Associate/Full Professor in Pediatric Neurology
University of California San Diego School of Medicine
United States

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The Department of Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) (http://neurosciences.ucsd.edu/) is committed to academic excellence and diversity within the faculty, staff and student body and is recruiting a Pediatric Neurologist or Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist for a Ladder Rank (Tenured) faculty position at the Associate or Full Professor level focused in the field of neuro-oncology and experimental therapeutics.

UCSD Neurosciences is a global leader in basic and clinical research into the cause, effects, and treatment of neurological disorders, and has made a substantial investment and commitment to developing an internationally recognized academic program in neuro-oncology (spanning the cutting edge of molecular genetics to clinical therapeutics and community outreach). Teaching and mentorship opportunities will be available in the UCSD School of Medicine and in various Graduate Programs, including the highly-rated UCSD Graduate Program in Neurosciences.

The Division of Pediatric Neurology at UCSD and the Rady Children’s Hospital (https://www.rchsd.org/) provides comprehensive neurological clinical care to the children of San Diego County and beyond. At present, the Division is comprised of 24 child neurologists and an extensive team of trainees and allied health professionals. Excellence in clinical care, education and research spans all subspecialty areas of pediatric neurology, including but not limited to epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, stroke, brain injury, headache, neonatal neurology, movement disorders, demyelinating disorders, neurogenetics, and neuromuscular disorders.

The highly collaborative Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UCSD and Rady Children’s Hospital includes 20 faculty members, some of whom are trained Pediatric Neuro-Oncologists. In addition to the Neuro-Oncology Program, there are comprehensive programs for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, Hemophilia, Sickle Cell Disease & Hemoglobinopathies, Long Term Follow-up of Cancer Survivors, and Cancer Genetics. The Hematology/Oncology Division faculty are members of the UC San Diego National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, COG, CTN, BCC, PBMTC, and PNOC, and have an Alliance with the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for conducting joint clinical research.

The Rady Children’s Multidisciplinary Neuro-Oncology Program is the only program in the San Diego region providing comprehensive care to children and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors. Comprehensive care is provided for more than 500 children with newly diagnosed or previously treated central nervous system tumors (one of the highest-volume programs in California). State-of-the-art treatment is provided for both newly diagnosed and recurrent tumors. Advanced neurosurgery procedures, targeted radiation oncology and the latest biologic therapies are available to patients through a robust alliance with the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and research collaborations with the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and The Scripps Research Institute.

The successful candidate will be expected to:
(1) establish a multi-disciplinary and extramurally funded clinical and/or translational research program in any area of pediatric neuro-oncology;
(2) collaborate with members comprising a comprehensive clinical-academic neuro-oncology program based primarily at the Rady Children’s Hospital and UCSD, one that further comprises a multitude of clinical trials, molecular tumor board, proton therapy, and funded clinical fellowship positions (through the the Gordon Fellowship in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology), among many other elements;
(3) contribute to both outpatient and inpatient clinical services on a part-time basis as a pediatric neurologist, in primary and/or consultative capacities;
(4) engage with researchers and clinicians in expanding the experimental therapeutics platforms for novel drug discovery based on the neurobiology of identified genetic mutations linked to pediatric brain tumors;
(5) promote campus- and community-wide collaborations with all major clinical and academic stakeholders vested in any aspect of pediatric neuro-oncology;
(6) help expand training and education programs at all levels that will attract the top talent from around the world;
(7) engage both professional and private lay organizations having shared visions and goals for the advancement of diagnosis, care and awareness, and for optimizing long-term outcomes, of patients affected by pediatric brain tumors;
(8) work as a leading advocate and spokesperson for pediatric neuro-oncology at the local, regional, national and international levels; and
(9) carry a major leadership role in national/international professional societies within the field of pediatric neuro-oncology (such as the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the Child Neurology Society), as well as key research sponsors such as the National Institutes of Health and private foundations.

Further, the successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to work with a large group of clinicians, scientists and other healthcare professionals within the county-wide Rady Children’s Hospital network and the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM), and many other organizational/research entities at UCSD (including the Altman Clinical Translational Research Institute, the Skaggs School of Pharmacy, as well as other UCSD Departments such as Pediatrics, Pharmacology and Medicine). RCIGM is an international leader in translational genomics and boasts the world’s leading ultra-rapid whole genome sequencing platform (https://www.radygenomics.org/). The candidate will also have an opportunity to benefit from the broad collaborative spirit that exists within the large and diverse body of neuroscientists and strong partnerships developed with the Sanford Research Consortium, and the Salk Research Institute (among many others), and the superb regional biopharmaceutical, biotechnology and gene therapy partners. The successful candidate may be considered for an endowed chair (the Nathan Gordon Chair in Neuro-Oncology at the Rady Children’s Hospital).

The appropriate series and appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level will be based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Series will include 50% Ladder Rank / 50% In-Residence with secured extramural funding or 100% Ladder Rank. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and based on University of California pay scales.

A link to full descriptions of each series is provided for your review:
Ladder Rank Professor - see: http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-220.pdf
In-Residence Professor - see: http://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-270.pdf

References may be requested from all finalists.

As a member of the Health Sciences Compensation Plan, the appointee should be aware that there are limitations on outside professional activities and clinical moonlighting is expressly prohibited. Additional information can be found here: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-671.pdf

Department: http://neurosciences.ucsd.edu/

Unit: https://www.radygenomics.org/

Candidates must possess a MD or MD/PhD degrees or equivalent in Health related fields. Candidates must have or be eligible for a California medical license or equivalent certification/permit as determined by the Medical Board of California. Candidates must also have completed formal accredited Pediatrics or Neurology residency training, and be Board-Certified/Board-Eligible in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology or in Neurology with special qualification in Pediatric Neurology or equivalent certification from another professional association. Candidates must have certification in clinical or research fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology or Neuro-Oncology.

Candidates must have demonstrated clinical-academic expertise and accomplishments in the focused field of neuro-oncology and experimental therapeutics.

Candidates with additional advanced degree such as an MSc, MPH or equivalent are preferred.

The University of California, San Diego is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, covered veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to Appendix F, Section II.C. of the policy for the deadlines applicable to new University of California employees. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all University controlled properties.

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