Division Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine

John Sealy School of Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Texas

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch seeks a Division Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine to lead a clinical and academic division serving Southeast Texas through UTMB's growing multi-campus health system. The successful candidate will oversee clinical operations across multiple sites, direct an ACGME-accredited fellowship program, develop the division's research portfolio, and collaborate with departmental leadership to advance the tripartite mission of patient care, education, and investigation.

This position reports to Dr. Salim Hayek, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. The Division Chief will work closely with hospital leadership, fellow division chiefs, and interdisciplinary colleagues to position the division as a regional referral center for pulmonary, critical care, and sleep disorders.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

UTMB is a $3.5 billion academic health center established in 1891 as Texas's first medical school, comprising Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, Public and Population Health, and a Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. With $168 million in sponsored research awards, UTMB ranks 52nd nationally in NIH funding among medical schools and stands in the top 2 percent of institutions receiving NIH support.

The institution operates four hospital campuses (Galveston, Clear Lake, League City, Angleton-Danbury), with over 1,000 beds, and more than 90 clinics serving a population exceeding 1.8 million across Southeast Texas. UTMB is the only academic health science center south of Houston and serves as the Level I Trauma Center for a nine-county region. Clinical strengths include quaternary care capabilities, comprehensive burn care through partnership with Shriners Hospital for Children, transplant services, and specialty medical care for a substantial portion of Texas's incarcerated population through the TDCJ Hospital partnership. The main Galveston campus includes Jennie Sealy Hospital (310 patient rooms with 60 dedicated ICU beds, completed 2016) and John Sealy Hospital, along with the verified burn center and the 172-bed Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital.

UTMB houses the Galveston National Laboratory, one of two BSL-4 biocontainment facilities on a U.S. university campus, and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development. Research strengths include nationally recognized programs in microbiology and immunology, infectious diseases, anesthesiology, critical care, and translational sciences. The institution recently established the Moody Brain Health Institute with a $25 million philanthropic commitment. UTMB is a member of the Houston-based Texas Medical Center and benefits from philanthropic support exceeding $50 million annually, including substantial backing from the Sealy & Smith Foundation.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest department within UTMB's John Sealy School of Medicine, encompassing multiple divisions including Allergy and Immunology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, General Medicine, Geriatrics, Infectious Disease, Medical Oncology and Hematology, Nephrology, Palliative Care, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, and Rheumatology. The department operates a categorical Internal Medicine residency program with approximately 32 positions per cycle, as well as a distinctive combined Aerospace/Internal Medicine residency in partnership with NASA-the only program of its kind in the United States.

Under the leadership of Dr. Hayek, who joined UTMB in 2024 from the University of Michigan, the department emphasizes data-driven strategies, precision medicine, and integration of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence into clinical operations. The department's mission encompasses excellence in patient care, robust training programs, and expansion of research activities across basic, translational, and clinical domains.

DIVISION STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES

The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine currently includes faculty with expertise spanning the subspecialty's clinical and research domains. Division programs include:

• Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program - established program serving the regional population with screening, diagnostic evaluation, and multidisciplinary care coordination

• Interventional Pulmonology - advanced bronchoscopy procedures including navigational bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound

• Sleep Disorders Center - full-service laboratory providing diagnostic polysomnography and treatment for adult and pediatric sleep disorders

• CriticalCareServices- faculty provide consultative and direct patient care across medical ICUs at Jennie Sealy Hospital, John Sealy Hospital, and affiliated sites, with exposure to high-acuity trauma, burn, and complex medical-surgical cases

The division operates an ACGME-accredited three-year Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship (Program #1564821112) that participates in the National Resident Matching Program. Fellows receive comprehensive training in pulmonary medicine, critical care, and sleep medicine, with opportunities for scholarly activity and research mentorship.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Leadership

• Provide strategic direction for clinical operations across UTMB's multi-campus system, with particular attention to expanding access to subspecialty pulmonary and sleep services in Galveston, Clear Lake, League City, and Angleton-Danbury

• Recruit, mentor, and retain clinical faculty to support service line growth and ensure sustainable call coverage for critical care and consultative services

• Collaborate with hospital leadership to optimize critical care delivery models, quality improvement and patient safety, ICU staffing, operational efficiency and consultative services that meet the needs of UTMB's clinical strategic priorities across the campuses, including its Level I Trauma Center and tertiary referral volume

• Maintain an active clinical practice in pulmonary, critical care, or sleep medicine appropriate to academic rank and administrative responsibilities

Educational Leadership

• Oversee the ACGME-accredited Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, ensuring compliance with program requirements, supporting fellow recruitment, and maintaining match competitiveness

