Department Chair, MCG - Artificial Intelligence and Health
Job ID: 277705
Location: Augusta University
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary:
*

Job Summary
The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University invites nominations and applications for the inaugural Chair of the Department of AI & Health.
As a groundbreaking addition to the academic landscape at Augusta University's Medical College of Georgia (MCG), the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Health is conducting a national search to recruit its inaugural Department Chair. This new department aims to transform the integration of data science and medicine, positioning Augusta University at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare. Reporting to Dean of the Medical College of Georgia, the Chair will be an energetic and visionary leader, capable of articulating the department's unique potential and inspiring collaborative innovation. This role requires a commitment to transparency, professionalism, and fostering an environment of inter-professional and interdisciplinary collaboration. The tenure status of the final applicant will be determined and confirmed in the final offer of employment. This position is an administrative faculty with rank position, at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
Responsibilities
The Chair of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Health at Augusta University's Medical College of Georgia is responsible for establishing and advancing a dynamic, interdisciplinary department that integrates data science with innovations in healthcare delivery and biomedical discovery. Major responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Provide dynamic strategic direction across the department's core missions of education, research, and health system integration, ensuring alignment with Medical College of Georgia and broader university goals.
• Establish and articulate a clear, innovative vision for the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Health, positioning Augusta University as a leader in AI-driven healthcare advancements.
• Leverage technology investments, including health data systems, AI software, and computational infrastructure, to enhance the department's research output, productivity, and educational impact.

Educational and Research Mission Oversight

• Direct and ensure the successful delivery of high-quality educational programs, including the development and refinement of interdisciplinary curricula, residency, and fellowship opportunities in AI and the health sciences.
• Drive the department's research agenda, emphasizing translational research, multi-disciplinary programs, and partnerships that harness AI and data science to address critical health challenges.
• Oversee compliance with all academic and research programmatic, organizational, and regulatory requirements.

Faculty Recruitment, Development, and Retention

• Lead the recruitment, hiring, and retention of an exceptional faculty with expertise in AI, machine learning, biomedical informatics, health care delivery, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Provide comprehensive mentorship and career development support, nurturing faculty growth, research excellence, and leadership skills, with particular attention to advancing early-career researchers.
• Cultivate a strong culture of research that emphasizes NIH-funded research and publications in leading high-impact venues.
• Foster professional well-being and individualized growth opportunities to retain high-performing faculty.

Research Funding and Resource Development

• Cultivate external relationships locally, statewide, and nationally to expand research partnerships, and increase visibility for Augusta's AI and Health research initiatives.
• Identify and secure new sources of funding, particularly from NIH and other major research agencies, with a focus on elevating the department's standing in AI-driven healthcare research.
• Strategically manage and allocate resources, including the departmental budget, to advance research priorities, maximize productivity, and enhance educational and research initiatives.

Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Program Development

• Lead initiatives to create and sustain multidisciplinary programs, integrating AI applications across health science disciplines, in collaboration with academic and healthcare system stakeholders.
• Promote collaboration with other department chairs and system leaders to develop innovative approaches to using AI in healthcare delivery and biomedical discovery, creating sustainable models for data-driven, patient-centered care.
• Facilitate joint faculty appointments with other schools and departments within Augusta University, encouraging interdisciplinary research.

Compliance, Accreditation, and Quality Assurance:

• Oversee compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards across educational, research, and clinical programs within the department.
• Regularly evaluate and adjust the department's strategic direction in response to emerging trends, regulatory changes, and evolving healthcare needs.
• Utilize data and feedback to improve research processes, programs, and policies continuously.

Community and External Engagement:

• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration with stakeholders across Augusta University and our affiliated healthcare system (WellStar), public health institutions, and academic partners to broaden the department's impact.
• Build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders outside AU and MCG, collaborating with other academic and healthcare partners across the state and the nation, to build departmental excellence and establish the Department as a trusted resource within local, state, national and international communities.
• Act as a visible and engaged leader in the AI and healthcare communities, representing Augusta University at national conferences, panels, and scientific organizations.
• Develop metrics to measure the impact of AI-driven research and educational programs on health outcomes, patient experience, and financial improvement.

Evaluation and Reporting:

• Prepare comprehensive reports for leadership, board of trustees, and other stakeholders, detailing research performance, funding status, and strategic outcomes.

