The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHS) is searching for a collaborative academic leader to serve as its next Chair and Program Director for the Department of Physical Therapy (PT) in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Department of Physical Therapy offers a well-established Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program focused on preparing evidence-based clinicians, leaders, and lifelong learners. The department’s mission emphasizes excellence in education, research, service, patient care, and the advancement of the physical therapy profession.
The Department of PT is housed in the UTHS College of Health Professions (CoHP) and is distinguished by a dedicated, dynamic, and compassionate faculty, many of whom are graduates of the program. Faculty members bring extensive expertise across a wide range of specialty areas, including sports and orthopedic rehabilitation, motor control, and neurologic rehabilitation for patients across the lifespan. Many hold board certification in their clinical specialties as well as additional professional credentials, allowing them to maintain active clinical practices while providing high-quality education and mentorship to students.
Home to 14 faculty members and 60 students per class, the department delivers exceptional results, highlighted by students’ strong performance on licensure examinations and during clinical internships. Feedback from employers consistently ranks UTHS graduates among the most highly prepared and capable in the nation.
UTHS is Tennessee’s only public, statewide academic health system, dedicated to delivering groundbreaking discoveries with global impact and training the next generation of health science leaders. It is an exciting time for UTHS as the main Memphis campus has invested significantly in renovation and construction, including a new Translational Science Research Building and a dedicated Multi-Disciplinary Simulation Building.
Employing more than 4,600 people across its faculty, staff, and not-for-profit corporation faculty practice groups, and with more than 3,200 students across the state, UT Health Sciences contributes $4 billion to the Tennessee economy. The main UTHS campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. The Health Science Center is part of the statewide multi-campus University of Tennessee system and has multiple clinical partners across the state. UTHS has also launched an aggressive campaign to double extramural research funding over the next ten years.
The College of Health Professions offers a diverse array of programs designed to prepare approximately 624 trainees for rewarding careers in the health professions, including Audiology, Cytotechnology and Histotechnology, Health Informatics and Information Management, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Pathologists’ Assistant, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Pathology.
Reporting to the Dean of the College of Health Professions, Dr. Ashley Harkrider, the incoming Chair will support students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Physical Therapy and will be expected to evaluate and expand the department’s geographical footprint and research portfolio.
The successful candidate will be an outstanding leader with integrity, intellect, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Qualified candidates must hold a doctoral degree, have an active, unencumbered Physical Therapy license in the United States, and meet the University of Tennessee criteria for appointment to a senior-level faculty position. This is a tenure-track appointment at the level of associate or full professor.
Nominations and Applications
Questions, nominations, inquiries, and applications are encouraged. Application materials should include a current CV/resume and a separate letter of interest.
Please direct all materials and inquiries to:
jwilliams@wittkieffer.com
A leadership profile is available upon request for candidates interested in learning more about this leadership opportunity.