Senior Vice President of Medicine and Dean of Heersink School of Medicine

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine

Senior Vice President of Medicine and Dean

Birmingham, Alabama

The Opportunity

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an energetic and innovative executive leader to serve as Sr. Vice President of Medicine and Dean of Heersink School of Medicine at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. The SVP and Dean will continue to advance UAB’s well-established, innovative school of medicine and contribute to the system’s continued growth and development. 

The Ideal Candidate

The SVP and Dean will be a progressive, visionary, and outstanding leader with contributions in leadership, teaching and service that demonstrate a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity. Enhancing strategy and growth by further developing the vision for the medical school by building upon its strengths in research, education, and clinical care. Qualified candidates must have at least 10 years of experience and be board certified in a related field.

The Organization

The UAB Heersink SOM ranks 21st nationally in NIH research funding and in the top 8 for all public institutions. Three departments within the Heersink SOM are ranked in the top 10 for NIH funding in 2021: Dermatology – #2; Microbiology – #9; Biomedical Engineering – #10, and has more than 1,700 full-time faculty in 27 academic departments and almost 2,000 medical and graduate students.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is the heartbeat of Birmingham and an integral medical leader in the Southeast. The Birmingham campus is within walking distance of some of the best parks, entertainment, and dining in the region. UAB’s three regional campuses expand their academic reach and responsibilities in addition to educating physicians in rural and underserved areas of the state.  UAB is experiencing major and sustained investment and growth, due both to its exceptional research faculty and its culture of collaboration. Through concerted and strategic investments in its clinical and research enterprise, UAB has undergone an amazing transformation in the past five years and has strengthened its status and reputation as a leader in medical training, biomedical discovery, innovation, and patient care. UAB received nearly $849 million in research grants and extramural awards in 2021, up from almost $638 million the previous year and including two pandemic-related awards totaling $201 million. Not including extraordinary awards from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UAB research funding still exceeded $648 million in 2021 — a $10 million year-to-year boost that extends the five-year rate of increase to 43%. UAB fosters a collaborative environment that welcomes and celebrates all people.  UAB’s Grand Challenge is an exciting example of UAB’s commitment to improving the health of the community and state.

The Region

Birmingham, Alabama is a friendly, diverse, and welcoming urban center nestled at the base of the Appalachian Mountains.   The area has undergone a cultural revolution and community invigoration and is brimming with entertainment, arts, nightlife, outdoor recreation, sports, and world-class cuisine. Birmingham has its own airport with daily direct connections to 26 airports and 23 cities. Located two hours east is Atlanta’s International Airport and metro area, while lovely beach communities are easily accessible along the gulf coast. 

Nominations are greatly appreciated and may be sent to:

Bernard Godley, MD, PhD, MBA, Lead Physician Executive

Ira Isaacson, MD, MBA, Partner

c/o Anne Neubauer, Vice President

Executive & Physician Leadership Search, AMN Leadership Solutions

AMN Healthcare

Email:  Anne.Neubauer@AMNhealthcare.com

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.