Chair, Family and Community Medicine

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), a Carnegie R1 research university, seeks a dynamic administrative and academic leader to serve as its next Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. The new Chair will provide strategic leadership to the Department during a time of significant opportunity as the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) integrates with Renown Health (Renown), a highly vibrant and locally-owned non-profit health system. Reporting to UNR Med’s Dean and Renown Health’s Chief Medical Officer, the Chair of Family and Community Medicine will directly oversee Renown’s Divisions of Primary Care and Sports Medicine, Urgent Care, Family Medicine residency, and Sports Medicine and Wilderness Medicine fellowships.

In 2021, UNR and Renown entered into a landmark 50-year affiliation to transform healthcare in northern Nevada. Department chair leadership will be central to the successful integration of UNR Med’s academic and clinical components in a coordinated way alongside Renown Health to grow a broader clinical research enterprise, train and educate much needed physicians, and work with clinical partners to provide excellent care to Nevadans in urban and rural communities.

As an important component of this health system, the Department of Family and Community Medicine plays a significant role in improving the health and well-being of individuals and families within the local community. The Department’s dedicated family and community medicine team fulfills this purpose with a reputation of providing excellent clinical care to its patients, transformative educational programs for its students, residents, and fellows, and a growing body of impactful research vital to further strengthening the practice of family and community medicine. In fact, Family and Community Medicine has been named Department of the Year for 15 consecutive years, establishing itself as a department comprised of remarkable faculty clinicians and a competitive Family Medicine residency program with urban and rural tracks. The challenge now is to integrate the academic and clinical components in a coordinated way, alongside Renown, to continue the Department’s rich history of excellence in teaching and delivery of great patient care to northern Nevadans. Thus, this leadership opportunity is well-suited for a solutions-oriented, entrepreneurial, and collaborative family medicine physician who can effectively grasp existing challenges and help translate them into operational success.

To be successful, the next Chair will be expected to address a set of key opportunities and challenges, listed below:

• Build, grow, and craft a strategic vision for the Department of Family and Community Medicine
• Strengthen internal operations to inspire a transparent, innovative, and collegial internal culture
• Expand clinical research productivity within the Department
• Sustain and enhance educational excellence
• Generate funding resources to support the Department’s ambitions
• Serve as an effective ambassador and representative for the Department 

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be submitted electronically below.

David Bellshaw is leading this search with Joe Kralick and Leslie Lemus.


The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action in recruitment of its employees and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or gender expression. The University of Nevada, Reno employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Women, under-represented groups, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.