Assistant Dean for Clinical Research

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is seeking experienced, motivated, and dedicated leaders and educators to participate in the design and delivery of an innovative four-year medical school curriculum that engages medical students in active and novel learning.

Required Documents to Apply:

Job Description:

About Us

Founded in 2021, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is a nonprofit, four-year MD program enhancing traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The School’s culture embraces self-care to empower students to care for their own well-being as well as their patients’. The School’s state-of-the-art medical education facility is under construction in Bentonville, Arkansas on the Crystal Bridges campus, home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. The School has been granted preliminary accreditation status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

What We Seek

We are building a cadre of medical professionals trained in conventional medicine and in whole health, by reimagining medical education. We seek leaders and faculty who are excited by this endeavor. We are building a health care learning and delivery environment in which diversity is a strength and highly valued. Thus, we seek candidates who contribute to diversity in all its forms. Ideal candidates are committed to our goals of inclusive excellence, and to facilitating optimal health for all using a whole health approach.

Faculty and staff members will contribute to the development and rollout of the ARCHES curriculum, which is built on evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning. It includes the following six core elements:

• Art of Healing
• Research
• Clinical
• Health Systems Science
• Embracing Whole Health
• Science of Medicine

All six areas of the curriculum will be interwoven throughout the four-year curriculum.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Assistant Dean for Clinical Research reports to the Executive Vice Dean of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) and is responsible for the strategic direction, initiatives, and infrastructure of the institution’s clinical research endeavors.  The Assistant Dean for  Clinical Research ensures alignment of such initiatives with the mission, vision, and values of AWSOM and its clinical affiliates.

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES

• Develop clinical research infrastructure for the school to ensure compliance to federal and state requirements including, but not limited to, an Institutional Review Board and associated processes.
•  Provide creative leadership and strategic vision to support and expand the AWSOM clinical research enterprise, as well as lead research and innovation initiatives that align with the mission, vision, and strategic plan of the school and its clinical affiliates.
•  Oversee clinical research administration and compliance.
• Identify, coordinate, and provide faculty development and mentorship to promote faculty success in clinical research and scholarship endeavors, including development of clinical research programs, competitive grant preparation, and dissemination activities.
• Establish a workflow with finance  to provide pre- and post- award support for grants and develop a strong intellectual property policy and technology transfer function.
• Liaise with the Heartland Whole Health Institute, the University of Arkansas Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R), clinical partners, and other entities to create clinical research and innovation opportunities for interested faculty and staff.
• Ensure accreditation standards are met regarding research and scholarship.
• Be a team builder who cultivates an environment for inquiry, innovation, imagination, and collegiality necessary to foster the development, submission, and securing of competitive grants and awards.
• Proactively network with other academic centers, clinical partners, community leaders, industry, private foundations, and other stakeholders to support the vision of AWSOM.
• Collaborate with the senior leadership team including the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and the Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
• Serve on School of Medicine committees as appropriate for role.
• Other duties as assigned by the Dean.

MINIMUM EDUCATION

• MD

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Five years of demonstrated excellence in managing institution-wide clinical research initiatives in academic health center.
• Successful track record of faculty and staff mentorship in research, scholarship, and dissemination.
• Experience in tailoring faculty development efforts to advance clinical research and scholarship productivity.
• Strong evidence of effective leadership in facilitating multi-party collaborations and/or interdisciplinary research and/or programmatic activities.
• Expertise in existing and emerging clinical research designs and methodology.
• Robust, sustained history of funding at the federal and/or major foundation level and publication/dissemination activities.
• Evidence of excellent consultation, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of a spectrum of grant funding mechanisms
• Demonstrated excellence in organizational and project management skills.

PREFERRED WORK EXPERIENCES AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• Recent funding at the federal and/or major foundation level addressing health disparities and equity, disease prevention, or quality improvement and interventions.
• Familiarity with pre- and post-award funding guidelines at the federal level.
• Teaching experience in an institution of higher education.
• History of leadership in national and global research activities.
• Administrative experience in seeking and managing human, technological, space, and other resources to support the development of research and scholarship.
• Familiarity with elements of Whole Health and the unique challenges associated with doing research related to it.

SKILLS EXPECTED OF ALL AWSOM TEAM MEMBERS

• Exemplary written, verbal and other communication skills
• Adaptable and flexible to the needs of the position and the school
• Collaborative Skills: Build and maintain relationships internal and external to the organization
• Creative and Open-Minded: Enjoy exploring and supporting innovation in teaching strategies, topic areas, professional growth opportunities, and more
• Discerning: Ability to recognize and support innovation
• Highly self-directed, and reliable and accountable
• Strong commitment to self-care
• Committed to Diversity and Inclusion
• Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders (e.g., co-workers, students, community members)
• Ability to effectively mentor a diversity of individuals
• Commitment to meet and maintain professional development requirements related to this role