• Direct subspecialty education for Internal Medicine residents rotating through pulmonary and critical care services, coordinating teaching conferences, simulation training, and procedural instruction

• Foster faculty development in clinical teaching and provide mentorship for junior faculty pursuing academic promotion

Research and Scholarship

• Develop the division's research portfolio through identification of collaborative opportunities, mentorship of faculty investigators, and pursuit of extramural funding

• Leverage UTMB's research infrastructure, including the Galveston National Laboratory and Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, to advance investigation in pulmonary infectious diseases, acute respiratory failure, or other areas aligned with institutional strengths

• Support quality improvement initiatives, outcomes research, and scholarly activity among fellows and faculty

Administrative and Strategic Responsibilities

• Manage division budget, optimize resource allocation, and work with departmental leadership on revenue cycle performance and payer contracting

• Participate in departmental strategic planning, faculty recruitment, and institutional committees as assigned

• Collaborate with nursing leadership, respiratory therapy, and allied health professionals to ensure high-quality, team-based care delivery

• Foster relationships with regional referral networks, community physicians, and healthcare systems to enhance UTMB's role as the academic medical center for Southeast Texas

Required Qualifications

• MD or DO degree from an accredited institution

• Board certification in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Disease or Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (or equivalent)

• Eligibility for medical licensure in Texas

• Academic rank of Associate Professor or Professor at an accredited medical school, or qualifications consistent with appointment at this level at UTMB

• Demonstrated leadership experience in clinical program development, education, or research

• Track record of effective collaboration with administrative, clinical, and academic colleagues

Valued Experience

• Experience in multi-site or health system operations

• Fellowship training or expertise in interventional pulmonology, sleep medicine, or other focused area of pulmonary or critical care medicine

• Record of extramural funding from NIH, foundations, or industry sponsors

• Leadership roles in fellowship or residency education, including program director or associate program director experience

• Involvement in professional societies, editorial boards, or national committees relevant to pulmonary, critical care, or sleep medicine

• Experience with value-based care models, quality metrics, or population health initiatives

• Leadership development through participation in structured programs such as leadership academies, executive education, or formal management and communication workshops

COMPENSATION AND SUPPORT

Compensation for this position follows the Department of Internal Medicine Leader Compensation Plan and is benchmarked to the AAMC Faculty Salary Survey data aligned by academic rank. Total compensation includes a competitive base salary plus an at-risk leadership incentive tied to mutually agreed-upon annual performance goals across strategic priorities. A detailed Memorandum of Understanding will specify compensation structure, effort allocation, and performance expectations upon appointment.

The Division Chief will have access to divisional administrative support and institutional resources for faculty development and will participate in departmental strategic planning. Protected time for research or scholarly activity may be negotiated based on investigative portfolio and grant support. Startup funding for research may be available depending on the candidate's research program and institutional priorities.

UTMB offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas or Optional Retirement Program, and professional development support.

LOCATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Galveston Island (population approximately 50,000) is located 30 miles south of Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city. The island offers Gulf Coast beaches, extensive water recreation opportunities, temperate climate, and historic charm. The region provides notably lower cost of living compared to major metropolitan markets while maintaining proximity to Houston's world-class amenities.

Houston provides comprehensive cultural and recreational resources including professional sports (Astros, Texans, Rockets), performing arts venues, the Museum District, diverse international dining, and extensive shopping. The region offers excellent outdoor recreation with beach access, fishing, and sailing, along with strong public and private school options. The Texas Medical Center's proximity facilitates academic collaboration and professional networking.

Major airports (Houston Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental) provide convenient access for national and international travel, supporting both professional engagement and personal connections.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit a comprehensive application package including:

• Curriculum vitae with complete bibliography

• Leadership statement (2-3 pages) addressing:

o Relevant experience in clinical program development, ICU operations improvement, or building specialized pulmonary services

o Specific approach to expanding interventional pulmonology and developing ILD/pulmonary hypertension programs at UTMB

o Vision for building nationally competitive research program and strategy for securing extramural funding

o Philosophy on faculty recruitment, development, and retention in competitive markets

o Leadership approach to managing the tripartite academic mission (clinical, research, education) and creating sustainable, equitable faculty workload models

o Key institutional resources or support needed for success in this role

• Three professional references with current contact information (letters will be requested at appropriate stage)

Submit application materials to:

Business Operations Manager

Brittany Belew

brbelew@utmb.edu

Initial inquiries are treated confidentially. Formal reference checks and finalist interviews will be conducted only with candidate's explicit permission.

SALARY:
Commensurate with experience.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.