Section Chief, Gastroenterology- Lewis Katz School of Medicine/Temple University Hospital

The Department of Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) seeks a dynamic, mission-driven leader for its gastroenterology section.

The ideal candidate is a leader in the field of Gastroenterology and is a person of high character and credibility.  The new Chief must have an exceptional work ethic, be resilient, and possess the enthusiasm to lead a growing section in one of the nation’s largest and most complex and competitive healthcare markets in the country. 

The Chief of the Section of Gastroenterology has a key leadership role within the Department of Medicine, LKSOM. The Chief is responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of the gastroenterology section through strong clinical expertise, leadership skills, and strategic vision to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care, effective operations, and continuous improvement initiatives.   The successful candidate must also possess a collaborative mindset and operational expertise to integrate system-wide programs in clinical care, medical education, and scientific exploration.

The ideal candidate will boast a track record of academic excellence, a deep commitment to patient care, proficiency in teaching, and scholarly productivity. Furthermore, the Chief will exhibit exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills alongside a robust foundation in operational leadership experience, focusing on care for underserved patient populations. The Chief will provide leadership and expertise in gastroenterology to ensure the highest standards of patient care. The successful candidate will collaborate within the Temple Health System and with community organizations, healthcare providers, and allied stakeholders to promote digestive health awareness and education and foster a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and development within the gastroenterology section.

The Chief is tasked with driving the achievement of quality and educational objectives, actively participating in faculty development, and mentoring medical students and post-graduate trainees. The successful candidate will monitor and evaluate clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction metrics to identify areas for improvement and lead quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care, safety, and outcomes.

The Gastroenterology Section at Temple University Hospital is one of the nation’s most comprehensive centers for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders, covering the full breadth of gastrointestinal diseases and liver disorders. Our large and varied clinical practice takes advantage of the peerless state-of-the-art facilities of our Temple Digestive Disease Center equipped with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic technologies to manage the spectrum of GI diseases. We have a track record of national leadership in motility and therapeutic endoscopy that boast robust research and clinical footprints. In addition to our exceptional clinical programs, we have a deep dedication to the educational mission of training the next generation of leaders in the field.  We offer a three-year categorical fellowship, an advanced endoscopy fellowship, and a motility fellowship that reflects the clinical activities of our faculty.

To learn more about the Section of Gastroenterology, click HERE.

Temple Health is one of Philadelphia's leading academic medical centers, with 20 clinical departments, 8 Basic Science Departments, 13 Research Centers (all of which are engaged in patient care education and research), and more than 1,000 physicians and scientists sharing the mission of bringing innovative treatments to patients.

Reporting Structure/Key Relationships

The Section Chief of Gastroenterology is accountable directly to:

Chair, Medicine, LKSOM

System Chief, Gastroenterology, TUHS

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead the Section of Gastroenterology in the tripartite mission of cutting-edge clinical care, education, and research.
• Ensure a world-class educational experience and mentorship to medical students, residents, and fellows in gastroenterology.
• Work with the Chair of the DOM and System Chief of Gastroenterology to develop faculty-led research efforts.
• Recruit physicians to the Section of Gastroenterology, which embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and focuses on underrepresented groups in medicine.
• Work with the Department Chair, System Chief, and Administrator on the Section's strategic and budgetary plans.
• Promote a strong culture of institutional responsibility, including a commitment to excellent, efficient, and effective business operations and the use of space.
• Encourage and support diversity among the Section's constituents, creating an environment of professionalism, respect, tolerance, and acceptance.
• Promote a culture of engagement, mission, lifelong learning, and professional development among departmental staff.
• Work with the Department Chair, System Chief, and Senior Associate Dean, Office of Faculty Affairs, to define plans for the development of each faculty member,
• Support the promotion of faculty during the promotion process through mentorship, guidance, and advocacy.
• Participate in departmental, School of Medicine, and hospital committees as assigned by the Department Chair and Dean of LKSOM
• Ensure patient-focused, efficient, effective, and safe clinical care.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care, safety, and outcomes.
• Develop programs that reduce barriers to care amongst the patients served by Temple Health.
• Manage the resources of the Section to ensure sustainable and effective programs.
• Promote community outreach, community feedback, and collaboration with community-based organizations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Possess leadership experience to develop teams, drive vision, and work collaboratively.
• Ability to effect change in a complex academic environment through consensus building, collaboration, organizational programming, effective use of data, delegation of responsibilities, and mission-driven leadership.
• Ability to understand and respect and uphold the highest ethical standards while maintaining the organization's integrity.
• Display a style that fosters and supports change and innovation while maintaining overall control and aspiring to the highest standards.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, tolerance, and compassion for the culture, needs, and aspirations of the Temple community.
• Support and promulgate diversity among faculty, staff, students, and patients.
• Excellent verbal, written, and group presentation skills.
• Proven ability to develop and execute short- and long-term strategic initiatives.
• Skilled at recruiting and retention of staff and faculty, and values the mentoring role to elevate and support others.

