Department Chair

The role of the Department of Psychiatry is multifaceted and carries significant responsibilities. The Department Chair is responsible for providing the overall vision for the department, clinical, academic, research and innovation, and administrative leadership to the faculty, staff, students, and residents. The Chair will work collaboratively with Hospital and Medical School leaders to develop and execute the department’s strategy to advance our clinical and academic missions.

Responsibilities include clinician recruitment, education, supervision, strategic development, quality and process improvement initiatives.
As a leader, the Chair will work to develop and expand comprehensive mental health services on at Meharry Medical College and the Elam Mental Health Center. As an innovator, the Chair will identify and develop new clinical programs consistent with national best practices and care models, patient and community need and financial feasibility. The Chair will ensure continued strong relationships with the community and work collaboratively with community-based organizations (CBO), local government and other entities, on program development.

As an educator and mentor, the Chair will support faculty career development and scholarship and create a culture and learning environment that supports the education programs. In addition, the Chair will work with the Program Director to help the residency training program to set and achieve near- and long- term goals and the Clerkship Program Director to advance medical education in the department of Psychiatry.
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* Essential Functions:

****** Clinical Leadership
**** Collaborate with hospital and medical group leaders to develop and execute the department’s strategy.
* Advance clinical services, ensuring high-quality patient care.
* Recruit and supervise clinicians.
* Implement quality improvement initiatives.
* Promoting the mission of the MMG Physicians Group through effective management of departmental clinical operations by assuring the quality, availability, and appropriateness of clinical services provided by Department faculty in concert with the missions and goals of MMG in collaboration with the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean School of Medicine, Executive Director of MMG and Associate Dean of Business and Finance, School of Medicine, supporting affiliated institutions and maintaining a valid Tennessee Medical license.
* The Chair is ultimately responsible for reviewing credentialing of all faculty within their clinical department.
* Establish a clinical practice in his/her specialty or sub-specialty.
*** Academic Leadership
**** Foster an environment conducive to teaching, research, and education.
* Engage with medical students, residents, and fellows.
* Enhance the department’s educational programs.
* Supporting the developmental and professional needs of medical and graduate students, residents, fellows, other health professionals, staff, faculty and community physicians.
* The skill required to critically evaluate published articles is acquired. The journal club forum allows students and faculty to present current literature articles for a dual purpose. First, it brings interesting and important articles to the attention of the students and faculty and it allows an in-depth discussion on the data presented so that positive issues, new techniques, as well as less than optimal data can be brought to light.

For the students and research fellows, this sets the foundation to perform this essential task throughout their career
*** Research and Innovation
**** Oversee both clinical and laboratory-based research programs.
* Encourage faculty involvement in research.
* Promote innovation in psychiatric care.
* Demonstrating innovation and scholarship, significant experience in the practice and management of clinical medicine, a record of extramurally funded basic, translational or clinical research and demonstrated ability to balance education, research and clinical care.
* A department is judged by its research portfolio. The faculty look to the Chair to set the example on maintaining a funded research program. This leadership should…