Pediatric Oncologist - University of Utah School of Medicine

Pediatric Oncologist – Bone Marrow Transplant

Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program

Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Department of Pediatrics

University of Utah School of Medicine

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a collegial academic environment at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital (PCH) with a childhood blood disorder and cancer program that U.S. News ranks among the top 20 in the nation.  The Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah has an immediate opening for a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, who will serve as an attending physician in the Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program.  This is an academic clinical position with day-to-day responsibilities in the operation of a busy clinical service.  As a member of the BMT/Cell therapy team, this physician will work with a multidisciplinary team of pediatric hematology-oncology transplant and cellular therapy professionals managing blood disorders and cancer at PCH in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Service Line outpatient and inpatient units. The pediatric BMT physicians provide care to pediatric bone marrow transplant patients starting with initial consultation, preparation for and performance of the transplant process, and post-transplant care, including long term follow-up.  Clinical activities will be carried out at PCH.  Active clinical programs include cellular and immune therapies and transplantation for hematologic malignancies, selected solid tumors, non-malignant disorders including bone marrow failure syndromes, immunodeficiencies, metabolic disorders and hemoglobinopathies.  The BMT program directs an immune deficiency clinic consulting, evaluating, and providing care to patients with immunodeficiencies.  Active areas of research in the program include novel immune and cellular therapies, graft versus host disease, immunodeficiencies, and alternative donor stem cell transplants. In addition to clinical service, there is an expectation for academic work with opportunities in education, investigation, and administration as well as advocacy.

The Service-Line includes multi-disciplinary colleagues and investigators in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, and Radiation Oncology, along with additional services at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and within the Department of Pediatrics. The BMT Cell therapy physician will participate in and eventually provide leadership for clinical, basic, and translational research programs, and will have the opportunity to implement early phase and investigator initiated clinical trials, as well as collaborations with established immunotherapy and cell therapy programs.

This growing division is made up of more than 20 pediatric oncologists, including 4 pediatric BMT attendings, and 3 PhD investigators.  In partnership with the Department of Pediatrics and PCH, the pediatric cancer research program at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah is actively recruiting research scientists.  The program has focused expertise in Oncology, Hematology, Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Population Sciences, Cancer Control, and Pediatric Cancer Genetics. The program sees over 220 newly diagnosed children annually. It has consistently been in the top 10 enrolling COG institutions and is an active member of other national consortiums including PEP-CTN, PTCTC, TACL, POETIC, NANT, PNOC, and the Sunshine Network. The division houses the only pediatric BMT service in the Intermountain West, performs over 50 transplants annually, and has an active CAR T cell program. The Oncology section is made up of 14 physicians with varying levels of clinical, research, and programmatic leadership responsibility in the areas of leukemia/lymphoma, neuro-oncology, blastomas, and sarcomas. The inpatient unit has 33 private patient rooms where all hematology/oncology patients are admitted. Inpatients are overseen by 3 hematology/oncology services: an inpatient attending/resident/fellow hematology/oncology service, a chemotherapy attending/advanced practitioner service, and a BMT service with advanced practitioner support. All medical, pathology, radiologic and surgical subspecialties are represented in the children’s hospital.

PCH is ranked by US News in the top 20 childhood cancer programs and provides care to children with cancer across the five-state Intermountain West region. The Department of Pediatrics ranks within the top 15 Pediatric Departments in NIH funding and has a premier Research Enterprise providing infrastructure, faculty mentoring and grant writing support. The University of Utah has a robust biotechnology and venture commercialization program.

HCI is an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), supporting and fostering a vibrant cancer research enterprise in a highly collegial environment. HCI has an outstanding history of academic achievement and impact, a collaborative environment, and a commitment to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, and service. Our integrated health system and HCI’s participation in the ORIEN network of leading cancer centers provide outstanding opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborations in basic and translational laboratory-based cancer research, epidemiology, and cancer biostatistics, as well as population-based studies of childhood cancers and outcomes. HCI has exceptional physical resources and recently completed a major expansion that includes a new 220,000 sq. ft. research building. In addition, the University of Utah and HCI are home to superb, shared resources, such as the Utah Population Database with more than 16 million records linking genealogies, health records, and vital statistics. HCI and U of U Health provide access to state-of-the-art equipment and services through exceptional core facilities (see www.cores.utah.edu), including genomics/metabolomics/proteomics, a GMP-certified cell therapy and regenerative medicine facility, and a comprehensive biospecimen repository, which serve to enhance both discovery and translational science.

Qualified candidates must be Board Eligible/Board Certified in Pediatrics and in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.  Additional clinical training and/or significant experience in transplantation and cellular therapy is highly preferred.  The selected candidate will receive a faculty appointment in the Department of Pediatrics on the Clinical or Tenure Track at the academic level commensurate with experience and qualifications. 

Interested individuals can apply at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/127805. Cover letter and curriculum vitae are required.  For additional information about the position, please contact: Michael Pulsipher, M.D., at michael.pulsipher@hci.utah.edu\

The Department and University offers a competitive salary and an unmatched benefits program, including non-contributory retirement contributions of 20.2% of annual salary that vest immediately. The Department offers a faculty development and mentoring program designed to foster success in translational or basic research, quality improvement engagement, and excellence as educators.  

Salt Lake City offers an incredible quality of life with a growing economy, rich cultural scene with ballet, theatre, symphony, opera, live music, museums, outstanding restaurants, and a moderate cost of living. The city is a well-known ski destination and a gateway to the state’s renowned landscapes. In addition to its 14 ski resorts, Utah boasts five scenic national parks (with five more within a day’s drive), a variety of golf courses allowing for year-round play, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails (some leaving from adjacent to the hospital), and numerous other outdoor activities. 

The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The U of U Health values candidates who are committed to fostering and furthering the culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, diversity, integrity, quality, and trust that is integral to our mission. 

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students, staff, faculty, and patients from diverse backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education, employment opportunities, and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented groups.

Individuals from historically underrepresented groups, such as minorities, women, qualified persons with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.