Professor, Division Director - Internal Medicine-Rheumatology

Division Chief of RheumatologyThe Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch seeks a Division Chief of Rheumatology to lead a clinical and academic division serving Southeast Texas through UTMB's growing multi-campus health system. The successful candidate will oversee clinical operations across multiple sites, direct an ACGME-accredited fellowship program, develop the division's research portfolio, and collaborate with departmental leadership to advance the tripartite mission of patient care, education, and investigation.This position reports to Dr. Salim Hayek, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. The Division Chief will work closely with hospital leadership, fellow division chiefs, and interdisciplinary colleagues to position the division as a regional referral center for rheumatic diseases and autoimmune disorders.UTMB is a $3.5 billion academic health center established in 1891 as Texas's first medical school, comprising Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, Public and Population Health, and a Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. With $168 million in sponsored research awards, UTMB ranks 52nd nationally in NIH funding among medical schools and stands in the top 2 percent of institutions receiving NIH support.The institution operates four hospital campuses (Galveston, Clear Lake, League City, Angleton-Danbury) with over 1000 beds and more than 90 clinics serving a population exceeding 1.8 million across Southeast Texas. UTMB is the only academic health science center south of Houston and serves as the Level I Trauma Center for a nine-county region. Clinical strengths include quaternary care capabilities, comprehensive burn care through partnership with Shriners Hospital for Children, transplant services, and specialty medical care for a substantial portion of Texas's incarcerated population through the TDCJ Hospital partnership. The main Galveston campus includes Jennie Sealy Hospital (310 patient rooms with 60 dedicated ICU beds, completed 2016) and John Sealy Hospital, along with the verified burn center and the 172-bed Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital.UTMB houses the Galveston National Laboratory, one of two BSL-4 biocontainment facilities on a U.S. university campus, and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development. Research strengths include nationally recognized programs in microbiology and immunology, infectious diseases, anesthesiology critical care, and translational sciences. The institution recently established the Moody Brain Health Institute with a $25 million philanthropic commitment. UTMB is a member of the Houston-based Texas Medical Center and benefits from philanthropic support exceeding $50 million annually, including substantial backing from the Sealy & Smith Foundation.The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest department within UTMB's John Sealy School of Medicine, encompassing multiple divisions including Allergy and Immunology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, General Medicine, Geriatrics, Infectious Disease, Medical Oncology and Hematology, Nephrology, Palliative Care, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, and Rheumatology. The department operates a categorical Internal Medicine residency program with approximately 32 positions per cycle, as well as a distinctive combined Aerospace/Internal Medicine residency in partnership with NASAthe only program of its kind in the United States.Under the leadership of Dr. Hayek, who joined UTMB in 2024 from the University of Michigan, the department emphasizes data-driven strategies, precision medicine, and integration of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence into clinical operations. The department's mission encompasses excellence in patient care, robust training programs, and expansion of research activities across basic, translational, and clinical domains.The Division of Rheumatology currently includes faculty with expertise spanning the subspecialty's clinical and research domains. Division programs include:Comprehensive Clinical Services - The division provides consultative and longitudinal care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, systemic vasculitis, Sjgren's syndrome, inflammatory myopathies, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, and giant cell arteritis across multiple clinical sitesMulti-Site Clinical Operations - Rheumatology clinics operate in Galveston and League City, with opportunities to expand services to Clear Lake and Angleton-Danbury campuses to meet growing demand for subspecialty care across Southeast TexasTDCJ Rheumatology Clinic - Faculty provide specialized rheumatologic care to the incarcerated population at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital, contributing to a unique mission of delivering academic medicine to an underserved patient populationInterdisciplinary Collaboration - The division collaborates with nephrology (glomerulonephritis), endocrinology (bone health), dermatology, neurology, orthopedics, and other specialties, offering fellows exposure to comprehensive interdisciplinary care modelsThe division operates an ACGME-accredited two-year Rheumatology that participates in the National Resident Matching Program. The program traditionally admits one to two fellows annually, with plans to expand to accommodate additional positions as the faculty base grows. Fellows receive comprehensive training in outpatient rheumatology, consultative services, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and subspecialty clinics, with opportunities for scholarly activity and research mentorship. The fellowship's two-year structure provides first-year fellows with intensive clinical training across Galveston and League City sites, while second-year fellows transition into leadership roles with expanded elective opportunities in related subspecialties.Primary ResponsibilitiesClinical LeadershipProvide strategic direction for clinical operations across UTMB's multi-campus system, with particular attention to expanding access to subspecialty rheumatology services in Clear Lake, League City, and Angleton-DanburyRecruit, mentor, and retain clinical faculty to support service line growth and ensure sustainable coverage for consultative services and multidisciplinary clinicsCollaborate with hospital leadership, primary care networks, and specialty services to optimize referral pathways and consultative services for complex rheumatic diseasesMaintain an active clinical practice in rheumatology appropriate to academic rank and administrative responsibilities.Educational LeadershipOversee the ACGME-accredited Rheumatology Fellowship, ensuring compliance with program requirements, supporting fellow recruitment, and maintaining match competitivenessDirect subspecialty education for Internal Medicine residents rotating through rheumatology services, coordinating didactic conferences, bedside teaching, and procedural instruction including joint examinations and arthrocentesisFoster faculty development in clinical teaching and provide mentorship for junior faculty pursuing academic promotionResearch and ScholarshipDevelop the division's research portfolio through identification of collaborative opportunities, mentorship of faculty investigators, and pursuit of extramural fundingLeverage UTMB's research infrastructure, including strengths in immunology, infectious diseases, and translational sciences, to advance investigation in autoimmune disease mechanisms, novel therapeutics, or health services researchSupport quality improvement initiatives, outcomes research, and scholarly activity among fellows and faculty, fostering a culture of continuous learning and evidence-based practiceAdministrative and Strategic ResponsibilitiesManage division budget, optimize resource allocation, and work with departmental leadership on revenue cycle performance and payer contractingParticipate in departmental strategic planning, faculty recruitment, and institutional committees as assignedCollaborate with nursing leadership, pharmacy, infusion services, and allied health professionals to ensure high-quality, team-based care delivery including management of biologic therapies and immunosuppressive agentsFoster relationships with regional referral networks, community physicians, and healthcare systems to enhance UTMB's role as the academic medical center for Southeast TexasCandidate ProfileMinimum QualificationsMD or DO degree from an accredited institutionBoard certification in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine (or equivalent)Eligibility for medical licensure in TexasAcademic rank of Associate Professor or Professor at an accredited medical school, or qualifications consistent with appointment at this level at UTMBDemonstrated leadership experience in clinical program development, education, or researchTrack record of effective collaboration with administrative, clinical, and academic colleaguesValued ExperienceExperience in multi-site or health system operationsAdvanced training or expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound, inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue diseases, or vasculitisRecord of extramural funding from NIH, foundations, or industry sponsorsLeadership roles in fellowship or residency education, including program director or associate program director experienceInvolvement in professional societies, editorial boards, or national committees relevant to rheumatologyExperience with value-based care models, quality metrics, or population health initiativesLeadership development through participation in structured programs such as leadership academies, executive education, or formal management and communication workshopsCompensation and