Associate or Full Professor (WOT), Department of Pediatrics, Director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Institute
Position Overview
Organization: Pediatrics
Title: Associate or Full Professor (WOT), Department of Pediatrics, Director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Institute
Position Details
Position Description
THE SEARCH
Seattle Children’s, one of the premier children’s hospitals in the nation, invites inquiries, applications, and nominations for the Director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development (CCHBD). Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Vittorio Gallo, the Director will have a broad range of responsibilities, including strategic planning, research leadership and vision, and program administration in support of Seattle Children’s, the Seattle Children’s Research Institute (SCRI), and the CCHBD.
The Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Washington, is seeking candidates for a full-time position at the level of Associate Professor (without tenure by reason of funding), or full Professor (without tenure by reason of funding) on the Faculty Scientist track. Rank is commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a 12-month service period (July 1-June 30). Faculty with 12-month service periods are paid for 11 months of service over a 12-month period (July-June), meaning the equivalent of one month is available for paid time off. The anticipated start date is Winter/Spring 2025.
All University of Washington faculty engage in teaching, research and service.
Seattle Children’s serves the largest region of any pediatric hospital, covering nearly one million square miles across four states. The 407-bed hospital in Seattle anchors the health system, with additional care provided at 43 outreach sites across the Pacific Northwest. The SCRI is the fourth largest pediatric research institute in the United States, with 2,400 faculty and staff members across eight centers with more than $250 million supporting pediatric research efforts.
The CCHBD conducts research that impacts the lives of children everywhere and focuses on disease prevention and optimization of health via multiple research avenues, including but not limited to: community-engaged research, environmental health, health equity, health promotion, patient-centered outcomes, and neurodevelopment. Comprised of researchers who are faculty across 15 different University of Washington School of Medicine divisions and departments, the diverse team of investigators conduct research that impacts children’s health in the region and beyond. CCHBD is comprised of 134 faculty and nurse members, 174 Seattle Children’s based employees, and almost 150 non-employee researchers, including students and fellows, who collectively conducted $31 million in extramurally funded research in FY2023.
The Director will engage, lead, and energize the CCHBD, uniting the broad team of researchers to drive collaboration and innovation in child health research. The Director will maintain their own research program while also working closely with researchers and clinicians at Seattle Children’s to support the growth of the Center, including facilitating relationships with clinical and community partners to develop and implement innovative evidence-based interventions. The Director must be an internal and external leader, enhancing the visibility of the impactful research emerging from CCHBD and garnering support for the Center. The Director will be a champion of CCHBD, identifying strategic priorities for investment, supporting an environment that emphasizes equity, inclusion, and belonging, and assuming responsibility for all facets of the Center’s finance and administration.
Seattle Children’s has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this important search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed to the firm in confidence, as indicated at the end of this document.
SEATTLE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The Seattle Children’s Research Institute, established in 2006, is one of the top five most funded pediatric research institutes in the United States, with over $253 million in extramural awards, including over $120 million from the NIH in 2023. The SCRI is organized into research centers, bringing together clinician scientists and PhD researchers to tackle the pressing issues in pediatric care. The research centers include:
· The Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research
· The Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development
· The Center for Clinical and Translational Research
· The Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine
· The Center for Global Infectious Disease Research
· The Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies
· The Norcliffe Foundation Center for Integrative Brain Research
· The Center for Respiratory Biology and Therapeutics
The SCRI and Seattle Children’s Therapeutics form the Seattle Children’s Research Division (SCRD). The SCRD is composed of 340 principal investigators and nearly 2,500 workforce members. The SCRD has approximately 400 clinical trials active per year. Research at Seattle Children’s has led to 13 spin-off companies and 19 non-start-up commercial partnerships, and it has coordinated multi-center trials for new therapeutics for cystic fibrosis and the development of new pediatric cancer therapies. Seattle Children’s Research Division has become one of the most productive research centers in the Western United States. The SCRD pushes the boundaries of medical research to find cures and therapeutics for pediatric diseases, improving outcomes for children worldwide.
