Chief, Associate Professor/Professor - Pediatric Hematology / Oncology / BMT and Cellular Therapy

Position Description:

The Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and Children’s Wisconsin (CW) is seeking a visionary, courageous, innovative, and scholarly leader to serve as Section Chief for Pediatric Hematology / Oncology / BMT and Cellular Therapy.

The Pediatric Hematology / Oncology / BMT and Cellular Therapy (PHOT) team provides treatment for infants, children, teens, and young adults with blood disorders including cancer, non-malignant blood diseases, immunodeficiency states and bleeding disorders through Children’s Wisconsin world-class facilities which include:

• 24-bed specialty inpatient facilities with specially designed rooms for blood/ marrow transplantation
• Disease based clinics with care provided by an interdisciplinary team of clinical experts
• 27,000 square foot outpatient facility encompassing 18 exam rooms and 14 private infusion suites
• Day Hospital with a full range of pediatric infusion and apheresis services
• On-site, innovative diagnostics, laboratory, and oncology pharmacy
• Dedicated playrooms, teen activity center, full family kitchen, wellness and respite rooms, and a dedicated palliative care room for patients and their family supports
• Community programming, psychosocial support, educational programs, and specialty camps
• Transitional housing support and a local Ronald McDonald House connected to the hospital
• BMT and Cellular Therapy Program with decades of expertise in allogeneic and autologous transplantation which has been continuously FACT Accredited since 2001.

In addition to excellence in clinical care, the PHOT Division has developed over the past 30 years one of the preeminent fellowship training programs in the country. We train the pediatric hematologists, oncologists, and transplant teams of the future through excellence in patient care, teaching, and research. Our program combines broad clinical training and abundant research opportunities in a dynamic work environment emphasizing both clinical and scholarly activity.  There are significant opportunities for collaboration within and outside the division, with pediatric subspecialties located on one collegial academic medical center campus.

We also are committed to expanding research efforts to enhance the national recognition and prominence of the program.  Our program is among the top 10 pediatric centers in the United States for one-year Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) overall survival.  Currently, there are 197 IRB-approved clinical trials and over 50 early-phase clinical trials, including but not limited to innovative cell therapy and investigator-initiated bone marrow transplant and oncology clinical trials.  The Division includes principal investigators on four R01, one R61, and one NU58 grants.  We are recognized for world-class hematology research in Sickle Cell Disease, Hemophilia, and von Willebrand Diseases.  The Section Chief will work closely with the Children's Research Institute, the MACC Fund Center, and the Clinical Immunodiagnostic and Research Laboratory (CIRL) to foster continued growth in fundamental and translation research, building state-of-the-art shared resources for basic and clinical research, and the education and training of physicians interested in research.

The ideal candidate will:

• Set vision and strategy to steer the program through programmatic excellence in alignment with the clinical, research, education, and community engagement missions of Children’s Wisconsin Hospital, Children’s Specialty Group and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
• Work collaboratively in a matrixed, diverse, complex environment.
• Nurture a culture of inclusion, accountability and professionalism across the enterprise while responsibly administering the division’s finances.
• Successfully recruit and retain diverse, talented faculty, and foster their career development.

The Section Chief will be part of the Department of Pediatrics senior leadership team and will play a key role in the expansion of the Division and in developing new intra-departmental, inter-departmental, and inter-institutional clinical and research collaborations.  In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for the mission and vision of the Section of PHOT and will have a strong track record of collaboration, scholarship, and leadership.  Relevant clinical experience, success in scholarly work, and leadership are required.  This is a faculty position offering an academic appointment at the Medical College of Wisconsin commensurate with experience. 

