THE OPPORTUNITY
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern) invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Surgery. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the nation’s premier surgical departments at a moment of sustained clinical growth, building on a period of exceptional leadership and a strong academic and financial foundation. The Chair will guide a large, multidisciplinary department whose surgeons and allied health providers deliver care across one of the most complex and dynamic academic health environments in the country, advancing the Department’s missions in patient care, education, and research.
Reporting to W. P. Andrew Lee, M.D., Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School, the Chair will succeed Herbert J. Zeh III, MD, whose tenure brought a period of transformative growth that strengthened the Department’s clinical programs, deepened its leadership bench, and elevated its standing among partners across the region. As surgical demand across North Texas climbs, the next Chair will have the scale, resources, and institutional backing to set new standards in surgical care, discovery, and education. This is among the most consequential surgical leadership roles in the country—a position that anchors UT Southwestern’s clinical enterprise and drives its regional expansion.
Candidates must have an M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent medical degree, an academic record commensurate with appointment at the rank of Professor, and eligibility for clinical licensure in Texas. The successful candidate will be an accomplished surgeon and leader with a national reputation, a record of building strong clinical and academic programs — ideally complemented by their own record of research accomplishment — and a demonstrated commitment to faculty advocacy, mentorship, and collaboration. They will bring sound judgment, financial acumen, and a unifying vision to a department poised for its next chapter of growth.
THE INSTITUTION
As one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, UT Southwestern integrates pioneering research with exceptional health care and education. UT Southwestern is home to more than 3,700 faculty members, many of whom are leaders in their respective fields, including six Nobel laureates, 28 National Academy of Sciences members, 26 National Academy of Medicine members, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. Annual research funding at the University exceeds $816 million per year.
UT Southwestern is located in the heart of the Southwestern Medical District – a nearly 400-acre medical complex located 10 minutes north of downtown Dallas. UT Southwestern physicians are central to the care of millions of residents in North Texas through the UT Southwestern health system and its affiliated systems, including Parkland Health, Children’s Health, Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, VA North Texas Health Care System, and the joint Southwestern Health Resources accountable care network. In this expansive and rapidly evolving ecosystem, UT Southwestern’s unprecedented growth is driven by significant investments in teaching, clinical, and research missions, creating fertile ground for collaborative innovation and dynamic adaptation.
PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: Chair, Department of Surgery | Isaacson, Miller
Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.
Ariannah Mirick, Managing Partner
Katie White, Senior Associate
Madeleine Ruth, Managing Search Coordinator
Isaacson, Miller
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
Appointment rank will be commensurate with academic accomplishment and experience. Consideration may be given to applicants seeking less than a full-time schedule.
To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/