The SCRI serves to improve pediatric healthcare by leading and participating in hundreds of research projects ranging from disease mechanism studies to investigational therapy improvement. The institute is devoted to recruiting and retaining dedicated researchers while creating the facilities, infrastructure, and programs they need to transform important research findings into viable, real-world therapies. Besides the main eight research centers, focus programs at SCRI include the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, the Health Equity Research Program based in the Center for Diversity and Health Equity, and the Center for Nursing Research based in the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development.
Supported by Center Support Services (CSS), researchers in the centers collaborate closely with one another, as well as with their colleagues within Seattle Children’s Therapeutics, healthcare providers at Seattle Children's Hospital, and researchers at partner institutions, such as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the Allen Institute. SCRI generates funding through the federal government, industry collaborations, as well as philanthropy and private donor opportunities. The Research Institute also houses the Joint Scientific and Operations Council (JSOC) and Scientific Leadership Council (SLC). This is a shared governance leadership council composed of all center directors, associate center directors, and Senior Administrative Team members.
THE CENTER FOR CHILD HEALTH, BEHAVIOR, AND DEVELOPMENT
The Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development brings together faculty researchers from 15 divisions and departments at the University of Washington School of Medicine to conduct research around optimization of health, including health equity, access to care, prevention, and development. The 134 affiliated faculty and 174 staff conducted $31 million in extramurally funded research, with almost half coming from NIH funding. The Center also offers Mentored Scholars Awards and the Hearst Endowment Fellowship Award, which help researchers develop skills in clinical research methodology and promote innovative research on improving health in vulnerable populations, respectively. CCHBD supports the Center for Pediatric Nursing Research and partners with the Center for Diversity and Health Equity on research initiatives.
CCHBD research is intertwined with the community, and researchers work collaboratively with families, schools, providers, and policymakers to translate findings into action. The Behavior and Development Lab is available to all CCHBD investigators and provides shared space and equipment to support the development of therapies to improve outcomes for children with autism, depression, obesity, attention problems, and a variety of other conditions. The Center also supports the Acti-Core, which supports sleep-wake cycle research in CCHBD and the Center for Clinical and Translational Research.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ANTI-RACISM
Seattle Children’s is dedicated to being an anti-racist and equitable health organization. Seattle Children’s has adopted a long-term, comprehensive Health Equity and Anti-Racism Action Plan. This plan was designed with the guidance and support of its patients, workforce, community, and trusted expert leaders on anti-racism work, equity, inclusion, and diversity. Seattle Children’s executive leaders hold themselves and their teams accountable for fostering an inclusive work and care environment, emphasizing that racism is not tolerated. Seattle Children’s recruiting efforts must ensure it attracts and retains a workforce that represents the diversity of its patients. The institution must examine and dismantle organizational policies and systems that allow racism to persist and replace them with new systems that create racial equity.
Through the Research Division Anti-Racism Committee (RARC) and Seattle Children’s Center for Diversity and Health Equity (CDHE), Seattle Children’s is actively creating equitable participation opportunities for diverse communities and equitable career pathways for diverse faculty and staff. The Research Division Anti-Racism Committee provides funding to support investigator and staff time working with operational owners to dismantle structural barriers to equity and inclusion. The Center for Diversity and Health Equity provides funding support for research projects and research teams that focus on health equity issues, along with programs to build robust pathways into successful research centers for individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine.
Seattle Children’s is dedicated to reducing health disparities and improving the lives of all patients, families, research participants, and its community. Seattle Children’s actively creates community partnerships to promote equitable participation opportunities for diverse communities and equitable career pathways for diverse faculty and staff through the Research Division Research Anti-Racism Committee and Center for Diversity and Health Equity.
ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR CHILD HEALTH, BEHAVIOR, AND DEVELOPMENT
Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, the Director represents the CCHBD within the SCRI and externally. This position is responsible for providing long-term institutional strategy and day-to-day operations of the Center. The Director is responsible for the Center’s administration, faculty development, and scientific development. The Director oversees the Center’s overall budget, sets financial goals in partnership with SCRI’s leadership, participates in the annual budgeting process, reviews and recommends pilot and bridge funding requests, and monitors and reconciles the Center’s budget in partnership with administrative leaders. The Director also sits on the Joint Scientific and Operations Council (JSOC) and Scientific Leadership Council (SLC), which oversees the strategic plan for the SCRI.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The Director will address the following key opportunities and challenges detailed below:
Set the strategic path for the Center
CCHBD possesses a strong and dedicated team of investigators with impactful research and a desire to positively impact the community. The Director will assess the existing strengths within the Center and evaluate potential areas for growth within CCHBD, maximizing the opportunities to improve child health regionally, nationally, and internationally through expanded community-based and prevention research. Building upon the strategic plan for Seattle Children’s and the SCRI, the Director will collaborate with researchers and clinicians to build pathways that facilitate innovative interventions and leverage excellent clinical care to drive new lines of research.
