Professor, Internal Medicine

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch seeks a Vice Chair for Research to serve as a senior faculty leader responsible for delineating and executing a growth strategy for the department's research enterprise. This role encompasses strategic planning, faculty recruitment, mentorship of junior investigators, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and aligning departmental research efforts with UTMB's institutional priorities.

The Vice Chair for Research will serve as the Chair's principal delegate for research affairs, representing the department at the School of Medicine Council of Vice Chairs of Research. A critical focus of this role is building the department's research portfolio through strategic recruitment of faculty, supporting investigators at all stages of their careers, and fostering synergies with other departments, centers, and institutes  Vice Chair for Research will prioritize growth in areas synergistic with UTMB's strengths, including but not limited to Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic disease, Healthy Aging, Brain Health, and Microbiology/Immunology.

The Vice Chair for Research will maintain an active research program while advancing the collective success of the department's research mission.

This position reports to Dr. Salim Hayek, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. The Vice Chair for Research will work collaboratively with other departmental Vice Chairs, Division Chiefs, and institutional research leaders to expand research activities across the department's tripartite mission of patient care, education, and investigation.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

UTMB is a $3.5 billion academic health center established in 1891 as Texas's first medical school, comprising Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, Public and Population Health, and a Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. With $168 million in sponsored research awards, UTMB ranks 52nd nationally in NIH funding among medical schools and stands in the top 2 percent of institutions receiving NIH support.

The institution operates four hospital campuses (Galveston, Clear Lake, League City, Angleton-Danbury) with over 1,000 beds and more than 90 clinics serving a population exceeding 1.8 million across Southeast Texas. UTMB is the only academic health science center south of Houston and serves as the Level I Trauma Center for a nine-county region. Clinical strengths include qua ternary care capabilities, comprehensive burn care through partnership with Shriners Hospital for Children, transplant services, and specialty medical care for a substantial portion of Texas's incarcerated population through the TDCJ Hospital partnership.

The main Galveston campus includes Jennie Sealy Hospital (310 patient rooms with 60 dedicated ICU beds, completed 2016) and John Sealy Hospital, along with the verified burn center and the 172-bed Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital. UTMB houses the Galveston National Laboratory, one of two BSL-4 biocontainment facilities on a U.S. university campus, and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development.

Research strengths include nationally recognized programs in microbiology and immunology, infectious diseases, anesthesiology critical care, and translational sciences. The institution recently established the Moody Brain Health Institute with a $25 million philanthropic commitment. UTMB is a member of the Houston based Texas Medical Center and benefits from philanthropic support exceeding $50 million annually, including substantial backing from the Sealy & Smith Foundation.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest department within UTMB's John Sealy School of Medicine, encompassing multiple divisions including Allergy and Immunology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, General Medicine, Geriatrics, Infectious Disease, Medical Oncology and Hematology, Nephrology, Palliative Care, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, and Rheumatology. The department operates a categorical Internal Medicine residency program with approximately 32 positions per cycle, as well as a distinctive combined Aerospace/Internal Medicine residency in partnership with NASA-the only program of its kind in the United States.

Under the leadership of Dr. Salim Hayek, the Department of Internal Medicine fosters a culture of excellence grounded in six core principles: radical transparency, recognition of exceptional contributions, shared accountability for elevating care, support for practicing at the top of one's scope, investment in academic success, and collaboration across all divisions. Faculty thrive in a data-driven, innovative environment that integrates precision medicine, research advancement, and clinical excellence.

The Department is committed to transparency, measurable performance, and providing the mentorship, resources, and infrastructure necessary for each faculty member to build and sustain a successful academic career.

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