The Opportunity:

McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), a leading academic health center, invites applications and nominations for the position of Chief, Pediatric Cardiology and Executive Co-Director, Children’s Heart Institute. The Children’s Heart Institute is seeking an established leader in pediatric cardiology with established leadership experience and excellence in clinical, research and education. This is a unique opportunity to lead the Division of Pediatric Cardiology and co-lead the Children’s Heart Institute. The other Executive Co-Directors of the Children’s Heart Institute are Jorge Salazar, MD, Professor and Chief, Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery and Jon Meliones, MD, Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care.

The Children’s Heart Institute at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital is ranked nationally in Cardiology and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report (#35) and offers innovative solutions for patients with congenital or acquired heart disease delivering high-quality outcomes. The Children’s Heart Institute at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital earned a three-star rating, the highest possible distinction from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). The Children’s Heart Institute received this rating for its patient care and outcomes in congenital heart surgery. As one of only 12 three-star programs of the STS’s 119 participating programs, Children’s Heart Institute ranks among the elite in the United States and Canada for congenital heart surgery.

Reporting to the Office of the President, the Chief, Pediatric Cardiology and Executive Co-Director, Children’s Heart Institute will provide vision, leadership and innovation to the Division of Pediatric Cardiology and the Children’s Heart Institute. The Chief will work closely with the other Executive Co-Directors of the Children’s Heart Institute, leadership, faculty and staff and is responsible for the division’s overall clinical, academic, research and administrative activities.

The Division: 

The faculty and staff of the academic division are involved in multiple functions with a major emphasis on excellence in patient care, teaching and research. Their internationally recognized pediatric cardiologists are dedicated to providing patients with the best standard of pediatric cardiac care, including access to the latest advances in pediatric cardiovascular research. At their disposal are the extensive healthcare resources of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, The Memorial Hermann Hospital Health Care System, The Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, The Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas Professional Building, and The LBJ General Hospital.

Apart from diagnosis and management of heart murmurs, chest pain, syncope, and palpitations in children referred to them from Houston and other parts of Texas, they provide comprehensive pediatric cardiac care including; pediatric interventional cardiology, pediatric electrophysiology and ablation, diagnosis and management of cardiac problems in the unborn child (fetus), neonatal cardiology, preventive cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, and implantation and management of pacemakers, ICDs, and bi-ventricular resynchronization devices. Cardiac studies, such as electrocardiography, echocardiography (trans-thoracic, contrast, trans-esophageal and fetal), stress testing, tilt table tests, Holter and event monitor testing, signal-averaged ECGs, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, trans-esophageal electrophysiology testing, and advanced cardiac and vascular imaging are also offered by our staff. They also perform, supervise and interpret electrocardiograms, Holters and trans-thoracic echocardiograms in approximately 20 hospitals located in and around Houston metropolitan area. Neonates, children, and adolescents requiring surgical intervention are cared for by the members of the Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery of The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston/Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

The teaching programs are tailored to the level of trainee’s background and experience and include separate programs for junior medical students, senior medical students, resident physicians, fellows and practicing physicians. They provide formal fellowship training in general pediatric cardiology in their ACGME-accredited program for board-certified/eligible pediatricians and interventional pediatric cardiology training in their TSBME-approved program for board-certified/eligible pediatric cardiologists.

The Pediatric Cardiology team consists of 21 faculty members specializing in general pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiac imaging, pediatric cardiac heart failure, interventional, and adult congenital.

Members of the Pediatric Cardiology Division are involved in clinical and basic research. Areas of investigation include:

• Feasibility, safety and efficacy of device occlusion of congenital and acquired defects in the cardiovascular system (atrial septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defects, and abnormal vascular connections).
• Long-term results of balloon angioplasty and valvuloplasty of obstructive lesions of the cardiovascular system (aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, coarctation of the aorta and others).
• Feasibility, safety, and efficacy of stent therapy for vascular obstructive lesions (branch pulmonary artery stenosis, coarctation of the aorta and other vascular stenoses).
• Evaluation of cardiovascular end-organ damage in children with hypertension.
• Prevalence of undiagnosed congenital cardiac defects in older children.
• Evaluation of cardiac function with new modalities of echocardiography.
• Determination of genetics of childhood onset of essential hypertension.
• Gene screening for mutations in dilated cardiomyopathy

The Ideal Candidate:

The successful candidate will possess exceptional communication skills, strong financial acumen, a demonstrable record of promoting diversity among trainees, staff and faculty and a sincere commitment to promoting a culture of collaboration, innovation and inclusion across the Health Science campus. The new Chief must be a respected leader who is operationally savvy and a visionary leader in the field of pediatric cardiology. The Chief will be the model of adaptability and possess skills for conflict resolution and management of adversity. Importantly, all stakeholders must view the Chief as a strong advocate for balancing all missions of the division, Children’s Heart Institute and the institution.

