Director, Community Health and Research Engagement, Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health

Director, Community Health and Research Engagement, Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health

UT Southwestern Medical Center, one of the largest academic medical centers in the U.S., is seeking an academic innovator and leader to join the faculty of the new Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health as the Director of Community Health and Research Engagement. This senior faculty position is appointed in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health (SPH) and will lead the UT Southwestern CTSA Program Community and Collaboration Core (PI: Robert Toto). This role reports directly to the Dean of the School of Public Health.

The desired candidate will have a strong track record of NIH funding in public health and community- engaged research (clinical or non-clinical) and will be responsible for coordinating the efforts of faculty co- investigators associated with the UT Southwestern CTSA Program Office of Community Health & Research Engagement (OCHRE). The CTSA Program Core Director’s charge is to increase awareness of and access to
“best practices” for community engagement for campus stakeholders and for multi-sector community
partners, including ensuring community needs and priorities inform research and service activities conducted by UTSW faculty and trainees.

The Director will create new community-academic partnerships in areas of need identified with our community partners in North Texas. A central function is to support multidisciplinary research teams conducting studies and programs on the most critical issues impacting the health and wellness of North Texas communities. This research will be conducted in collaboration with health care providers and community organizations, to generate discoveries that improve the health North Texas communities and serve as a resource to translate scientific findings and knowledge into practical applications for public health practice, health care services, and health policies nationwide.

Specific responsibilities include:
• Provide strategic vision and direction for SPH community health and research engagement activities, and for the UTSW CTSA Program Office of Community Health & Research Engagement (OCHRE), the centralized resource for identifying, compiling, disseminating, and networking for all community engagement initiatives.
• Work closely with the UTSW CTSA Program PI and Core Directors to achieve aims of the Community and
Collaboration Core as well as overall UTSW CTSA Program.
• Facilitate Team Science function in collaboration with UTSW CTSA Program Team Science lead.
• Provide guidance to UTSW CTSA Program Community and Collaboration Core co-investigators.
• Manage OCHRE resources, including salary support to fund faculty and staff effort allotted to achieve
Core goals and objectives.
• Oversee all UT Southwestern Community Advisory Panels, including the Translational Advisory Board
(TAB) and the Safety-Net Community Advisory Panel (CAP).

Dallas-Fort Worth Catchment Area

UT Southwestern serves a culturally rich population that has Dallas ranked No. 4 in diversity among U.S. cities. The 7.8 million-person Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex encompasses 13 counties across 9,000 square miles. The majority-minority population is 41% Hispanic and 25% African American. Close to 20% of the population are foreign born, speak Spanish only, and lack health insurance. A quarter are under age 18.

UT Southwestern is establishing a 21st-century School of Public Health cemented in its core research strengths and reinforced through integral collaboration with area institutions, health systems, and community organizations aligned with our mission, vision, values and goals. UTSW has approximately 3,000 full-time faculty who garner more than $524 million in annual grant funding for research. The UTSW Medical District spans 230 acres in Dallas. Through its own and affiliated health systems – Parkland Health & Hospital System,
Children’s Health, Texas Health Resources, and the VA North Texas Health Care System – UTSW physicians
are central to the care of millions of residents in North Texas.

Minimum Requirements
The Director of UT Southwestern Community Health and Research Engagement Program must:
• Hold a MD, PhD or other terminal degree relevant to public health and be eligible for appointment as an Associate Professor (required) or Professor (preferred) in the School of Public Health,
• Demonstrate a strong track record of research experience working with multi-disciplinary research teams in academic and community settings,
• Evidence of mentoring and career development of junior faculty in community research
• Demonstrated history of leadership experience
• Interest in growing campus-level program to bridge community stakeholders and campus investigators
• Commitment to health equity goals, diversity, inclusion and accessibility especially research in health disparities and underserved populations
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills
• Preferred experience working with community advisory boards or other community engagement forums.

Appointment rank will be commensurate with academic accomplishments and experience.

About the UT Southwestern CTSA Program:
The UT Southwestern CTSA Program is a collaboration among 7 academic institutions, 5 health care systems,
6 teaching hospitals and the North Texas community. Our goal is to improve health in local and global communities through innovation and education. To accomplish this goal we established a regional network of institutions for collaboration and innovation in translational science and research. The UTSW CTSA Program has generated considerable momentum toward advancing translational science propelled by a highly collaborative environment that is hard-wired for broadly engaged Team Science and Community Engagement. The UTSW CTSA Program is committed to enhancing diversity, health equity and inclusion with an aim to eliminate health disparities among the populations we serve. With our highly-integrated dynamic research and training environment in place, our UTSW CTSA Program Hub is poised to have a powerful and sustained impact on the field of translational science and research.

About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,800 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. The UTSW Medical District spans 230 acres in Dallas. Through its own and affiliated health systems –Parkland Health & Hospital System, Children’s Health, Texas Health Resources, and
the VA North Texas Health Care System – UTSW physicians are central to the care of millions of residents in
North Texas.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status. To learn more, please visit: https://jobs.utsouthwestern.edu/why-work- here/diversity-inclusion/.

https://jobs.utsouthwestern.edu/job/16010237/director-community-health-and-research-engagement-dallas-tx/