Candidate Qualifications

The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for the mission and vision of MCW’s Division of PHOT and will have a strong track record of clinical experience, collaboration, scholarship, research, and leadership appropriate for faculty appointment. In addition, candidates should possess the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Minimum of an MD, MD/PhD, DO, or foreign medical equivalent
• Successful completion of Pediatrics residency program
• Fellowship-trained and Board Certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• Eligible for full unrestricted licensure to practice in the State of Wisconsin
• A distinguished academic career in research (basic science, clinical or translational), education, and/or quality and process improvement with a national reputation in pediatric hematology, oncology, or blood and marrow transplant
• An ability to foster a highly collaborative academic environment
• Experience in medical education/administration, strong evidence of administrative ability, including, but not limited to emotional intelligence, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Leadership in a complex, multi-faceted university or academic medical center with demonstrated strategy implementation skills

Organizational Structure

• Reports to the Chair, Department of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief
• The Section Chief works in partnership with leadership within the DOP, as well as the leadership of Children’s Wisconsin, MCW, and Children’s Specialty Group (CSG) to assist in the operationalization of clinical programs, workforce planning, quality measurement and reporting, and health network-based strategies.
• Direct reports include PHOT faculty and staff employed by CSG/CW and MCW

Essential Functions

• Demonstrate, understand, and support the mission, vision, and values of MCW and the DOP.
• Work collaboratively with other leaders and colleagues to develop and advance the goals of the Division, Department, and MCW.
• Lead growth activities in all aspects of clinical, research (including basic, clinical, translational, and clinical trials), community engagement, and teaching programs in the Division.
• Work collaboratively with Children’s and MCW leadership to establish and grow a vibrant divisional component of the health system-wide practice.
• Recruit, retain and develop faculty and staff that represent a spectrum of expertise in depth and breadth of hematology, oncology, and blood and marrow transplant.
• Encourage and support diversity among the Division constituents, creating an environment of professionalism, collegiality, and respect.
• Increase national visibility for the Division and Department through enhanced clinical, research and academic achievement.
• Demonstrate professionalism, acting with integrity and inspiring trust and respect.
• Lead well developed interprofessional care teams and look for opportunities for interprofessional education for MCW learners at all levels. 
• Develop strong regional relationships with a referral network of physicians and interprofessional colleagues to impact care delivered throughout the region.
• Oversee high-quality education programs, seminars and conferences for medical students, residents, fellows, employed faculty, community-based providers and referring physicians.
• Represent the Medical College of Wisconsin in regional and national organizations and societies and participate in national meetings, societies, and associations.

Academic Affiliations

The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT Section has many research affiliations with institutions located on the medical campus:

• The Blood Research Institute of Versiti and the Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplant at MCW have an ongoing collaboration that has contributed to an invaluable network of scientific discovery and patient care. This includes clinical appointments for Versiti physicians and research infrastructure support for MCW researchers. 
• The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) is a combined research program of the National Marrow Donor Program and the Medical College of Wisconsin working to collect and study data on blood and bone marrow transplants worldwide.  More than 500 international transplant centers collaborate with the CIBMTR to conduct research studies, collect, maintain, and share outcomes data on more than 300,000 transplant recipients, provide statistical expertise to researchers, and to provide education, guidelines, and training.
• The Children's Research Institute advances state-of-the-art pediatric health care through translational research programs to find life-saving discoveries and cures in the diseases that affect children and interventions that enhance quality of life for children and families living with chronic health conditions.
• The Clinical Immunodiagnostic and Research Laboratory (CIRL) provides comprehensive diagnostic services and innovative methods to detect, diagnose, and treat immunologic, hematologic, and oncologic disease states.
• The Cell Therapy Lab is an MCW Cancer Center shared resource. The overall research objective for the Cell Therapy Lab, which consists of the Cell Processing Laboratory (CPL), the Lymphocyte Propagation Laboratory (LPL) and an Immune Monitoring Laboratory (IML), is to improve the outcome of patients undergoing blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) or other cell therapies. The Lab offers several services to MCW researchers including preclinical and clinical cell therapy product development, processing and storage of patient biospecimens (blood, tumor biopsies, serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, aliquots of manufactured cell therapies, etc.), and testing of biospecimens using established and novel technologies.
• The Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center is the only academic-based cancer research and patient care group in Southeastern Wisconsin.  It is a matrix cancer center with clinical facilities at Froedtert Hospital, Children's Wisconsin, and Zablocki VA Medical Center.
• The MACC Fund, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc., a Milwaukee based charitable organization, works very closely with the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplant Division and the Medical College of Wisconsin to fight pediatric cancer and related blood disorders through research funding.  Since its inception in 1976, the MACC Fund has contributed over $75 million to the Medical College and Children’s Wisconsin in support of pediatric cancer and blood disorder research.  