Education/Certifications:

• MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent with a robust record of professional leadership roles in an academic institution.
• American Board Certification in Pediatrics with a sub-specialty certification in Pediatric Cardiology required.
• Must have or be able to obtain an unrestricted medical license in the state of Texas.

The Organization:

UTHealth Houston is a comprehensive academic health science university, and their mission is to educate health science professionals, discover and translate advances in the biomedical and social sciences, and model the best practices in clinical care and public health. UTHealth Houston is one of six health institutions in the University of Texas System and UTHealth Houston has six colleges including the McGovern Medical School. 

UTHealth Houston has 2,133 full-time and part-time faculty in 80+ specialties, 6,786 total staff and 5,758 total students. Their faculty and students conduct research to improve the dual pillars of health and well-being while addressing the nation’s most pressing public health crises. UTHealth Houston ranks in the top four universities in Texas in terms of total NIH funding, with $129.6 million awarded to date. Total research expenditures are greater than $290 million.

Children’s Heart Institute  

In collaboration with pediatric subspecialists at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, the affiliated team provides comprehensive care for newborns, children and adolescents, with a smooth transition into adult congenital cardiac care. The Children’s Heart Institute partners with The Fetal Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital to offer patients with congenital heart defects a complete range of prenatal testing and fetal interventions with a coordinated program for mother and child before, during and after birth. The Fetal Center is a national referral center and an interventional leader in fetal diagnosis, fetal intervention and comprehensive fetal care for infants with congenital anomalies or genetic abnormalities.

With the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a dedicated pediatric Children’s Heart Institute Intensive Care Unit (CHI-ICU) at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, critical pediatric heart patients have access to the highest level of specialized care. By utilizing state-of-the-art techniques and services, the Children’s Heart Institute strives to offer patients with the most complex problems the greatest opportunity for a healthy life.

The Region:

UTHealth Houston and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital are part of the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical city in the world and the 8th largest business district in the U.S. The Texas Medical Center is at the forefront of advancing life sciences and home to the brightest minds in medicine. TMC nurtures cross-institutional collaboration, creativity and innovation because together, they can push the limits of what is possible. TMC is housed on 675 acres and is home to 42 nonprofit and government institutions, including 13 teaching hospitals, two medical schools, four colleges of nursing, a dental college, a college of pharmacy and a college of optometry. The TMC is just 10 minutes from downtown Houston. 

Alive with energy and rich in diversity, Houston is a dynamic mix of imagination, talent and first-class attractions that makes it a world-class city. Home to a vibrant economy, beautiful surroundings and a population full of optimism and spirit, it’s no wonder that Houston is a popular international destination.

Houston is the fourth most populous city in the nation, with an estimated July 2018 population of 6,997,384 for the Houston Metropolitan Area, with 99,013 births per year. Houston is the largest in the southern U.S. and Texas and is expected to become the third most populous U.S. city during the second half of the decade of the 2020s. Greater Houston is the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the U.S. At least 145 languages are spoken by city residents, and 90 nations have consular representation in the city. 

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consists of nine counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA covers 9,444 square miles, an area slightly smaller than Massachusetts but larger than New Jersey. Houston’s size is 665 square miles. 

Educational opportunities play a key role in Houston’s quality of life. Houston is a city known to be rich with distinguished school districts and prominent colleges and universities.

Nominations are greatly appreciated and may be sent to:

Jennifer Schaulin, Pediatric Practice Leader & Principal

c/o Molly Johnson, Consultant 

Executive & Physician Leadership Search, AMN Leadership Solutions

Email: Molly.Johnson@AMNhealthcare.com

UTHealth Houston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, employment, or policy administration based on race, religion, age, sex, color, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, or status as a disabled veteran or other protected veteran under U.S. federal law.

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