Job Details

Thomas Jefferson University seeks a collaborative and visionary physician leader to serve as the next Chair of the Department of Surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, located on the University’s 13-acre campus in Center City Philadelphia.

Reporting to the Dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, the Chair will uphold the Department’s legacy of innovation and excellence in education and clinical care at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. The Chair will shape Surgery into a unified and integrated model of care across Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. The chair will be the serve as the 9th endowed Samuel D. Gross Professor.

In addition, the successful candidate will play a key strategic role in leading the Clinical Care Collaborative for Surgery within the University’s health system partner – Jefferson Health. Jefferson Health is a network of 32 hospitals, comprised of both employed and independent physician practices contractually-aligned with Jefferson. In line with Jefferson’s commitment to providing enhanced access to value-based care, the Chair will pursue strategic opportunities to effectively scale the value proposition of a growing system, while ensuring the delivery of high-quality care, aligned with network standards and expected by Jefferson patients.

Job Description

The Department of Surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Sidney Kimmel Medical College (chartered in 1824 as the Jefferson Medical College) is the fifth-oldest medical school in the United States and has more living graduates than any other medical school in the United States. In 1825, Jefferson established its Department of Surgery and became the first medical college in the country to establish a clinic for combined patient care and formal education. By 1877, the clinic had become the 125-bed Jefferson Medical College Hospital, the second hospital in the United States to be directly associated with a medical school.

Jefferson’s Department of Surgery is one of the most storied surgical programs in the United States with a legacy of renowned department chairs responsible for a number of historical firsts. In 1846, Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter, an early Chair of Surgery, performed the first operation using ether anesthesia in the region, paving the way for pain-free surgeries. Dr. Samuel D. Gross, who was the department chair from 1856–1882, revolutionized surgical education and authored the definitive textbook A System of Surgery. Gross is often referred to as the "Father of American Surgery." In 1953, Dr. John H. Gibbon Jr., who also served as Chair of Surgery, invented the heart-lung machine at Jefferson, making the world’s first successful open-heart operation possible.

Today, Jefferson’s Department of Surgery consists of 75 full-time clinical faculty, with a complement of 48 residents and 7 fellows, as well as 45 APCs and a staff of nearly 60 individuals spanning across multiple hospitals and numerous outpatient clinics. The Department of Surgery includes 11 Divisions, including Acute Care Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Surgical Research, Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Vascular & Endovascular Surgery, and Vascular Medicine, as well as the three sections of Breast Surgery, Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery.

Residents work alongside faculty in a variety of clinical settings, including a large urban academic hospital (TJUH), a Jefferson-affiliated pediatric hospital (Nemours), 2 Jefferson community hospitals (Methodist and Washington Township), 1 non-Jefferson community hospital (Bryn Mawr), and several outpatient locations including Jefferson’s new 19-story Honickman Center. The majority of faculty have completed fellowship training, and many are nationally and internationally known as thought leaders in their specialties.

Jefferson Surgery is known for its collegial atmosphere, and the faculty take great pride in preparing each trainee for their next step, whether that be fellowship training or, very rarely, directly to private practice.

The Role of Department Chair

The Chair leads the research, clinical care, and education programs of the Department of Surgery. The Chair is responsible for the Department’s operational and financial performance, including strategic planning, budget and resource management, and the recruitment anddevelopment of faculty and clinicians.

Reporting to the Dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, who also serves as the President of the College’s faculty practice plan – Jefferson University Physicians (JUP), the Chair’s areas of responsibility and specific duties are as follows:

SKMC Department Leadership

Work with SKMC, Jefferson Health, and Jefferson Medical Group leadership teams to shape the Department’s strategic direction and operational imperatives accordingly. Develop a comprehensive departmental strategic plan with clearly defined priorities aligned with SKMC’s overall goals. On a regular basis, communicate goals, plans, and activities to other SKMC departments.
Oversee the department’s clinical faculty and direct provider assignments to ensure appropriate coverage of clinical needs at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and affiliated sites of care.
Serve on the Dean’s Executive Council and other SKMC, TJU, and Jefferson Health committees, as requested by the Dean of SKMC and, where appropriate, the President of Jefferson Health.

Education & Training

Promote discovery and seek innovative ways to further support trainee learning. Support Program Directors in the potential expansion of residency partner sites and potential development of new subspecialty fellowships.
Oversee the Department’s academic programs, including resident and fellow recruitment and selection. Conduct all necessary and appropriate administrative activities with respect to the Department, TJUH, and other sites in connection with the education and clinical training of residents and fellows.
Oversee faculty teaching assignments and the Department’s participation in the undergraduate medical education program of SKMC. Ensure appropriate academic curricula and evaluate the need for new courses and programs. Ensure all Department educational activities are student-centered.
Ensure accreditation activities, program reviews, and other education-related evaluations occur appropriately. Ensure compliance with LCME and ACGME accreditation requirements.

