Description

The Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center has launched a national/international search for its next Chief of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology in the Department of Pediatrics and the Inaugural Director of the Children's Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Health. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to envision and realize the future growth of an outstanding Pediatric Endocrinology program and to found and develop a new Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Health within the vibrant and growing UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health.

Division of Pediatric Endocrinology

The mission of the UT Southwestern Pediatric Endocrinology Division is to provide excellent, high-value care to children with diabetes and endocrinological disorders while driving the field forward through research & innovation and by participating in the education of future physicians at all levels of training. The growing Division comprises 15 faculty members who play a pivotal role in advancing clinical and scholarly programs focused on various critical areas of endocrinology, including diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemias, metabolic bone disease, and other related fields. The Division's commitment to excellence is reflected in its affiliation as a Comprehensive Care Center of the CARES Foundation for congenital adrenal hyperplasia, membership in the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange (a national quality improvement collaborative), and position as one of twenty-two Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet International Clinical Centers, spearheading pioneering research in type 1 Diabetes. Additionally, the Division has an active fellowship program, which is supported, in part, by an NIH T32 grant that sits within UTSW's Department of Internal Medicine.

The Division's catchment area extends north and east into Oklahoma, Louisiana and southwestern Arkansas, Fort Worth into West Texas, and south as far as Houston. Clinical care is delivered at Children's Medical Centers of Dallas and Plano, along with other care sites affiliated with Children's Health. Its services also extend to consultation services at Parkland Hospital, Clements University Hospital, Texas Health Resources, and other affiliated care facilities managed by the Pediatric Group of UT Southwestern Medical Center. Recognizing the rising demand for endocrinology care in the expanding Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, which boasts a population exceeding 7,500,000, the Division is actively engaged in programmatic expansion efforts to ensure that it can effectively meet the growing needs of children requiring these specialized services.

Learn more about the Division here: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/pediatrics/divisions/endocrinology/

Children's Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Health

The Children's Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Health is a translational hub advancing pediatric diabetes, metabolic, and endocrine medicine through integrated science and multidisciplinary innovation. Established to address the rising burden of diabetes, obesity, growth and pubertal disorders, thyroid disease, and rare genetic syndromes, the Center aligns clinical care with cutting-edge research, biobanking, and precision medicine approaches. By accelerating the development and early implementation of novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and care models, it fosters the next generation of physician-scientists and positions itself as a regional and national leader. Guided by a mission to deliver collaborative, science-driven solutions and a vision to translate discoveries into measurable improvements in child health, the Center is designed to close the gap between discovery and practice.

Department of Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern has a long and rich history that is interwoven with the roots of UT Southwestern Medical School and with the development and growth of Children's Health, its primary clinical partner with leading inpatient care at Children's Medical Center in Dallas and Plano and multispecialty outpatient centers in Dallas, Plano, Prosper and other health care units throughout the Dallas Metroplex. The Department is structured into 17 academic divisions, consisting of greater than 415 faculty members and several clinical multidisciplinary programs to cover the full spectrum of child health and disease.

Learn more about the department here: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/pediatrics/

Position Specification

As North Texas experiences unprecedented growth, and with the pediatric population expected to double by 2050, there is an urgent demand for advanced pediatric health care. To meet those needs, the new campus will expand access to a full range of pediatric services from routine care to complex treatments, creating a one-of-a-kind hub for academic research, training, and the development of life-saving technologies. The pediatric campus, which will replace the existing Children's Medical Center Dallas, is expected to open in the next six to seven years. It will be built on the UT Southwestern campus on the corner of Harry Hines Boulevard and Mockingbird Lane, across from UTSW's William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.

Highlights of the project include:
• 4.7 million square feet of construction
• 552 beds (38% increase) with space for future expansion
• Expanded Emergency Department space (15%) and operating rooms (22%)
• Two helicopter pads
• A Level I pediatric trauma center, 90 ER exam rooms, and 24 observation rooms
• A connector bridge between the new campus and Clements University Hospital, ensuringcontinuity of care for babies with direct access to the pediatric expertise provided at the Children's Health Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)
• A new fetal care center to provide the region's most advanced and accessible services for complex maternal and fetal health care, including fetal surgery capabilities at the adjoining Clements University Hospital
• A new outpatient clinic building that will add 96 exam rooms to the 344 that will continue to operate at the existing Children's Health Specialty Center Dallas outpatient facility on Stemmons Freeway at Medical District Drive

The new pediatric campus adds to the ongoing investments by UT Southwestern and Children's Health to meet the region's growing pediatric medical and surgical needs. In October 2024, the new Children's Health Plano hospital tower opened and substantially increased the number of beds to increase access to care for children in North Texas. The partnership is also expanding access to care in surrounding communities with new specialty centers, a growing referral network, and more - each a part of their commitment to growing with North Texas, anticipating long-term pediatric needs, and providing extraordinary care close to home.

Milestone gifts from The Jean and Mack Pogue Family Foundation and The Rees-Jones Foundation

A recent $100 million gift from The Rees-Jones Foundation to support the construction of the new pediatric campus followed a $100 million gift from the Jean and Mack Pogue Family Foundation in May. This marks the first time in Texas that a not-for-profit construction project has received two individual leadership gifts of $100 million. At the October 1st groundbreaking ceremony, Troy Aikman and Dirk Nowitzki, both champion athletes and champions for children, joined in the historic gift announcement. To publicly recognize The Rees-Jones Foundation gift, the central hospital tower at the new Dallas pediatric campus will be named Rees-Jones Tower. In addition, the greenspace on which the campus will reside will be known as the Pogue Family Park.

The Role

UT Southwestern is seeking a national leader as the new Chief of the Division of Endocrinology in the Department of Pediatrics. The position will report directly to the Chair, Dr. Jorge Bezerra, and will play a critical leadership role within the Department. The Chief will serve as a galvanizing and inspiring leader and will provide strategic, administrative, financial, and operational leadership and direction for the Division, responsible for the research, education and clinical missions. This leader will build on a foundation of success while defining the future culture of the Division, leveraging the talents of a diverse group of faculty, staff, residents, fellows, and students as the Department of Pediatrics and its primary health system partner, Children's Health, enter a period of unprecedented growth. The Chief will lead the Division in providing excellent, high-value care while advancing the field through research and innovation and educating future physicians. They will collaborate across the Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern, and with key partners at Children's Health.

The Chief will provide clinical leadership to enhance quality of care, and support continued growth and expansion of clinical capabilities. The Division's growth and evolution will be a critical element in achieving the Department of Pediatrics' vision of transformation and advancement of subspecialized care and programs. Through collaboration across Divisions and with Children's Health, the Chief will establish and promote best practices, improving high reliability of clinical services. They will leverage data and analytics to measure outcomes and drive quality improvement. The Chief will ensure alignment of the clinical and academic missions of the Division, the Department of Pediatrics and Children's Health.

The Chief will elevate and promote the importance of the academic mission in the Division, building on the strong partnership between UT Southwestern and Children's Health, which marries the University's success in scientific discovery and innovation with the investments of Children's Health in clinical practice and the care environment. The Chief will build a robust portfolio of research, while encouraging the importance of grant-funding, scholarly output and publications in high impact journals. This Chief will foster an outstanding teaching environment, while continuously improving and advancing the medical education curriculum and training programs available.

Key to success in advancing the academic, research, and clinical missions, the Chief will have strong business acumen and be responsible for operations and financial performance for the Division. The Chief will prioritize recruiting, training, developing, and retaining world-class faculty to advance the Division and Department's bold growth strategy. This leader will maintain a collaborative and transparent atmosphere, further develop existing programs, and identify potential oppo