Divison Chief, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

On behalf of the search committee representing the Department of Pediatrics, CareerPhysician, a national leader in academic child healthcare executive search firms, is pleased to inform you of an opportunity for a transformational and innovative leader to serve as the next Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Cellular Therapy at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University (CHOR at VCU), in collaboration with the Massey Cancer Center (MCC).

With unwavering support from the executive leadership team of VCU, the Pediatrics Department, CHOR, and the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the selected leader will be charged with designing and implementing a strategy that will advance research, commitment to clinical care, and foster education in both faculty and fellow trainees. The selected leader will serve as the Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Foundation Endowed Chair and Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Cellular Therapy, with the goal of leveraging current research infrastructure to continue to advance clinical trials and bench research by partnering with collaborators from across VCU and the community, with support from the Massey Cancer Center, NIH, Connor’s Heroes, ASK Childhood Cancer and Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

Programmatic strengths include:

• The Dean of the School of Medicine is recognized as highly visionary and a supportive leader with a strong interest in and understanding of the importance of the oncology service lines. He has a research background in GVHD/HIV skin disorders and is described as ‘a fantastic and great partner to the department.’
• CHoR is supported by the Children’s Hospital Foundation led by Ms. Lauren Moore, President, and CEO. The foundation has unrestricted funds (~85%) exceeding $300M with annual fundraising of $20-$25 million annually to further its mandate to advance the scope and reputation of CHoR. Cancer is a ‘Top 3’ priority of the department, CHoR and the Children’s Foundation. The foundation is committed to partnering with the SOM, CHoR and Massey Cancer Center leadership in prioritizing resources for this recruitment.
• The Massey Cancer Center is led by an accomplished and innovative scientist, Dr. Robert Winn, who serves as Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Center Director. Under Dr. Sinn’s leadership the cancer center has strategically grown research programs in Breast, GI, Prostate and Lung cancer that include team-based programs in genomic, population science, & studies of health disparity. With a growth in research funding from $6.5 to over $17M in NCI direct funding Massey has achieved comprehensive NCI status and has enrolled more than 200 patients in active trials. Faculty and staff are committed to the organization; a number have trained here &/or spent a significant amount of their professional time at CHoR.
• A medium sized program caring for an average of 75-85 patients with newly diagnosed cancer, 15-20 patients undergoing cellular therapy (including CAR‑T, gene therapy, autologous, and allogeneic stem cell transplant), and over 350 patients with sickle cell disease per year.
• A robust psychosocial team with dedicated psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, nutritionists, educational specialists, nurse navigators, and chaplain support.
• A division of high morale and effective collegial interactions.
• A successful ACGME accredited Fellowship Program, accepting 2 fellows per year and offering a 4th year Research Fellowship available to select applicants.
• New faculty compensation plans are in development to address market competition.
• Extensive opportunities exist for new research program development with the Massey Cancer Center programs and those more broadly within the SOM.
• The cancer service line at CHoR has been nationally recognized by USNWR.
• The division enjoys strong working relationships with other clinical disciplines/programs including Radiation-Oncology, Hematopathology, Cytology, Molecular Diagnostics, Surgery, Palliative and Supportive Care, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, and Orthopedics.

Candidate Qualifications:

The ideal leader candidate will be a physician-scientist or accomplished clinical researcher with a demonstrated history of extramural grant funding and ability to expand and optimize the research, clinical and educational pillars of the division. However, the department is also open to considering an accomplished clinical leader with a track record of success in programmatic development and research recruitment.

About Richmond:

Richmond, VA, is diverse, vibrant, and growing city of greater than 1.2 million people. It offers an abundance of culture (Ballet, Symphony, Fine Arts Museum, Opera), American history, and fine dining, and recently ranked as one of the top 10 food cities in America. Richmond serves as the economic hub of Virginia and is home to many Fortune 500 companies including Dominion Energy, CarMax, Westrock and Altria. The city of Richmond is centrally located between the coastline and the Blue Ridge Mountains providing access to world‑class outdoor recreation and a subtropical climate ideal for year‑round activity. Washington D.C. and Dulles International Airport are just under hours from Richmond.

For more details about this opportunity, or if you would like to recommend an individual(s) who exemplifies the qualities we are seeking in a candidate, please contact Mark Lozano at [email protected], or at 469-553-9311. All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant.

As a preeminent national, urban, public research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion - an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence.