Chair, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy.

Founded in 1765, the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) is the oldest and one of the finest medical schools in the United States and prides itself on leadership in biomedical research, medical education, and patient care. Today there are 10 basic science and 18 clinical departments in the School. Standing as one of the premier institutions of research and education in medical ethics and health policy in the world, the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy (MEHP) has a proud and rich combination of academic activities and service contributions.

Under the leadership of its inaugural Chair, Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, the Department, which was founded in 2011, has systematically built research and educational programs that have become deeply integrated into the fabric of Penn Medicine, the University and the community. Its distinguished faculty produce and disseminate scholarship and lead three master’s degree programs: the Master of Bioethics, the Master of Science in Medical Ethics, and the online Master of Health Care Innovation. In addition to their own projects, faculty members supervise research being carried out by undergraduates, graduate students, medical students, doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows. The Department’s presence in the world of biomedical ethics education is ever-growing.

MEHP is closely aligned with the Penn Center for Bioethics, the Healthcare Transformation Institute, and the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics. It also has a collaborative relationship with the Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation, in addition to key partnerships with the School of Arts and Sciences, Penn Development Research Institute, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Abramson Cancer Center.

The Chair of the Department directs 24 faculty members, over 600 students and fellows across the two divisions of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and over 60 professional and support staff. Educational activities occur online and on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

The Chair will provide strong vision and leadership for the Department and will lead strategic planning and implementation for its continued success. Applicants for the position of Chair must hold a PhD and/or MD degree and qualify for faculty appointment as Professor level in the Standing Faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Candidates should possess dynamic, inclusive leadership skills, administrative expertise, and a clear commitment to excellence in research and education, fostering an inclusive environment, and sponsorship and mentorship of a diverse cadre of students, fellows and faculty. The applicant must be comfortable working in an interdisciplinary space, have the demonstrated ability to foster strong collaboration among investigators within the Department, as well as with the larger research community on campus, and to promote outreach to the community of researchers. The candidate should articulate a clear and compelling vision for the future of MEHP, and the role of a basic science department within a highly regarded academic medical center.