Children’s Wisconsin and Children’s Specialty Group

Children’s Wisconsin is the state’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. With more than 1.3 million annual connections with kids and families statewide, Children’s provides a wide range of care and support — everything from routine care to lifesaving advances and treatment options, foster care and adoption services, child advocacy, and provides an insurance plan. In addition to its reputation for providing the highest quality patient care, Children’s has also been recognized as an employer and community partner, including as a top workplace by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Children’s and its joint venture with the Medical College of Wisconsin – the Children’s Specialty Group, or CSG - are the largest providers of pediatric healthcare in the state, serving the children and families of Wisconsin with the highest level of care through their American College of Surgeons Level I Children’s Surgery Verification Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence, 72-bed Level IV NICU, Level IV Epilepsy Center, and a 72-bed PICU. In 2022-2023, CW and CSG had eight specialties ranked by US News & World Report: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology, and urology.

With over 70 specialties and 675 providers, CSG has an annual net patient revenue of ~$200 million. Last year, CSG providers had 220,000 outpatient visits at 13 regional care sites, 67,000 emergency department/trauma center visits, and over 9,000 admissions. CSG surgical providers performed 17,500 cases.  As part of its American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Program, Children’s participates in the National Surgical Quality Pediatric Program (NSQIP) and is considered exemplary – in the 1st quartile of adjusted percentiles – for all surgeries/all patients return to OR; all surgeries/pediatric return to OR; neurosurgery morbidity; and appendectomy complicated – length of stay.

Medical College of Wisconsin

At the core of everything we do at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is the pursuit of new knowledge and the power of academic medicine. Bringing together the world’s top scientists and clinicians, inspired students, and invested communities, we are driven to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. MCW is home to a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to build a healthier world and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge.  MCW has approximately 1,600 full-time and part-time faculty and approximately 3,445 full-time employees. More than 1,500 physicians from the community serve as volunteer faculty.  MCW makes a substantial contribution to the Milwaukee region and state through its community investments and community engaged research.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is located on Lake Michigan’s western shore. A metropolitan area with more than 1.5 million people, Milwaukee is an affordable, comfortable place to live, work, and play, big enough to be exciting and uncongested enough to get around easily. Milwaukee’s many neighborhoods have incredible charm, accommodating a variety of lifestyles, from high-rise apartments to small farms.  Nestled along a magnificent bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, Milwaukee’s downtown is home to botanical gardens, a superlative symphony orchestra, museums, a ballet company, a theater district, the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers, and many fine restaurants. The lake and its harbors are skirted by scenic parklands and provide first-class opportunities for recreation. A recent study ranked Milwaukee as the 15th most walkable of the 50 largest US cities. Milwaukee County is also known for its “Grand Necklace of Parks” totaling more than 140, which offer hiking, picnic facilities, cross country skiing, and ice skating. 

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace that includes individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.  We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within.  We strive to integrate our human and social differences into MCW’s functioning, strategies and culture to create a diverse and equitable workplace.  If you believe embracing individuality and working together makes us stronger, then MCW is the place for you.  People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status.  Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant.  Nominations and applications, including current curriculum vitae and a cover letter stating qualifications and reasons for interest in the role, may be submitted to:

Kelli Cameron, M.S., SHRM-SCP, Senior Director of Faculty Recruitment, at [email protected]

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Position Requirements:

The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for the mission and vision of MCW’s Division of PHOT and will have a strong track record of clinical experience, collaboration, scholarship, research, and leadership appropriate for faculty appointment. In addition, candidates should possess the following qualifications, experience, and skills:

• Minimum of an MD, MD/PhD, DO, or foreign medical equivalent
• Successful completion of Pediatrics residency program
• Fellowship-trained and Board Certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• Eligible for full unrestricted licensure to practice in the State of Wisconsin
• A distinguished academic career in research (basic science, clinical or translational), education, and/or quality and process improvement with a national reputation in pediatric hematology, oncology, or blood and marrow transplant
• An ability to foster a highly collaborative academic environment
• Experience in medical education/administration, strong evidence of administrative ability, including, but not limited to emotional intelligence, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Leadership in a complex, multi-faceted university or academic medical center with demonstrated strategy implementation skills

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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