Chair of Ophthalmology

Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement strategic goals for both the BPEI Translational Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology that align with the Miller School and UHealth objectives.

Operational Management: Oversee the administration of budgets, management of physical facilities, and disposition of assets. Manage endowment accounts and the space and capital equipment of the BPEI Translational Institute.

Academic and Research Development: Foster faculty career development, mentor faculty, promote scholarly activities, and lead residency and fellowship programs. Establish productive research programs and support interdisciplinary research initiatives.

Representation and Advocacy: Act as the primary spokesperson to enhance the image and reputation of BPEI. Represent the Department of Ophthalmology at both internal and external meetings. Communicate with governing boards, accrediting agencies, and other forums to bolster BPEI’s standing.

Philanthropy and Community Engagement: Enhance philanthropic support through community and donor relationships. Support community outreach initiatives and international collaboration. Work with governmental entities for ophthalmological support in disaster areas.

Leadership and Governance: Serve as a role model through participation in governance and committee activities. Manage faculty appointments, promotions, and evaluations. Support diversity within the department and facilitate a learning environment for students and trainees.

Performance Metrics:

• Fiscal year financial performance of the BPEI Translational Institute and Department of Ophthalmology.

• Annual total philanthropic donations.

• Faculty publications and successful promotions.

• Blue Ridge ranking of research program.

• Results of ranking and survey agencies (e.g., US News & World Report, Ophthalmology Times).

• Results of ACGME Resident and Faculty Surveys.

• New strategic initiatives by the BPEI Translational Institute and Department of Ophthalmology.

Reporting Relationships

Candidate Profile

Experience and Education

• An accomplished ophthalmologist and physician leader (M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent degree) with an outstanding track record in care delivery, research, and education; currently board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, or equivalent.

• Nationally or internationally recognized clinician in the field of ophthalmology.

• At least eight years of administrative leadership experience at an academic medical center environment, including experience serving as a Department Chair, Vice Chair, Division Chief, or Institute Director.

• A dedicated clinician with an accomplished reputation for clinical excellence; an actively practicing ophthalmologist is preferred.

• Experience in research, training, and clinical achievement commensurate with appointment to the faculty at the rank of Full Professor with tenure in the Miller School.

Managing Self 

• Integrity/Honesty: Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Modelshigh standards of ethics. 

• Emotional Intelligence: Able to perceive, interpret, control, and use emotions to communicate with and relate to others effectively and constructively. Handles interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. 

• Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems. Weighs relevance and accuracy of information. Generates and evaluates alternative solutions. Makes recommendations. 

• Flexibility: Open to change and new information. Rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. 

• Resilience: Deals effectively with pressure. Remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks. 

• Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs of different people in different situations. 

• Oral Communication: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively. Clarifies information as needed. 

• Written Communication: Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. 

• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses. Pursues self-development.

Managing Projects 

• Team Building: Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals. 

• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules. 

• Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades others. Builds consensus through give and take. Gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals. 

• Decisiveness: Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited, and solutions produce unpleasant consequences. Perceives the impact and implications of decisions. 

• Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise. 

• Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services. Committed to continuous improvement.

Managing People 

• Leveraging Diversity: Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. 

• Developing Others: Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods. 

• Human Capital Management: Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded. Takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations. 

• Conflict Management: Encourages creative tension and differences of opinion. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner. 

• Public Service Motivations: Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs. Aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.

Managing Programs 

• Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances. Collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. 

• Creativity/Innovation: Develops new insights into situations. Questions conventional approaches. Encourages new ideas and innovations. Designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes. 

• Political Savvy: Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly. 

• Technology Management: Keeps up to date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to, and security of, technology systems. 

• Financial Management: Understands the organization’s financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.

Leading Organizations 

• Vision: Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others. Acts as a catalyst for organization change. Influences others to translate vision into action. 

• Strategic Thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes opportunities and manages risks. 

• External Awareness: Understands and keeps up to date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape the views of stakeholders. Aware of the organization’s impact on the external environment. 

• Entrepreneurship: Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities. Builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.