Professor, Internal Medicine

Position Overview

The Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch seeks a Vice Chair for Research to serve as a senior faculty leader responsible for delineating and executing a growth strategy for the department's research enterprise. This role encompasses strategic planning, faculty recruitment, mentorship of junior investigators, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and aligning departmental research efforts with UTMB's institutional priorities.

The Vice Chair for Research will serve as the Chair's principal delegate for research affairs, representing the department at the School of Medicine Council of Vice Chairs of Research.

A critical focus of this role is building the department's research portfolio through strategic recruitment of faculty, supporting investigators at all stages of their careers, and fostering synergies with other departments, centers, and institutes at UTMB.

The Vice Chair for Research will prioritize growth in areas synergistic with UTMB's strengths, including but not limited to Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic disease, Healthy Aging, Brain Health, and Microbiology/Immunology.

The Vice Chair for Research will maintain an active research program while advancing the collective success of the department's research mission.

This position reports to Dr. Salim Hayek, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. The Vice Chair for Research will work collaboratively with other departmental Vice Chairs, Division Chiefs, and institutional research leaders to expand research activities across the department's tripartite mission of patient care, education, and investigation.

Institutional Context

UTMB is a $3.5 billion academic health center established in 1891 as Texas's first medical school, comprising Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, Public and Population Health, and a Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. With $168 million in sponsored research awards, UTMB ranks 52nd nationally in NIH funding among medical schools and stands in the top 2 percent of institutions receiving NIH support.

The institution operates four hospital campuses (Galveston, Clear Lake, League City, Angleton-Danbury) with over 1,000 beds and more than 90 clinics serving a population exceeding 1.8 million across Southeast Texas.

UTMB is the only academic health science center south of Houston and serves as the Level I Trauma Center for a nine-county region.

Clinical strengths include quaternary care capabilities, comprehensive burn care through partnership with Shriners Hospital for Children, transplant services, and specialty medical care for a substantial portion of Texas's incarcerated population through the TDCJ Hospital partnership.

The main Galveston campus includes Jennie Sealy Hospital (310 patient rooms with 60 dedicated ICU beds, completed 2016) and John Sealy Hospital, along with the verified burn center and the 172-bed Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital.

UTMB houses the Galveston National Laboratory, one of two BSL-4 biocontainment facilities on a U.S. university campus, and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development.

Research strengths include nationally recognized programs in microbiology and immunology, infectious diseases, anesthesiology critical care, and translational sciences. The institution recently established the Moody Brain Health Institute with a $25 million philanthropic commitment.

UTMB is a member of the Houston based Texas Medical Center and benefits from philanthropic support exceeding $50 million annually, including substantial backing from the Sealy & Smith Foundation.

Department Overview

The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest department within UTMB’s John Sealy School of Medicine, encompassing multiple divisions including Allergy and Immunology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, General Medicine, Geriatrics, Infectious Disease, Medical Oncology and Hematology, Nephrology, Palliative Care, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, and Rheumatology. The department operates a categorical Internal Medicine residency program with approximately 32 positions per cycle, as well as a distinctive combined Aerospace/Internal Medicine residency in partnership with NASA—the only program of its kind in the United States.

Under the leadership of Dr. Salim Hayek, the Department of Internal Medicine fosters a culture of excellence grounded in six core principles: radical transparency, recognition of exceptional contributions, shared accountability for elevating care, support for practicing at the top of one’s scope, investment in academic success, and collaboration across all divisions.

Faculty thrive in a data-driven, innovative environment that integrates precision medicine, research advancement, and clinical excellence.

The Department is committed to transparency, measurable performance, and providing the mentorship, resources, and infrastructure necessary for each faculty member to build and sustain a successful academic career.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Growth

Develop and implement a comprehensive research growth strategy aligned with UTMB's strategic priorities

Serve as the Chair's principal delegate for research matters, coordinating research efforts across all Internal Medicine divisions

Work closely with the Office of Clinical Research, the Chief Research Officer, and their associates to align departmental research initiatives with institutional strategy and resources

Identify and advance opportunities for interdisciplinary, translational, and clinical research collaborations

Serve as a liaison for research compliance and integrity, supporting investigators through IRB processes and responding to concerns

Faculty Development and Mentorship

Partner with the Chair and Division Chiefs to strategically recruit and retain research faculty who will strengthen the department's portfolio

Partner with the Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs on mentoring program development for research track faculty

Provide structured mentorship to junior investigators and guide them in establishing independent funding and scholarship

Oversee departmental research education initiatives, including faculty development in grant writing, research methods, and scholarly productivity

Research Infrastructure and Operations

• Collaborate with departmental and institutional leaders to ensure optimal use of research resources, space, and infrastructure
• Support processes that streamline research administration, compliance, and funding support
• Advocate for departmental needs related to cores, facilities, and research support services
• Chair the Department of Internal Medicine Research Council, comprising the Vice Chair for Research and Associate Chiefs for Research from across the Divisions, to coordinate and advance departmental research initiatives
• Support scholarship dissemination through presentations, publications, and multi-investigator grants

Collaboration and Administrative Responsibilities

Foster partnerships with other departments, institutes, and centers at UTMB to build synergistic programs

Represent the department at the School of Medicine Council of Vice Chairs of Research and other institutional research committees

Promote collaborations that position UTMB and the Department of Internal Medicine for competitive extramural funding, including UTMB's innovation and tech transfer offices to support commercialization and industry partnerships

Champion a culture of inquiry, innovation, and academic excellence

Facilitate robust opportunities for medical students and residents to engage in research across the department's divisions

Encourage integration of novel technologies and approaches, including artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, to enhance research productivity

Candidate Profile

Required Qualifications

• MD, DO, PhD, or MD/PhD degree; Board Certification in Internal Medicine or subspecialty if clinically active
• Eligibility for medical licensure in Texas (if clinically active)
• Academic rank of Associate Professor or Professor at an accredited medical school, or qualifications consistent with appointment at this level at UTMB
• Proven track record as a federally funded investigator (NIH or equivalent peer-reviewed funding)
• Demonstrated leadership in research program development, mentorship, and collaboration

Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to build consensus and lead through influence

Valued Experience

Proven experience in leading research growth initiatives or multi-investigator research programs in academic medical centers

Expertise in areas synergistic with UTMB's strengths, including Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic disease, Healthy Aging, Brain Health, Microbiology/Immunology, or related fields

• Track record of successful mentorship resulting in grant success and promotion of junior investigators
• Record of scholarly productivity in basic, translational, or clinical research, including high-impact publications and sustained extramural funding
• Leadership roles in professional societies relevant to research or academic medicine

Experience with interdisciplinary and collaborative research initiatives, including development of center grants or program projects

Involvement in institutional research leadership, including service on research committees, grant review panels, or strategic planning groups

Leadership development through participation in structured programs such as leadership academies, executive education, or formal management and communication workshops

Compensasion and Support

Compensation for this position follows the Department of Internal Medicine Leader Compensation Plan and is benchmarked to the AAMC Faculty Salary Survey data aligned by academic rank. Total compensation includes a competitive base salary plus an at-risk leadership incentive tied to mutually agreed-upon annual performance goals across strategic priorities. A detailed Memorandum of Understan