College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., has appointed a 15-member search committee to select UNMC’s next pediatric departmental chairperson.
Carl Smith, M.D., professor and chairman of ob/gyn, will chair the diverse committee, which is now accepting applications and nominations in its national search.
“We have assembled an outstanding search committee to review applicants for this critical position,” Dr. Gollan said. “I am grateful to each of them for their willingness to serve in this important role.”
The successful candidate will succeed Bruce Buehler, M.D., who will step down Oct. 1 from his dual role as pediatric chairman and director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute. UNMC Today will publish a separate story on the MMI search in the near future.
Applicants for the position of tenured professor and department chairperson must have a proven record of scholarly, educational, clinical and administrative leadership, Dr. Smith said.
“The chair of pediatrics is vital to the success of an academic health science center,” Dr. Smith said. “This individual becomes the ‘face of pediatrics’ for the entire state. She or he must carefully balance the research, clinical care and educational missions of the medical school and, in so doing, will improve the health of Nebraska’s children.”
In addition to Dr. Smith, the pediatric chair search committee includes:
- Ward Chambers, M.D., associate professor, cardiology
- Peter Coccia, M.D., Ittner Professor of Pediatrics, chief, pediatric hematology/oncology, vice chairman, department of pediatrics
- Karina Dierks, M.D., chief resident, pediatrics
- Kim Duncan, M.D., professor, surgery-cardiovascular & thoracic surgery
- Kristie Hayes, M.D., associate professor and chairwoman, dermatology, associate professor, pediatrics administration
- Terry Hexum, Ph.D., professor, pharmacology/experimental neuroscience
- Michelle Hoffman, M.D., chief resident, pediatrics
- Michael McGlade, senior associate dean for administration and director of finance, College of Medicine
- Gary Perkins, president and CEO, Children’s Hospital
- Deborah Perry, M.D., assistant professor, department of pathology, Children’s Hospital
- Kenton Shaffer, M.D., professor, pediatric volunteer faculty
- James Shull, Ph.D., professor and chairman, genetics, cell biology & anatomy
- Steve Smith, M.D., chief medical officer, The Nebraska Medical Center
- Wayne Stuberg, Ph.D., professor, Munroe-Meyer Institute physical therapy
The successful candidate will be responsible for a department of about 150 employees, including more than 50 faculty and 45 house officers, as well as administrative and support personnel. The department has a fully-accredited joint pediatric residency program with Creighton University, as well as an internal medicine/pediatrics program. Clinical services are provided at The Nebraska Medical Center, Children’s Hospital and other sites throughout the region through its 12-subspecialty sections. For more information, visit the departmental Web site at www.unmc.edu/Pediatrics.
Applications and nominations — including letter and curriculum vitae — should be sent to:
Carl V. Smith, M.D., chairman, Pediatrics Chair Search Committee
c/o Dean’s Office, University of Nebraska College of Medicine
986545 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Neb. 68198-6545
Review of applications will begin April 15, and continue until the position is filled.