Required Qualifications
MD, PhD, combination, and/or equivalent and must be eligible for faculty appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level.
Associate Professor- Mid level career faculty member with at least five years at rank of Assistant Professor or comparable training, background, and experience.
Professor- Senior level career faculty member with at least five years at the rank of Associate Professor or comparable training, background, and experience.
Required faculty employment qualifications for all USG institutions and all academic ranks within these institutions shall be:
Consistent with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)'s requirements for institutional accreditation;
Evidence of ability as a teacher;
Evidence of activity as a scholar and ability in all other duties assigned;
Successful experience (which will necessarily be waived for those just entering the academic profession who meet all other requirements); and,
Desirable personal qualities judged on the basis of personal interview, complete biographical data, and recommendations.
Preferred Qualifications

• Established track record of impactful research and scholarly activities in artificial intelligence, data science, or a related health sciences field, with a strong history of securing external research funding, including NIH grants, and a vision to expand Augusta University's standing in AI and health research.
• An extensive record of research publications in competitive high impact refereed/peer-reviewed venues in the fields of AI and Health.
• Proven experience in an academic medical or research environment, with the ability to set a strategic vision, lead transformative programs, and advance research.
• A strong record of building or leading interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability as an educator with a commitment to student and faculty mentorship, fostering supportive learning environment.
• A history of successful collaboration across institutions and disciplines, with an ability to build relationships locally, nationally, and internationally to drive the department's goals.
• Strong administrative skills, including budget management and strategic planning, with the capacity to oversee departmental operations effectively.
• A track record of building or strengthening new academic programs or initiatives.
• Ability to work with deans to identify and recruit high-quality talent committed to excellence in research and education.
• A highly effective communicator who can motivate and inspire teams through change.

Shift/Salary/Benefits
This position is fiscal year based and works year-round.
The intended work commitment or full-time equivalent (FTE) for this position is 1.0 and considered full-time.
Associate Professor-Salary and compensation is commensurate with education, experience, and achievements. The salary is subject to availability of funds.
Professor-Salary and compensation is commensurate with education, experience, and achievements. The salary is subject to availability of funds.
Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and much more!
Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.
Rank and salary are determined at the time of hire and are based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, education, credentials, specialty, training, etc. while also considering internal equity and market data.
Advancement through the faculty ranks at Augusta University is only through the annual Promotion and Tenure process in which faculty may apply if eligible (typically five-year increments). For more information on ranks, please review the Augusta University Promotion and Tenure Website:
https://www.augusta.edu/faculty-affairs/promotionandtenure.php
College/Department Information
The Medical College of Georgia is one of the nation's largest medical schools by class size, with 304 students per class. The educational experience is anchored by the main campus in Augusta, regional clinical campuses for third- and fourth-year students across the state and a second four-year campus in Athens in partnership with the University of Georgia. MCG's expanding partnerships with physicians and hospitals across Georgia currently provides about 350 sites where students can experience the full spectrum of medicine, from complex care hospitals to small-town solo practices. MCG and its teaching hospitals also provide postgraduate education to more than 500 residents and fellows in 50 different Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved programs. Our researchers and clinicians focus on what most impacts the health of Georgia's and America's children and adults, including cardiovascular biology and disease, cancer, neurosciences and behavioral sciences, public and preventive health, regenerative and reparative medicine, personalized medicine and genomics. Our physician faculty also share their expertise with physicians and patients at about 100 clinics and hospitals statewide.
The Department of Artificial Intelligence and Health is actively developing its physical space, with completion targeted for March 2025. The department aims to establish a collaborative academic environment, planning to house 10 to 15 primary faculty members over the next 3-5 years alongside adjunct and joint faculty drawn from Augusta University's academic landscape. The department's structure will support joint faculty membership without affecting existing departments, fostering an innovative, interdisciplinary approach that leverages expertise across the university.
Supported by 10 years of comprehensive EPIC data from Wellstar Health, vertically integrated datasets, and genomic information, the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Health offers a unique opportunity for advancing transformative AI and healthcare research. Substantial resources, including a $2-3 million endowment with the potential designation for a Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar, will empower the incoming Chair to drive impactful research initiatives.
A key objective of the department is to position itself among the nation's leading NIH-funded research entities, capitalizing on Augusta University's recent 35% increase in NIH funding, now totaling over $70 million. The Chair will play a pivotal role in these efforts, working closely with Dean David Hess, MD, to further Augusta University's mission of advancing AI, health innovation, and academic excellence.
About Us
Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 10,500 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today. Our mission and values make Augusta University an institution like no other.
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Location
Our Health Sciences Campus:
1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912
Conditions of Employment
All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.
If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.
Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle.
For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.
All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.
How To Apply
The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University has retained Korn Ferry, a national executive recruiting firm, to assist with this search. All nominations, inquiries, and application materials should be submitted in confidence to Korn Ferry by January 21, 2025.
Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries for the position to the search firm at the contact information below:
Please submit materials at: [email protected]
Toni Lam, PhD, Global Practice Leader, Academic Medicine
Vickie Antolini, Senior Client Partner
Anna Flagg, Senior Associate
Other Information
This position is also responsible for promoting a customer-friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients, students, faculty, and employees. "Augusta University is a patient-and family-centered care institution, where employees partner every day with patients and families for success."
Augusta University is a tobacco-free environment, and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.
To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=12000&JobOpeningId=277705&PostingSeq=1
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