Chair, Katz Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, a part of UTHealth Houston, invites nominations and applications for the full-time position of Chair, Katz Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the associate- or full-professor level on the tenure or non-tenure track. The position reports to the Dean of the School of Dentistry and is available immediately. The School of Dentistry seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, and service have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to excellence in dental education.

The School of Dentistry's mission is "to improve human health by providing high-quality education, patient care, research, and service in oral health for Texas, the nation, and the world." The Chair is an integral part of the School of Dentistry's administrative team and will provide innovative leadership and advocacy in key areas of predoctoral and postdoctoral education, patient care, research, and service. The Chair will promote a humanistic and positive learning environment that welcomes, supports, and respects all students, residents, faculty, and staff.

The Katz Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is the only oral and maxillofacial surgery department within the largest medical center in the world, with 12 full-time faculty members and 9 part-time faculty who collectively support the department's clinical, educational, and scholarly missions. Faculty expertise spans the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, including maxillofacial trauma, infections, head and neck oncology and reconstruction, orthognathic surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery, dentoalveolar surgery, outpatient anesthesia, and complex benign pathology. While individual faculty maintain subspecialty clinical focuses, all actively participate in resident and dental student education, intramural practice, and scholarly activity.

The department has four critical areas of responsibility: predoctoral education, the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery residency program, patient care, and scholarly activity, including research and service. The Chair will provide vision, focus, and mentorship to further develop a dynamic and growing department. They will identify, cultivate, and pursue internal and external partnerships that lead to collaborative opportunities, including research collaborations across the Texas Medical Center. Other duties will include administrative responsibilities, such as departmental planning and budgeting, staffing, and supervision, as well as departmental representation to the School of Dentistry, UTHealth Houston, affiliated hospitals, and the community.

The OMS Residency Program offers two CODA-accredited hospital-based training tracks: a four-year certificate program and a six-year integrated OMS/MD program. Additionally, it offers a Texas Medical Board-approved Fellowship in Maxillofacial Oncology and Reconstruction. Together, these programs provide structured, competency-based training across the full scope of the specialty. The residency program supports approximately 30 residents and matches six new residents annually. Clinical education is primarily delivered across six major teaching hospitals, most within the Texas Medical Center, providing residents with high-volume exposure to complex trauma, infection, oncology, reconstruction, and medically complex patients.

In terms of research, the department maintains a nationally recognized portfolio with strengths in cancer immunotherapy, tissue engineering, craniofacial regeneration, and clinical outcomes research. Major areas of investigation include biomaterials-based immunotherapies for head and neck cancer, craniofacial bone regeneration, nerve regeneration, salivary gland tissue engineering, and the development of oncology biomarkers. Research efforts are supported through extensive collaborations with Rice University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and other academic partners, and are funded by multiple federal and foundation grants. Resident and student research is a core component of the department's academic culture, with consistent national presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

Recognizing national challenges in recruiting individuals to academic careers, the department has pursued strategies to support long-term faculty success, including negotiating affiliations with hospital and health-system partners, building a team with respected individuals across career stages to provide robust mentoring, and expanding faculty capacity to allow protected time for academic pursuits such as research, educational innovation, committee service, and professional association involvement. The department also benefits from several endowed funds, including endowments that support research infrastructure, resident education, visiting professorships, and academic initiatives that play a critical role in sustaining the department's academic mission.

Qualifications:

• DDS/DMD or equivalent degree, advanced training in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Board certification in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, plus experience in the field;
• eligible for full licensure in Texas;
• demonstrated record of teaching, academic leadership, involvement in graduate and/or predoctoral dental education, and research;
• evidence of scholarly activity (e.g., research, publications, quality improvement, educational innovation) and a track record of fostering collaborative partnerships;
• demonstrated ability to build academic partnerships and secure resources that support faculty development, mentoring, and time for scholarship and educational innovation;
• credentials meriting appointment to the rank of associate or full professor on the tenure or non-tenure track;
• minimum of five (5) years of administrative supervisory experience in an academic, hospital-based, or complex clinical training environment;
• effective communication skills; and,
• experience working effectively across diverse areas of focus and responsibility, including interprofessional teams across multiple training sites.

Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The School of Dentistry seeks candidates in all roles who are willing to contribute to our mission and vision, and promote interdisciplinary perspectives, understanding, and service to the community.

Instructions to Applicants: The application and supporting documents (CV, statement of teaching/research interests, and names and contact information of three references) must be submitted online.

Confidential inquiries may be directed to:
Ms. Shalan Mitchell, Manager
UTHealth Houston Office of Executive Recruitment
7000 Fannin St, Suite 150
Houston, TX 77030
Shalan.E.Mitchell@uth.tmc.edu
713-500-3251

Applicant Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

This is a security-sensitive position and thereby subject to Texas Education Code #51.215. A background check and drug screening will be required for the final candidate. For more information, visit dentistry.uth.edu .