Vice Chair of Research, Department of Pediatrics

The University of Oklahoma Department of Pediatrics in the College of Medicine and Oklahoma Children’s  OU Health seek an inaugural Vice Chair of Research at a pivotal moment of academic advancement. This role offers an accomplished investigator and academic leader the opportunity to shape the direction of pediatric research at the state’s only tertiary and quaternary pediatric system and to play a central role in the University’s broader effort to elevate its research enterprise. The position carries meaningful scope, visibility, and influence and is designed for a leader motivated to build, integrate, and scale research programs with lasting impact.

The University of Oklahoma Health Campus is the state’s comprehensive academic health campus, home to seven health-related colleges and a large, growing biomedical research enterprise. The Department of Pediatrics is the largest department in the College of Medicine, encompassing 18 specialty sections and more than 220 faculty members who serve as the primary medical staff for Oklahoma Children’s outpatient services and the hospital. The department benefits from strong institutional and philanthropic support and a foundation of productive research programs across multiple pediatric subspecialties.

The creation of the Vice Chair of Research role reflects a clear institutional mandate to strengthen and scale pediatric research as part of a broader effort to position the Department of Pediatrics and Oklahoma Children’s as a nationally recognized Children’s Health organization and a leading provider of pediatric specialty care in the South Central United States. The University is investing heavily in research growth, including Project 200, an ambitious initiative to recruit 200 research-intensive faculty across the University system, with a significant concentration at the Health Campus. Pediatrics is expected to play a central role in this expansion.

Reporting to the Chair of Pediatrics, the Vice Chair of Research will lead this next phase by articulating and executing a cohesive research vision; strengthening and coordinating infrastructure, including improving pre- and post-award processes, clinical research support, and investigator development pathways; expanding clinical and translational research; and fostering collaboration across pediatric sections and with adult departments and institutional partners. The role is supported by a robust institutional ecosystem and is backed by a clear commitment to space, resources, and authority to enable success.

The ideal candidate will bring experience,  a strong mentoring record, and demonstrated success building programs, teams, or research enterprises. The successful candidate will be motivated by recruiting and mentoring the next generation of pediatric investigators, including physician-scientists, and by building sustainable research teams aligned with institutional growth initiatives. For a leader motivated to build something enduring, this role offers the opportunity to shape an evolving academic culture, elevate pediatric research, and influence the health of children and future providers across Oklahoma.

Applicants for this position should be board-certified physicians in Pediatrics, eligible for appointment at the associate or full professor level, and demonstrate a nationally recognized record of accomplishment, including sustained external funding and leadership in collaborative research programs.

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be sent below.

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