Chair Lead

Mailman School of Public Health

The Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University Medical Center is seeking a chair for its Department of Sociomedical Sciences (SMS) to provide academic and strategic leadership and build upon the department’s preeminent position in research, teaching, and service. SMS sets public health challenges in broad social, historical, and political context and engages in action-oriented research that not only deepens critical scholarly perspectives in the social and behavioral sciences, but also empowers communities and informs public policy. The chair will provide leadership and mentorship for SMS’s full-time core faculty and its part-time affiliated faculty. The School is seeking an outstanding scholar with a demonstrated capacity to develop research agendas and programs, manage people and resources, and recruit, retain, and mentor faculty. The chair will report to the School’s dean.

SMS has a strong interdisciplinary faculty that achieves both balance and depth in key social science disciplines: medical anthropology, history and ethics, psychology, medical sociology, and applied public health. Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized and conduct research on a wide range of public health issues, including traditional public health problems (topics such as cancer, tobacco and drug use, and the health of minority populations) and new public health concerns emerging in response to societal needs (topics such as the social, behavioral and policy dimensions of HIV/AIDS and other emerging health threats, violence, sexuality, gender and health). Further, faculty members are at the forefront of developing important theoretical and conceptual frameworks (including stigma, discrimination, opportunity structures) relevant to intervention. The distinguishing cross-cutting themes include a focus on structure and the problem of inequalities and the politics of public health.

Ideal experience for this position would include national/international recognition as a scholar at the intersection of the social and behavioral sciences and public health, or a related field, with a PhD, DrPH, or equivalent doctoral degree. A primary appointment in a department of social and behavioral sciences is not required. Credentials commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment in the Mailman School of Public Health at the level of Associate or Full Professor are also strongly preferred.

Spencer Stuart has been retained to assist MSPH with this important recruitment. Spencer Stuart and the Search Committee respect the importance of maintaining confidentiality. Letters of application, with curriculum vitae and letters of nominations should be submitted by email to: Diane Westmore at dwestmore@spencerstuart.com.

Or by mail to:
Spencer Stuart
c/o Diane Westmore
2600 Resurgens Plaza
945 East Paces Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 404.504.4412

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.