Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry - School of Dentistry

UTHealth School of Dentistry is seeking a highly qualified, full-time Associate Professor on the tenure or non-tenure track to serve as Program Director for our CODA-accredited Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry. This is a full-time faculty position with opportunities for academic advancement, scholarly activity, clinical practice, and educational leadership within a collaborative and well-established department. The position is highly competitive in terms of salary. Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is available immediately.

Position Key Accountabilities:

The Program Director will provide strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and academic guidance for the residency program. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in graduate dental education, patient care, and faculty development, while upholding all standards required by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Other responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, providing lectures and clinical instruction in pediatric dentistry to graduate and pre-doctoral students, conducting research, and providing service to the university, such as serving on standing and ad-hoc dental school committees. An intramural faculty practice opportunity is available for eligible candidates. Research with extramural funding, while highly desired, is not required.

• Developing and sustaining an environment in the patient care units that supports excellence and innovation in clinical practice and patient care through assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and standards that support positive patient care outcomes, to include excellent risk-adjusted outcomes.
• Performing a variety of staff management functions, including interviewing, hiring, evaluating, counseling, and terminating assigned management, clinical, and support staff.
• Facilitating, reviewing, and approving the budget for UTHealth and Surgery Services, including estimates of future personnel and equipment needs; ensuring that hospital resources are optimally utilized through participation in strategic planning and financial budgeting processes, and development of practices that achieve specific objectives and resolution of unfavorable performance variances; providing leadership and implementing strategies to provide cost-effective quality care.
• Providing coaching, mentoring, support, and consultation to managers, research personnel, colleagues, and clinical staff.
• Serving as a role model in professional behavior and leadership skills, problem-solving ability, and interpersonal skills.
• Delegating authority and accountability to clinical staff for clinical practice and patient care decisions that are consistent with professional standards, regulatory agencies, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Identifying patient and family needs of the populations served; recommending and/or developing new programs and services to meet those needs; assuring that age-specific equipment, supplies, and educational resources are available for assigned units/services.
• Maintaining an ongoing departmental Quality Improvement Plan and process consistent with the organizational Quality Management Plan; developing and implementing unit-specific standards, policies, and procedures that guide and support the provision of care and services; continuously assessing and improving assigned departments' performance while enhancing service.
• Reviewing appropriate financial reports and making appropriate modifications in UTHealth Houston and MHH to reduce costs associated with supplies, staffing, and service agreements, and/or identifying sound alternatives for purchasing equipment and supplies.
• Participating in and/or chairing committees, work groups, and meetings as appropriate.
• Assuring interdisciplinary performance improvement programs are active, maintained, and ongoing. Following up to ensure that complaints have been satisfactorily handled. Collaborating to maintain a focus on providing excellent clinical services.
• Maintaining professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, in-services, current literature, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of the latest trends in fields of expertise; supporting and promoting education and research.
• Supervising a highly specialized clinical team of direct care providers and administrative staff.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Dental degree recognized by the Commission on Dental Education of the American Dental Association, or equivalent
• Completion of an Advanced training in Pediatric Dentistry at an accredited institution.
• Current license to practice dentistry or the opportunity to secure a Texas faculty license for dentistry before employment.
• Board certification or Board eligibility in Pediatric Dentistry.
• Demonstrated experience in teaching, research, and clinical practice, and qualifications that meet all CODA requirements for program directors in Pediatric Dentistry.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior leadership or administrative experience in a residency program.
• Strong record of scholarly activity, including publications and/or funded research.
• Experience mentoring residents and junior faculty.
• Commitment to fostering a humanistic and supportive learning environment.
  
  

Academic rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience

Please submit letters of application, curriculum vitae, and three references to UTHealth Houston's online job application site.

This is a security-sensitive position and thereby subject to Texas Education Code # 51.215. A background check will be required for the final candidate.