Description

Role Description: Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

The chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences reports to the Dean of the School of Medicine and is an outstanding academic leader who will provide educational, research, strategic and administrative leadership. This individual will lead a group of outstanding rehabilitation sciences faculty and is responsible for the development and execution of innovative programs, including our accelerated hybrid DPT programs and partnerships, cutting-edge research, and for developing partnerships across Tufts University and partner institutions. The chair is responsible for creating a research/learning/teaching/working environment that is broadly inclusive and fully supports the mission and vision of Tufts University School of Medicine to inspire discovery and revolutionize health education.

We seek candidates who have established themselves as clinicians, researchers, educators, and leaders in rehabilitation sciences at or above the Associate Professor level. In addition to the chair's focus on conducting world class research and their individual responsibilities as a member of the faculty, the chair will have oversight of the faculty and day-to-day activities of the department. Specific responsibilities include:
• Faculty Recruitment - the hiring of outstanding faculty and staff members is necessary to replace those who retire, leave Tufts for other opportunities, or to address needs due to expanding programs. It is the chair's responsibility to assess current and future needs and to oversee a transparent process to identify and recruit the best possible faculty member for each position, to honor the University's commitment to inclusivity, and to make every effort to attract candidates from diverse backgrounds.
• Research - working closely with department members and school administration to utilize human and financial capital to build an environment in which investigators thrive. The chair guides the long-term vision for research in the department by building on existing strengths in specific populations, including athletes, geriatric patients, neurologically-involved patients and pediatric patients, advancing clinical practice, and pain and pain science. The Chair will foster collaborations among the faculty across the programs and the vast network of clinical sites training our students.
• Program expansion and management: The Chair will work directly with the Program Directors, each of whom will report to the Chair, to nurture and develop existing programs and successfully launch new programs. It will be The Chair's responsibility to develop and support the programs in accordance with the recommendations of CAPTE. The Chair will ensure that high quality is maintained across the programs.
• Curriculum oversight: The Chair will ensure the quality of the curriculum for each program maintains a high standard required by CAPTE and that there is cohesion among the curricula.
• Program outcomes: The Chair will ensure that the programs produce the highest quality graduates who are well-prepared not only for the boards but also for successful and productive careers.
• Department budget: The finances of each program will reside in the department and it will be the responsibility of the Chair to make sure that they achieve their financial goals and communicate any issues or concerns to the Executive Associate Dean. Salaries of faculty members and staff in the department and the programs, including annual merit increase recommendations, are the responsibility of the chair.
• Personnel: The Department Chair will discuss the needs of additional personnel or changes in personnel with their Program Directors and present recommendations to the Executive Associate Dean for approval.
• Faculty oversight and development: The Chair will conduct annual reviews of all faculty, guide them in their academic advancement, and make salary determinations in consultation with the Dean's Office.
• Strategic planning: The Chair will oversee the development of the departmental level strategic plan, ensuring that is integrates well with the School and University level plans. An important element of the departmental-level strategy will be to create cohesive policies and procedures among the programs.

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

The Tufts University School of Medicine Department of Rehabilitation Sciences is dedicated to advancing the field of physical therapy through rigorous research and transformative education. Our distinguished faculty members are leaders in their respective fields, dedicated to preparing the next generation of physical therapy professionals through a curriculum steeped in evidence-based practice. Faculty educate and inspire a highly diverse group of physical therapists, clinician scientists, and change agents nationwide. Our community of students, alumni, faculty, and partners work daily to improve society's health, advance equitable access to healthcare, and serve all people including the most vulnerable among us.

We prepare students to earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in a dynamic, collaborative, and hybrid-accelerated learning environment. Over a seven-semester experience, and as part of one of the leading academic medical centers in the nation, we equip our graduates with the knowledge, strategies, tools, and networks they need to flourish in this fast-growing profession. Together, working in an environment marked by integrity, authenticity, and a true sense of belonging, we exert meaningful impact on the social determinants of health, health equity, stewardship of social resources, and the future of our profession.

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine in downtown Boston, MA, is thriving with a vibrant faculty and research programs focused on interventions in specialized populations (e.g., pregnancy, children), advancing clinical practice, pain and pain science, diagnostic accuracy and scholarship of teaching and learning; see https://medicine.tufts.edu/about/academic-departments/rehabilitation-sciences/rehabilitation-sciences-research. Our faculty are highly collaborative with active projects in translational science and artificial intelligence.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold an appropriate doctoral degree (DPT, PhD, MD, DO, etc.) and serve at the level of Associate or full Professor with experience appropriate to their career level.

The ideal candidate for the Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences will have the following qualities:
• Proven experience as a transformational leader, with an approach that is inspirational and visionary, and an ability to foster collaboration, transparency, and excellence
• Ability to develop and sustain strong engagement with internal and external communities, including professional societies, research partners, and other key stakeholders
• A strong record of building effective teams, mentoring and supporting faculty across career stages
• Demonstrated success supporting faculty research productivity, including the growth of external research funding
• Experience enhancing departmental reputation, visibility, and impact at the regional and national levels
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience with budget and administrative responsibilities
• Experience in conflict management and negotiation
• Experience working with hybrid or virtual programs
• Dedication to inclusive excellence
• Willingness to travel to Boston on a regular basis to establish a presence and foster connectedness and collaboration within the medical school and across the university

Application Instructions

Review of applications begins September 10, 2026, and continues until the position is filled.

To apply go to:

https://apply.interfolio.com/193664

Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae (CV), and a cover letter describing their interest in the position and their qualifications. For questions, please contact the search committee chair at

Salary range:

• Assoc Professor - $120,000-200,000/year + $50k stipend
• Professor - $156,000-312,500/year + $50k stipend

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity.