Movement Disorders Division Director

Overview

The University of Minnesota Medical School (UMN) seeks an accomplished movement disorders neurologist or physician clinical trialist to serve as the next Director of the Division of Movement Disorders. The incoming leader will oversee a growing division with a strong clinical foundation, advanced neuromodulation surgery program, NIH-supported laboratories, and an ACGME-recognized Movement Disorders Fellowship. Reporting directly to the Chair of the Department of Neurology, Jerrold L.

Vitek, MD, PhD, the Division Director of Movement Disorders will lead one of the nation’s premier translational ecosystems in Parkinson’s disease and neuromodulation.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the clinical, research, educational, and operational missions of the Division.
• Lead and further grow the Division’s clinical programs, ensuring continued excellence and innovation in the diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonia, ataxia, atypical parkinsonism, and related disorders.
• Expand and enhance the Division’s clinical research and clinical trials portfolio, increasing participation in device-based, pharmacologic, neuromodulation, and translational studies, and integrating research efficiently within clinical workflows.
• Foster and strengthen translational and clinical research programs, including deep brain stimulation (DBS), adaptive/closed-loop neuromodulation, neuroengineering partnerships, gait and balance circuitry research, advanced imaging/connectomics, and wearable/remote monitoring technologies.
• Cultivate a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture, promoting excellent communication, interdisciplinary teamwork, and alignment across neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology, rehabilitation, engineering, and allied health teams.
• Mentor, recruit, and support faculty, fellows, and residents, promoting academic productivity, leadership development, and professional growth in movement disorders, neuromodulation, and clinical investigation.
• Collaborate with the Movement Disorders Fellowship Program Director to ensure excellence in curriculum, trainee experience, recruitment, and strategic expansion toward two fellows per year.
• Partner closely with health system leadership and neurosurgery to optimize DBS workflows, referral networks, evaluation pathways, and patient experience.
• Support departmental and institutional leadership in strategic planning, resource allocation, quality improvement initiatives, and broader programmatic development across the Department of Neurology and the Medical School.
• Serve as the Division’s representative locally, regionally, and nationally, enhancing program visibility, cultivating referral relationships, and promoting the Division as a leader in movement disorders and neuromodulation.

• MD, DO, or equivalent degree; board-certified/board-eligible in Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
• Fellowship training in Movement Disorders or equivalent advanced expertise, with demonstrated excellence in the diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonia, ataxia, and related conditions.
• Eligibility for medical licensure in the State of Minnesota.
• Strong clinical expertise in movement disorder diseases.
• Proven track record of scholarly productivity—clinical, translational, or basic science—sufficient for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor on the clinical track.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or contribute to clinical research or clinical trials; experience integrating research workflows into clinical care is strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to foster collaboration across neurology, neurosurgery,…