Chair of Pediatrics & Pediatrician-in-Chief

On behalf of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, CareerPhysician, the national leader in academic child health executive search and leadership development, invites applications and nominations for the role of Chair, Department of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead one of the nation’s premier academic pediatric programs and university systems and contribute to its longstanding legacy of excellence in clinical care, education, research, and public service.

We seek a visionary and collaborative leader who understands the transformative impact of research, education, and clinical innovation on patient outcomes and the communities they serve. The ideal candidate will have experience in highly matrixed child health organizations, a proven ability to grow clinical programs with multi-institutional support and a strong track record of the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty that represent the communities they serve. As a transparent and engaged leader, the new chair must foster faculty and staff morale and wellness while continually building an inclusive, collegial department culture. The successful candidate will have an established vision for enhancing the department’s research portfolio through institutional collaborations and targeted recruitment and philanthropic efforts. 

Position Highlights

• Serve as Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UTHSC, providing strategic leadership as the senior physician executive. Oversee 19 clinical divisions, 270 faculty members, a team of advanced practice providers, 73 pediatric and med/peds residents and 71 fellows.  
• 15 ACGME-accredited pediatric subspecialty fellowship programs.
• A robust research infrastructure combined NIH funding at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and UTHSC of $91 million and additional nonfederal external grant funding of $31.6 million at Le Bonheur.
• Lead a highly engaged faculty with a deep commitment to the community and region.
• Drive programmatic growth, foster a collaborative culture, and champion an atmosphere where all members of the community feel welcome, can thrive, and achieve success.
• Lead strategic and operational planning to advance clinical excellence, research innovation, education, and community engagement.
• Dedicate efforts to education at all levels, mentoring and developing faculty to cultivate the next generation of clinicians, researchers, and leaders.
• Prioritize addressing health disparities within the community and region, striving to remove barriers to access to care.
• Engage donors and institutional partners to expand clinical and research programs, working with an engaged philanthropic community to grow Le Bonheur’s $77 million endowment to $100 million within five years. 
• Facilitate the strong clinical and research relationship with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Enhance partnerships with other clinical and academic partners in Memphis and across our four UTHSC sites serving the children of Tennessee in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville.
• Shape the future of the department through innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in patient care, research, and education.

Qualifications

• MD, DO, MD/PhD, or equivalent degree
• Board Certification in Pediatrics or one’s subspecialty area of practice
• Eligibility for permanent, unrestricted medical licensure in the State of Tennessee
• Academic accomplishments meriting appointment at the rank of a Tenure-Track Professor at UTHSC
• Leadership experience in a comprehensive academic medical center and children’s hospital
• Significant experience working with hospital and practice plan administration
• Proven expertise in implementing quality and process improvement initiatives, with a focus on patient experience, population health, and cost of care, in alignment with Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) principles
• Absolute integrity, ethical and moral behavior, and adherence to strict privacy and confidentiality standards
• A demonstrated track record as an effective manager with a participatory style; should be a mentor, coordinator, delegator, developer and coach.
• System thinker. Anticipates future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented
• Is action oriented and full of energy for challenges; makes difficult decisions as needed; seizes opportunities as they arise; effectively copes with changes; shifts gears comfortably
• Strong financial acumen
• Strong communication skills are necessary, particularly verbal and listening communication skills; candidates must be articulate and able to provide fresh, creative ideas and solutions.

About Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

Recognized as a "Best Children's Hospital" by U.S. News & World Report for 14 consecutive years, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is nationally ranked in eight pediatric specialties:
• Cardiology & Heart Surgery
• Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
• Neonatology
• Nephrology
• Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Orthopedics
• Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
• Urology

Le Bonheur is part of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) and has a longstanding academic partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The hospital generates annual net patient revenues of approximately $486 million and continues to expand its reputation as a hub for cutting-edge pediatric care and research.

In 2024, Le Bonheur celebrated two significant milestones in its growth and patient experience initiatives. The hospital completed a $95.4-million expansion, which added 14 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds to create a 74-bed NICU and established a 31-bed Cardiovascular Unit with 17 Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) beds and 14 cardiac step-down beds. The expansion also introduced eight new surgery recovery bays and a state-of-the-art MRI-guided cardiac catheterization lab, enhancing Le Bonheur’s capacity to provide advanced cardiac and neonatal care.

About UTHSC

UTHSC, with campuses across Tennessee, is the state’s largest educator of healthcare professionals and a leader in residency and fellowship training programs. The Department of Pediatrics is committed to enhancing children’s health through innovative research, exceptional patient care, and the education of future pediatric leaders.

Research efforts are supported by the Children’s Foundation Research Institute (CFRI), a 300,000-square-foot facility dedicated to basic, translational, and clinical research. The CFRI fosters collaboration to address pressing pediatric health challenges and reduce disparities in care.

About Memphis

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, Memphis is a culturally rich and vibrant city with a metropolitan population exceeding 1.3 million. Known for its low cost of living, revitalized downtown, thriving arts district, and renowned culinary scene, Memphis offers an exceptional quality of life. The city is home to iconic attractions, including Graceland, historic Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and a host of outdoor recreational opportunities.

Application Process

Application review begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations and applications, including a current CV and cover letter, may be submitted to Wesley Millican, MBA, CEO and Physician Talent Officer, Career Physician, c/o Jennifer Weimer at Jennifer@careerphysician.com. All inquiries and applications will remain confidential.

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the appropriate affirmative action office. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the campus ADA Coordinator.