Research

Expand the Department’s clinical research program. Foster opportunities for impactful clinical research and closely integrated translational collaborations between clinicians and scientists, with other SKMC departments and the University’s research centers and institutes.
ExpandclinicaltrialopportunitiestopatientsacrossJefferson’sgrowingclinicalfootprint.
Facilitate research development of trainees and early-career faculty through one-on-one mentorship. Maintain an infrastructure and resources to support extramural grant activity and the acquisition of new funding.
Promote the Department’s research activities, including upcoming research presentations, new publications, and recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances.
Provide oversight of the Department’s research portfolio. Identify, monitor, and report on the quality of faculty research. Maintain records of accomplishments.

People

Maintain an engaged, connected, and supportive department culture. Continually communicate department direction and generate support during times of change. Provide regular feedback to faculty and staff, including recognition, coaching, and counseling.
Support the well-being, continued development, and professional growth of faculty and staff, including leadership development opportunities for faculty. Oversee the Department’s CME activities. Ensure the provision of resources that support and stimulate faculty productivity in educational and research activities.
Advance the Department’s efforts in facilitating an inclusive environment. Ensure there are practices in place to facilitate fair practices in hiring, promotion, and compensation within the department.
Maintain and execute faculty recruitment plans. Ensure recruitment practices reach and attract top talent, selection processes follow University policy, and hires are made in a timely and fiscally responsible manner.
Conduct annual performance reviews; establish and communicate expectations and goals.

Financial Operations

Manage revenue-generating activities and make sound financial decisions aligned with the Department’s strategic priorities to ensure the Department remains financially self-supported and fiscally sustainable.
Review Department budgets and actively participate in the annual budget process. Ensure allowable expenditures for resources and equipment are within budget and appropriately allocated. Establish and maintain sound management and business discipline for the Department, with accountability for performance in line with SKMC’s mission-based budgeting methodology.
Collaborate with Institutional Advancement partners to improve financial resources through philanthropy.

Qualifications

A clinically active physician leader in the field of Surgery, supported by a track record of successfully securing external funding in support of impactful research and an outstanding record of scholarly contributions which merits appointment at the rank of associate or full professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College.
An administrative leader with an academic career trajectory showing increasing levels of administrative responsibilities, ideally culminating in serving as Chair, Vice Chair, or Division Chief for a department of Surgery. A proven record of success in advancing departmental goals and initiatives, including a demonstrated capacity to support the growth and well-being of faculty, clinicians, and trainees – including the development and mentorship of junior faculty.
Fiscal management experience overseeing complex budgets and allocating resources efficiently to support strategic priorities.
A demonstrated commitment to implementing equitable practices and fostering inclusive communities in all aspects of the Department’s mission – including the recruitment and career advancement of faculty, as well as patient care initiatives.
An MD, DO, or MD/PhD degree, current board certification in Surgery, and licensed/eligible to practice in the state of Pennsylvania.

Key Competencies & Attributes

This position requires a leader with empathy, vision, and drive, as well as a combination of organizational leadership skills and the interpersonal ability to lead and inspire excellence. The desired qualifications and experience of an ideal Chair include the following:

A proven ability to foster and sustain collaborative relationships across departments, centers, institutions, and external partners. An effective leader of multidisciplinary teams within an academic community, which includes consensus building, transparency, and candid communication.
A proven ability to develop and expand innovative clinical programs and enhance access to services. A physician leader capable of advancing academic achievement, expanding scholarship, and supporting strategic investment in faculty and their research (clinical and translational), who has a working understanding of the infrastructure and staff required to support clinical trials.
A demonstrated commitment to clinical excellence, including the maintenance of care standards to ensure quality of care and patient safety.

Procedure for Candidacy

For full consideration, applicants should submit a Statement of Interest (see guidance below) and detailed curriculum vitae to: Katie McFadden at Kathleen.McFadden@jefferson.edu by August 23,2026. Confidential inquiries, expressions of interest, and nominations can be submitted to the same address. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

In their Statement of Interest, applicants should highlight their academic and clinical leadership experience and accomplishments and are encouraged to specifically address how they’ve contributed to:

Strategically enhance and optimize access to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities.
Emphasizeinterdisciplinaryresearchcollaborationsandgrowresearchcongruentwithavibrant clinical strategy, e.g., expanding clinical trial opportunities by leveraging a significantly expanded clinical and community footprint.
Fostering equitable practices and building inclusive communities; ensuring health equity.
Standardization of clinical care and other efforts to ensure patient safety and consistency in the delivery of high-quality care.
Innovativeandstrategicwaystosupport,develop,andrecruitfacultyandcliniciansin response to the challenges facing academic Surgery.
Enhancing educational quality and innovation in Surgery.

Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Jefferson values diversity and encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to women, members of minority groups, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
The Jefferson enterprise—comprising Jefferson Health, Thomas Jefferson University, and Jefferson Health Plans—works collectively to improve the lives of individuals across its hospitals, classrooms, and communities. The enterprise provides compassionate care, educates future experts across numerous disciplines, and offers high-quality, affordable health insurance plans for residents of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As the second-largest employer in Philadelphia, with more than 65,000 employees, Jefferson is committed to creating unparalleled value for the communities it serves. Whether at a patient’s bedside, in an academic setting, or ensuring access to affordable health coverage, Jefferson continually pushes the boundaries of what is possible in its mission to reimagine health, education, and discovery.

MISSION: We Improve Lives.

VISION: Reimagining health, education, and discovery to create unparalleled value.

VALUES: Put People First | Do What’s Right | Pursue Excellence
To learn more about Jefferson’s Mission, Vision & Values, click here.

THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY (TJU)
Ranked among the top national doctoral universities by U.S. News & World Report, Thomas Jefferson University is a professions-focused institution enrolling 8,300 students across 10 colleges and 3 schools. Nationally recognized for its transdisciplinary collaborations and interprofessional approach, the University prepares students through a forward-thinking, experiential model that integrates real-world learning, industry engagement, and innovation. More than 77,000 alumni support the Jefferson Rams, who compete in the NCAA Division II Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

Colleges & Schools
Sidney Kimmel Medical College
College of Life Sciences
College of Nursing
College of Pharmacy
College of Population Health
College of Design, Architecture & Engineering
College of Health Professions
College of Humanities & Sciences
College of Business
College of Fashion and Textiles
College of Rehabilitation Sciences

Research Centers & Institutes
Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research Center for Connected Care
Center for Injury Research & Prevention Center for Outcomes & Measurement Center for Translational Medicine Computational Medicine Center
Daniel Baugh Institute for Functional Genomics/Computational Biology Institute for Smart & Healthy Cities
Jefferson Clinical Research Institute Jefferson Vaccine Center
Klein Family Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Center
Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis & Hemp Melanoma Research Institute for Excellence
Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute
National Center for Telehealth Education & Research Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience
Wills Vision Research Center at Jefferson

Jefferson has over 400 active principal investigators and more than 1,000 patents for new drugs, software innovations, medical devices and diagnostic tools. Over 1,220 active clinical trials are currently being conducted at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and Jefferson community hospitals. Last year, Jefferson researchers secured $198 million in total sponsored research funding.

SIDNEY KIMMEL MEDICAL COLLEGE (SKMC)
Founded in 1824, Sidney Kimmel Medical College has awarded more than 34,000 medical degrees and has more living graduates than any other private medical school in the United States. The College provides undergraduate medical education and innovative joint degree programs to more than 1,000 students annually. Jefferson Health also sponsors over 100 residency and fellowship programs for nearly 2,000 residents and more than 380 fellows. The College’s 27 medical departments include four basic science departments and the Department of Integrative Medicine & Nutritional Sciences—the first of its kind in academic medicine.

Said Ibrahim, MD, MBA, MPH, serves as the Anthony F. and Gertrude M. DePalma Dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College. In addition to being the College’s 25th Dean, Dr. Ibrahim is an internal medicine physician, educator, administrator, and clinician-investigator. He is nationally recognized for his work to address health disparities and was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine in 2023. As Dean, he also serves as President of Jefferson University Physicians (JUP), the College’s faculty practice plan, which includes more than 630 full-time faculty across 33 specialties and primary care. JUP’s 105 practice sites collectively manage nearly 800,000 patient visits each year.

JEFFERSON HEALTH
Jefferson Health, the health system partner of Thomas Jefferson University, has expanded from a three-hospital academic medical center into one of the largest university-based health systems in the nation. Its 32 hospital campuses and more than 700 care sites are supported by over 4,300 employed physicians, more than 2,500 advanced practice professionals, and more than 13,600 nurses.

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for 2025–2026 ranked Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals among the nation’s best in six specialties: Ear, Nose & Throat; Gastroenterology & GI Surgery; NeSurgery & Neurosurgery; Ophthalmology (Wills Eye Hospital); Orthopedics; and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest also received national rankings in Pulmonology and Orthopedics. Jefferson is home to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC), one of only three NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the Greater Philadelphia region.

JEFFERSON HEALTH PLANS
In 2021, Jefferson Health became the sole owner of Jefferson Health Plans, becoming the region’s first health system to establish an aligned payer-provider partnership. The not-for-profit managed health maintenance organization now serves more than 360,000 members across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, offering a range of coverage options including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Jefferson’s recent combination with Lehigh Valley Health Network has significantly expanded the health plan’s offerings, increasing choice for beneficiaries and improving access to high-quality, affordable care throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.

Work Shift

Workday Day (United States of America)

Worker Sub Type

Regular

Employee Entity

Thomas Jefferson University

Primary Location Address

1015 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.

Benefits

Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.

For more benefits information, please click here

Chair, Department of Surgery

Jefferson Health

Job Description