School of Medicine

You are seeking a Chair of the Department of Neurology who will report to the Dean and who will, in turn, be reported to by the faculty and staff of the department. You are seeking an academic leader who will fulfill the clinical, education, and research missions of the department. Furthermore, good clinical negotiating skills are important to deal with the multiple pushes and tugs of our relationships with multiple hospitals.

In my structured discussions with leaders within the School of Medicine about their views concerning the future of the Department of Neurology, approximately one-third did not have strong feelings. Approximately one-third felt that it was important to have a national search for all department chairs, including neurology. The remaining third favored an abbreviated search and appointment of an internal candidate.

I have elected to proceed with a national search because I feel that it would be a disservice to the department not to have a full, fulsome discussion of the department’s present and future and to have a broadly cast net for a comprehensive search.

Both the Faculty Forum and Medical Council favored a Department of Neurology which provided strong clinical service, teaching, and had selected areas of excellence for research. The majority of both groups rejected the notion of a “strictly service” Department of Neurology and, at the other end of the spectrum, there was little support for investing the time and resources to try to achieve a top 20 NIH ranked department. As I review the current status of the department, I am concerned that there is no designated neuro-oncologist. As we attempt to achieve Cancer Center designation for the James Brown Cancer Center, we need to identify particular niche markets. The management of glioblastoma multiforme and other high grade supratentorial malignant gliomas, brain metastases, and spinal cord metastases require a vigorous program in neuro-oncology with a combined modality clinic. This might mean that you ought to search for a neuro-oncologist or, as an alternative, be sure that whoever the candidates are that are brought forth in the search are committed to a strong neuro-oncology service.

In any economic undertaking, including the selection of a department chair, you must consider the allocation of resources “compared to alternatives”. The University of Louisville School of Medicine has several major commitments either ongoing or upcoming. We must identify a Chair of Neurology, Vice Dean for Research, and it is likely that another two to three major Chairs will be vacated in the next one to two years. This being the case, we will have to be good stewards of limited resources.

Interviews

The committee shall conduct a series of interviews with key stakeholders during the selection of the Chair of Neurology. I ask you to be certain to interview me, Interim Chair Remmel, members of the faculty of the Department of Neurology, members of the House Staff, and appropriate individuals representing the major departments/divisions that interact with Neurology, such as neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuropathology, medicine, representatives of pediatric neurology, basic science researchers, and appropriate representatives of the support staff in hospitals.

Advertising

The individual selected may either be an internal or external candidate. To identify candidates I ask that an appropriate phone and mail campaign be undertaken. In addition, please run appropriate advertising in journals or websites for two to three months.

The process

• Allow 4 to 10 weeks to receive letters of nomination or applications with accompanying CV’s.
• Check references.
• Conduct one to two rounds of interviews. I believe it is appropriate, as a matter of courtesy, to offer all internal candidates at least a first round interview.
• By September 1, 2007, and earlier if possible, please provide me with a list of two to four finalists, unranked. Under no circumstances include anyone on this list who the committee would not feel comfortable being offered the job.
• The last meeting of your committee should be with me where members of the committee will have the opportunity to discuss the final list.