Support and enhance an inclusive and diverse community culture
The Director will be committed to promoting anti-racism within CCHBD, SCRI, and Seattle Children’s. They will ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are part of the Center’s everyday work, driven by a vision that understands the importance of representation and fosters an equitable and inclusive culture and community. CCHBD partners with the Center for Diversity and Health Equity on research initiatives, making it particularly attuned to the anti-racism and health equity work within Seattle Children’s. The Director must be an advocate for this work, fostering and maintaining an environment of respect and inclusion. The Director will be expected to sustain a workplace that values and appreciates the talents and experiences of its employees and ensures that diverse perspectives are incorporated into daily work. The Director will partner with the Research Division Anti-Racism Committee as well as the SCRI Diversity Recruitment Ambassador when appropriate and will be expected to hold faculty and the Center accountable for exhibiting professionalism and equity in their work and in the workplace.
Continue the development and stewardship of impactful connections with internal and community stakeholders
Seattle Children’s plays an important role in the community. Between its care for children, affiliation with the University of Washington, and collaborations with numerous clinical and research entities, Seattle Children’s impacts the lives of many in the region. CCHBD has the opportunity to increase its specific role in Seattle’s research and healthcare ecosystem, and the Director will identify and implement creative approaches to collaborate with community partners. There are also opportunities to grow CCHBD’s influence and impact within Seattle Children’s, and the Director will work closely with other Center Directors and clinical leaders to expand the breadth and depth of clinical research that will directly impact our patients.
Recruit, retain, mentor, and inspire the next generation of faculty and leadership
The Director’s primary role is to support the Center’s people and foster an environment that allows them to deploy their talents, attain their professional goals, and advance scientific discovery in pediatric care. The Director is responsible for faculty mentorship and career development. A crucial measure of the Director’s success will be the recruitment and retention of faculty and the development of a diverse talent pipeline. With researchers across 15 divisions and departments, the Director must partner with the appropriate Department or Division leaders to jointly recruit new faculty scientists who will thrive in the CCHBD and Seattle Children’s. The Director will identify and support all CCHBD researchers as they advance in their academic careers. This mentorship will include the full spectrum of investigator experience, from K to R transitions to establishing collaborations that lead to Program Project Grants.
Salary
The base salary range for this position will be: 225,000-$500,004 annually ($18,750-$41,667 monthly), commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. This range may be inclusive of base salary provided through the Children’s University Medical Group (CUMG) practice plan, in addition to base salary provided by the University. Please note that only compensation provided by the University is included in University benefit determinations and calculations. Compensation provided by Children’s University Medical Group (CUMG) practice plan may provide eligibility for separate benefits offered by that organization.
Other compensation associated with this position may include incentive through Children’s University Medical Group practice plan. Additional administrative responsibilities may be offered to a specific candidate with appropriate experience and qualifications which may result in an administrative supplement (ADS).
Qualifications
MD or DO, combined MD/PhD, PhD or foreign equivalent in health-related fields; a physician who will be actively involved in patient care will have to be fully licensed and eligible for licensure as a physician in the State of Washington;
Ten years prior experience in leading an extramurally funded research program;
Academic record sufficient to merit appointment as an Associate Professor or Professor at the University of Washington;
In order to be eligible for University sponsorship for an H-1B visa, graduates of foreign (non-U.S.) medical schools must show successful completion of all 3 steps of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) or equivalent as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Instructions
All candidates must submit their applications, including CV, cover letter and diversity statement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
Privacy Notice
Review the University of Washington Privacy Notice for Demographic Data of Job Applicants and University Personnel to learn how your demographic data are protected, when the data may be used, and your rights.
Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.