substantial experience as a faculty member in a distinguished academic or comparable medical setting; b) an in depth understanding of clinical practice management and expertise with the efficient and cost effective utilization of clinical resources; c) a successful track record of overseeing graduate medical education programs; d) demonstrated ability to improve the quality and safety of care in an environment of increased transparency; e) a significant track record of success in funded medical research; f) experience in the preparation and oversight of an operating budget of approximately $39M and more than 100 full time clinical and research faculty; g) the ability to represent the DOM effectively with external constituents including, but not limited to local, state, and federal governmental agencies, other state based institutions providing undergraduate and graduate medical education, hospitals and medical centers in the metropolitan area; and, h) knowledge and ability to obtain funding from private sources, such as industry, foundations and donors; and, i) a compelling vision for simultaneously increasing the DOM’s record of NIH funding, and the implementation of a plan to increase physician productivity in the DOM’s clinical practices, all within the context of a dynamic city which is in the process of continual growth.

The new DOM Chair should be able to articulate a vision for academic medicine in a complex funding and clinical environment that fulfills the DOM mission for clinical, education and research enterprises. The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated track record to recruit outstanding new clinical faculty and faculty in basic and translational research, and be persuasive in his/her ability to retain the DOM’s strongest faculty.

The Search Committee will be assisted by Dr. Ilene H. Nagel, the leader of the Higher Education practice for Russell Reynolds Associates.

Nominations are invited and encouraged. Please submit the names of those for whom you have high regard and great respect, whose background you think is well suited to this critical senior leadership position, to gumed-chair@russellreynolds.com

If you have questions or comments, we encourage you as well to communicate them either to Dr. Nelson, or to Dr. Nagel at gumed-chair@russellreynolds.com

Dr. Joy Drass
Dr. Howard Federoff