Chair and Director, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Chair and Director

The past year has magnified the ways that inequities—whether due to race, gender, sexuality, or income—contribute to health disparities. These inequities are a major public health threat and demand a concerted, interdisciplinary effort. At the College of Public Health, we dedicate ourselves to public health in all its parameters, from epidemiology to nursing, from social work to rehabilitation sciences. Social justice has always driven our work, understanding that individual outcomes are intricately tied to the larger systems we inhabit, is the foundation of our college.

The Temple University College of Public Health’s interprofessional culture fosters collaboration both within and outside the College.  We value differences among our faculty and believe that we can better serve and understand our Philadelphia community and beyond through the diversity of our individual faculty and our disciplines. Join us in our mission to develop progressive, compassionate researchers, practitioners, and clinicians to build a better tomorrow, grounded in creating the environments and health infrastructure that will make us the healthiest nation.

The Position and Qualifications. Temple University College of Public Health announces a national search for the Chair and Director of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Temple University’s Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS), located within the College of Public Health (CPH), offers a unique opportunity for leadership in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences education and research. Located within a novel population health and prevention paradigm, the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Department is a key component within the College that brings together disciplines focused on interprofessional education and care, developing future care providers dedicated to enhancing patient care and the healthcare experience. Through transdisciplinary research and interprofessional education, CPH students and faculty embrace public health as a catalyst for individual and community change in pursuit of the common good.

The HRS Department is a synergistic group comprised of programs in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training and Recreational Therapy, seeking a leader who can take an ambitious approach to growing scholarship and research in the rehabilitation sciences and providing fresh ideas to enhance pedagogy.  The Chair/Director must be dedicated to integrative health and interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration. The Chair/Director must also demonstrate transparency, a deep sense of professionalism and commitment to diversity and inclusion in all its forms. The position’s incumbent will have the opportunity to shape and expand the department through targeted recruitment of high impact faculty members, investments to support growth in extramural research grants, build community engagement by joining efforts with a nascent neighborhood clinic and articulate a vision that inspires philanthropic funding.

The College seeks an ambitious leader to guide the further growth and development of the department. The Chair/Director will develop a strategic plan for the Department to incorporate and grow its educational programs in tandem with its research mission. The successful candidate will manage an annual budget and engage in entrepreneurial endeavors. This individual must possess vision, have an established program of research, and be committed to continuing to build a collaborative work environment. A proven record of developing Health and Rehabilitation sciences research and directing an educational program in one of its four core disciplines is desired. In addition to working to expand the College’s iconic and renowned programs, we are looking for someone who can strengthen IPE opportunities between its graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, and recreational therapy. The department also includes a large undergraduate program in health professions that has multiple opportunities for expansion and development.

Evidence of administrative acumen is critical, and the Chair/Director will work with a substantial administrative team. Candidates must hold a Ph.D., or equivalent degree, preferably in one of the four core disciplines or a related discipline and should meet the qualifications for appointment at the rank of Full or Associate Professor.  

The Department. The Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Department is unlike any other department in the country. Located on a single urban campus in Philadelphia, the Department’s faculty provide instruction in 10-degree programs such as Doctor in Athletic Training, Doctor in Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Philosophy in Neuromotor Science, Bachelor of Science in Health Professions, and other undergraduate and graduate programs.   The Department also works closely with other disciplines including public health, nursing, social work, and communication sciences disorders.  The department is at the forefront of developing innovative academics, research, and programs aimed at both preventing injury and disability and helping those who have illnesses, short-term injuries, or long-term physical, psychological, or cognitive disabilities, lead full, satisfying, and meaningful lives.

The College. Devoted to an interprofessional environment for education, research, and practice, the CEPH-accredited College of Public Health consists of academic units in the public health disciplines, health professions, and the School of Social Work, enrolling 4,500 students. The College’s research aims to understand the fundamental factors that affect the health and well-being of individuals and populations by examining health problems through foundational research, policy and practice, and the development and dissemination of evidence-based interventions. We focus on social determinants of health and social justice with strengths in cancer, obesity, HIV, substance abuse, mental illness, mobility research, cognition and language, developmental disabilities, organ transplantation and aging. CPH  research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Gates Foundation, and other major private foundation, state and federal agencies. The College is home to an Office for Community Engaged Research and Practice, the Center for Obesity Research and Education, and the Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Office of Clinical Affairs and Interprofessional Education leads our clinical activities, including the COVID-19 RapidVax effort and forward-looking IPE within the College and throughout the university. The college is staffed by a complement of seasoned professionals including offices of Communications and Marketing, Information Technology, Sponsored Research, Academic and Clinical Affairs.

The University. Temple is an urban, research-intensive Carnegie R1 university located in historic and culturally rich Philadelphia, the nation’s 6th largest city. The city was ranked 3rd by the New York Times as a world tourist destination. The National Science Foundation ranks Temple among the top 100 universities in the country for research expenditures. Temple is the 6th largest provider of professional education in the nation and includes Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Law, and Dentistry and research centers.

For more information about this position or to make nominations, contact Ms. Abbigail Ametrano, Assistant Director of Faculty Recruitment, at abbigail.ametrano@temple.edu. To apply, submit a detailed CV, a cover letter explicating your qualifications and experiences with diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership experience, a research statement, and a list of 5 references to cphsearch@temple.edu. Application review begins immediately and will continue until position is filled.

Temple University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

People of color, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.