Division Chief, Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery (Asst, Assoc, or Professor - Tenure Track)

at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH) seeks an exceptional academic otolaryngologist to join the Department's leadership team as Chief, Division of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery. This is an outstanding opportunity to lead and further develop a nationally recognized division within a newly independent department known for excellence in clinical care, research, and surgical education.

The Division Chief will provide strategic leadership across the Division's clinical, educational, and research missions while serving as a member of the Department's senior leadership team. In this role, the successful candidate will help shape departmental strategy, advance faculty development, strengthen multidisciplinary partnerships, and promote continued growth across the Department's academic and clinical enterprises.

The Division of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery includes fellowship-trained rhinologists with expertise in advanced endoscopic sinus surgery, management of inflammatory sinonasal disease, revision sinus surgery, endoscopic skull base surgery, cerebrospinal fluid leak repair, and the multidisciplinary care of benign and malignant skull base tumors. The Division collaborates closely with Neurological Surgery, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medicine, Radiology, and other specialties, providing comprehensive care for patients with complex sinonasal and anterior skull base disorders. As a regional referral center, the Division offers advanced medical and surgical care while supporting a robust portfolio of clinical research, resident education, and multidisciplinary skull base programs.

The successful candidate will maintain an active clinical practice and will possess a demonstrated record of excellence in rhinology and anterior skull base surgery, along with a strong commitment to academic medicine. Preferred candidates will have an established research portfolio with current and future potential for extramural funding. Academic appointment will be at the Associate Professor or Professor rank on either the Clinical Health Sciences (CHS) or Tenure Track, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

• This position is full-time 100%
• This position requires work to be completed onsite, at a designated campus work location.
• This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations.  The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.
• Applicants for this position will be considered for the following titles Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor on the Tenure Track. The title is determined by the experience and qualifications of the finalist.

• This vacancy is being announced simultaneously with JR[redacted]; please note that only one vacancy exists. Having two job postings allows the Department to consider candidates with both tenure-track faculty credentials and non-tenure-track faculty credentials for this position.

• Service and Leadership:
  • The Division Chief serves as a member of the Otolaryngology Leadership Team (OLT) and as such contributes to the overall leadership and oversight of DOHNS.
  • The Division Chief is also responsible for leading divisional efforts in sub-specialty education/mentorship and clinical domains and assisting and organizing its members in areas of clinical sub-specialty research projects.
  • The Division Chief will work in close conjunction with the relevant Vice Chairs, the Residency Program Director, and Department Chair.
  • Be an active participant in regional and national professional associations.
  • Participate in administrative, and committee work to support the clinical and scholarly missions of UW Health and the School of Medicine and Public Health. An essential part of these duties will be working in a collegial relationship with other faculty members.

• Academic program:
  • Lead or develop areas of academic and scholarly pursuit. The applicant will conduct or develop academic activities that may focus in a variety of areas, such as research, surgical education, mentorship, quality improvement, multidisciplinary complex care, or global outreach. In the development of an academic focus, the faculty member will be able to draw on numerous available collaborators. 
  • Exceptionally well-qualified applicants will have an established research portfolio with current and future potential for extramural funding.

• Adjustments to this dedicated percentage of time can be made based on the funding needs and successful applicants’ line of scientific inquiry.

• Education:
  • Faculty in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery share a commitment to education at all levels. Education of clinical and sub-intern UWSMPH medical students, resident physicians, fellows, and other learners are included in regular clinical responsibilities.
  • An active commitment to training the next generation of otolaryngologist-head & neck surgeons including commitments to ACGME-accredited residency training in otolaryngology-head & neck surgery
  • Teach medical students, residents, fellows, and other learners

• Clinical Activity:
  • Maintain an anterior skull base and rhinology clinical practice encompassing the medical and surgical management of sinonasal disease, advanced endoscopic sinus surgery, and endoscopic skull base surgery, including treatment of benign and malignant skull base tumors, pituitary disorders, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and other complex rhinologic conditions.
  • The applicant is expected to work collaboratively and inclusively with a multidisciplinary team including neurosurgery, ophthalmology, allergy/immunology, radiology, anesthesia, nursing, and other colleagues.
  • Occasional otolaryngology on-call coverage and regional outreach clinical commitments are shared amongst all faculty.

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery

In 1930, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Oto-HNS) was founded as a division within the University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery. In 2025, after decades of growth and achievement, the division became an independent department within the School of Medicine and Public Health.

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (DOHNS) includes seven divisions: Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery, Otology and Neurotology, Laryngology, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Comprehensive Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery, and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. DOHNS faculty and multidisciplinary colleagues provide a full range of state-of-the-art specialized tertiary and quaternary care for adults and children throughout the Midwest. 

Education within the Department includes medical student electives and sub-internships, an ACGME accredited residency program (current complement: 4 residents per year), fellowships in Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction, Laryngology, and Speech-Language Pathology, and an Audiology clinical externship.

DOHNS offers an exceptional environment for academic discovery, innovation, and career development. Consistently ranked among the nation's leading otolaryngology departments in NIH funding, the Department maintains a robust and growing research enterprise supported by nearly 30 active extramural grants, including multiple R01 and R01-equivalent awards as well as F31, F32, and T32 training grants. Faculty investigators lead programs spanning basic science, translational research, health services and outcomes research, clinical trials, and medical education, creating abundant opportunities for collaboration and scientific advancement.

The Department is home to nationally recognized research programs, including participation in the Wisconsin Head and Neck Cancer SPORE and the nation's only federally funded Voice Research Training Program. Investigators work across a broad range of disciplines, including head and neck cancer, hearing and balance disorders, voice and swallowing, regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering, and skull base disease, leveraging the extensive research infrastructure and collaborative culture of the University of Wisconsin. Faculty produced more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in 2024, reflecting the Department's strong commitment to discovery and academic excellence.

For candidates pursuing a research-intensive academic career, the University of Wisconsin provides a uniquely supportive environment in which to develop and expand an independent research portfolio. The successful Division Chief will have the opportunity to build on an established culture of scientific excellence, collaborate with leading investigators across the School of Medicine and Public Health and the broader UW campus, and further strengthen the Department's national reputation as a leader in otolaryngology research and innovation.

Negotiable, 12-month

For information on vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits, refer to the

• Prior to the appointment start date, candidate's specialization must include eligibility or certification in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (ABOHNS) or by the American Osteopathic Boards of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (AOBOOHNS)

• Applicants are required to have completed a fellowship in rhinology and skull base surgery

• Must receive WI medical license by start date of position.

• Must be eligible for enrollment as a billing provider and for all necessary hospital privileges, by start date.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An ability to successfully demonstrate the core knowledge and clinical competencies associated with the subspecialty of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery

• Established research portfolio with current and future potential for extramural funding.

• For an appointment at Associate Professor or Professor rank on tenure track, candidates will meet criteria established by the department and as outlined in the UW Divisional Committee guidelines for promotion or appointment to Associate or Professor on the tenure track.

• MD, DO, or equivalent required.

To apply for this position, select either I am a current employee or I am not a current employee under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

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A complete application will include a current CV and a cover letter detailing each of the following:

• Your interest in this leadership position

• Your experience and clinical interest(s) within Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery

• Area(s) of research interest

The deadline for assuring full consideration is September 25, 2026; however, the position will remain open and applications may be considered until the position is filled. 

The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you chose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position, neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees.

KJ Ellis,KJ.Ellis@wisc.edu, 608-264-3004

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See for further information.