Department Chair

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine is dedicated to providing excellence in education, patient care, scholarship, and service in mental health. We strive to foster a collaborative environment committed to improving the health and well-being of the people of eastern North Carolina and beyond. We support and advance evidence-based practice, sound scientific principles, and compassion in addressing the needs of our learners, our patients, our colleagues, and our community. We offer educational and clinical training programs that emphasize the patient as a whole and as a unique person. Our multidisciplinary faculty and staff work cohesively to advance the training of all our learners and prepare them to work in today’s highly interdisciplinary world of mental healthcare.
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine is a national leader in rural mental health. The department is proud to foster an inclusive climate, with many faculty serving in diversity leadership roles across the medical school campus. The Brody School of Medicine is currently the home of the N. C. Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP) which connects more than 40 hospital emergency departments across the state. Our local hospital, Vidant Medical Center, is a 900+ bed Level I trauma academic medical center serving more than 1.4 million people across 29 counties. Our outpatient clinic provides a broad range of comprehensive services and includes the use of TMS and Esketamine for refractory depression. In addition, our 52-bed inpatient Behavioral Health Unit houses acute beds, combined MI-ID beds, and combined Med-Psych beds. ECT is offered as both an inpatient and outpatient service.

East Carolina University is the 3rd largest public university in North Carolina, with approximately 27,400 students and over 5,000 faculty and staff. ECU combines the rich tradition of college life with the energy and innovation of a doctoral research university. This combination allows students and faculty to enjoy the benefits and resources of a large research university in an atmosphere more typical of a smaller college. The University is located approximately 85 miles east of Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, and approximately 87 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean. The Brody School of Medicine is part of a vibrant health sciences campus that includes training programs in dentistry, nursing, and many other health careers.

Work with the Dean and serve as a member of the institutional leadership team.

Work collaboratively with other institutional leaders and colleagues to develop and advance the goals of the institution.

Maintain and expand high-quality clinical services and programs such that the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine is recognized as a national leader in the area of tele-psychiatry and rural health.

Provide leadership that promotes professional development/mentorship of existing faculty members and attracts/retains highly motivated and exceptional faculty, staff and trainees to the department.

Foster a culture of interdisciplinary research through collaboration with other ECU departments and centers.

Balance the budget, be a financially prudent steward, and accountable for institutional resources.

Develop key institutional partnerships and strategic relationships and define and pursue interdisciplinary clinical and research goals that align with Brody School of Medicine.

Bringing a high quality of values-based leadership to the Department and its relationship with Vidant Health, Vidant Medical Center, and with other units in the Division of Health Sciences and throughout ECU.

Encourage creative thinking and catalyze collaborative opportunities to bring together all the Department’s resources to achieve goals and mold the future direction of the Department.

Building upon the mission of the Department of Psychiatric Medicine to improve healthcare delivery, education, research and service to the people of Eastern North Carolina and beyond.

Fostering a supportive atmosphere where faculty and staff are encouraged to reach their academic potential.

Leading expansion of the Department of Psychiatric Medicine in its educational, clinical, and research roles to increase the Department’s national recognition.

Oversee departmental budgeting and resource management, meet departmental financial goals, and enact policies and processes that promote fiscal accountability and responsibility.

As the educational leader of the department, ensure an excellent teaching program for the students, residents, and fellows who are receiving education and training within the department.

Identify new and expand existing sources of funding, including extramural clinical and translational research grants, philanthropy and clinical revenue.

Assure implementation of University policies pertaining to faculty governance and evaluation, and actively enhance diversity.

Encourage and support diversity among department’s constituents, creating an environment of professionalism, respect, tolerance, and acceptance.

Awareness of the subtle challenges preventing women and minority students and faculty from realizing their full potentials and work to address these challenges.

Articulate and model the importance of caring for patients, promoting health, and preventing disease.
Value patient care, understand the breadth of skills needed to meet the health care needs of a diverse patient population, and serve as a clinical role model.

Promote and support advances in clinical practice and be aware of the larger issues of healthcare in our society.

Participation in clinical care, including some on-call responsibilities.

MD, DO, or an equivalent degree from an appropriately accredited institution

Board certified in psychiatry

Credentials consistent with the academic rank of an associate professor or full professor

Demonstrated record of distinguished clinical, scholarly, and administrative accomplishments highlighted by an active clinical practice and research publications in peer-reviewed journals resulting from a distinguished track record of scholarship

Proven capacity for clinical and academic leadership, integration and collaboration in the field of mental health

Must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of North Carolina

The successful candidate will have a minimum of five years in leadership roles in an academic Department of Psychiatry

Experience in engaging and working collaboratively and collegially with academic faculty, hospital administrators, and community-based health care leaders

Must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of North Carolina

East Carolina University requires applicants to submit a candidate profile online in order to be considered for the position. In addition to submitting a candidate profile online, please submit online the required applicant documents:

Curriculum Vitae
Letter of Interest
List of Three References (noting contact information)

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.

East Carolina University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and seeks to create an environment that fosters the recruitment and retention of a more diverse student body, faculty, staff and administration. We encourage qualified applicants from women, minorities, veterans, individuals with a disability, and historically underrepresented groups. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, or veteran status.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) should contact the Department of Human Resources at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu .

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.