Educational Requirements and Minimum Qualifications

This position requires an M.D., D.O., or foreign equivalent. Qualified candidates must be board certified by the ABIM, Gastroenterology Subspecialty and qualified for an academic appointment at the rank of full professor (preferred) in the medical school and have an outstanding clinical care, research, scholarship, and mentoring/education record. Candidates will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills, and a solid and evident commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Lastly, candidates should be active participants in specialty organizations/committees at the regional and national levels and can obtain medical licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Faculty Appointment, Benefits/Compensation

The annual compensation shall be determined based on the experience and qualifications of the individual selected for the position. In addition to a competitive salary, there is a comprehensive suite of benefits – including a generous 403b retirement match, health, dental, vision, life, malpractice, tuition remission, and CME, among others. 

Procedure for Candidacy

To be considered for this position, you must complete an online application, which is available here: https://bit.ly/4cyNRL9

Your application will not be considered complete until you have submitted all the required documents and information. 

Application materials should include the following: a current curriculum vitae and a comprehensive letter of interest summarizing all relevant experience, leadership accomplishments, and philosophy, clinical, educational, and research interests. LKSOM values diversity and is committed to achieving equity and inclusion within all its programs. Candidates applying for this position are required to provide a statement addressing how they would utilize their experience and knowledge to promote diversity and inclusion at the university and how that commitment would add value to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

Please address your application to David Loren, MD, Professor of Medicine, System Chief, Gastroenterology, TUHS, Search Committee Chairperson, C/O Michael R. Lester, Assistant Dean, Physician/Faculty Recruitment & Retention, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Email: michael.lester@tuhs.temple.edu

Confidential inquiries and candidate nominations should be directed to Michael.lester@tuhs.temple.edu

We are especially interested in qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups. For more information about diversity at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, please visit the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Temple University is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute through their research, teaching, and/or service to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities.

For a scrolling tour of Temple Health, please visit: https://www.templehealthtour.com/

Temple University Hospital (TUH): As the chief clinical training site for the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, TUH is a teaching hospital where the latest procedures and techniques are pioneered and where students and other physicians come to learn. It is also a robust research center that is advancing the fight against disease, pushing the boundaries of medical science and altering the course of serious disease. All of this means that Temple physicians and staff are at the forefront of medical knowledge.

For more information about Temple University Hospital, please visit: https://bit.ly/2KyPg9I

Temple Faculty Physicians (TFP): Temple Faculty Physicians, the academic practice plan of Temple University Health System, is made up of more than 500 physicians who represent almost every subspecialty in modern medicine – from family medicine physicians to organ transplant surgeons.

For more information about Temple Faculty Physicians, please visit: https://bit.ly/3cNj4Lw

Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM): The School of Medicine and Temple University Hospital (TUH), its chief clinical training site, provide care for patients from throughout the region seeking advanced tertiary- and quaternary-level care. In addition, TUH serves one of the most vulnerable populations in the nation, providing more free and under-reimbursed care than any other hospital in Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, please visit: https://bit.ly/2KtfMBj

Temple Health consists of:

• Temple University Hospital (TUH)
• Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus
• Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Temple University Hospital – Episcopal Campus
• Temple University Hospital – Northeastern Campus
• Temple University Hospital- Women's and Families
• Temple Health- Chestnut Hill Hospital (TH-CHH)
• Temple Faculty Physicians
• Temple Physicians, Inc.
• Temple Transport Team
• ReadyCare

For more information, please visit: https://www.templehealth.org/about