Description

Chair, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences

Virginia Commonwealth University

School of Dentistry

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry is seeking applicants for a full-time faculty position in the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences. Academic rank, tenure eligibility, and salary commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The primary mission of the School of Dentistry is to educate practitioners of Dentistry capable of meeting the general oral health needs of the communities they serve. Integral parts of the mission are research and other scholarly activity, patient care, leadership in dental education and organized dentistry, and collaboration and participation with other units within VCU and VCU Health System.

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry is located in downtown Richmond, Virginia. With a 133-year history, Virginia's only dental school offers opportunities for selected, qualified individuals to study dentistry and oral health through its Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) program, graduate specialty training programs, and a dental hygiene program. The VCU School of Dentistry is one of a small number of dental schools in the country affiliated with an academic medical center, the only dental school in the Commonwealth, and one of the oldest dental schools in the United States, founded in 1893. It is one of six health sciences academic programs on the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus of VCU.

Position Responsibilities:

The Chair of the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences (ODS) serves as a strategic and unifying leader within the School of Dentistry, advancing the school's mission through excellence in education, research, and patient-centered diagnostic care. The role provides leadership across the integration of oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral medicine, and orofacial pain, fostering a cohesive and high-performing academic environment that aligns diagnostic innovation with education and clinical service. The Chair guides the development of clinically relevant programs that support diagnostic reasoning and professional competency across predoctoral, postdoctoral, and graduate education. By leveraging the department's clinical and laboratory-based services and expanding collaborative research with the Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, the Chair advances scholarly activity, supports faculty development, and strengthens the department's role as a leader in oral diagnostic sciences. Through collaborative leadership and a commitment to a supportive academic environment, the Chair enhances the department's impact across the School, University, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Administrative:

Provide strategic leadership to advance excellence in education, research, and patient care in alignment with the School of Dentistry mission. Oversee faculty and staff recruitment, development, mentorship, and evaluation, including promotion and tenure processes. Foster a supportive and high-functioning departmental culture. Guide departmental planning and resource allocation. Implement innovative initiatives that enhance clinical services and research productivity while ensuring efficient coordination of departmental operations. Serve as a primary liaison for departmental priorities within the School and University, representing the department's unique expertise across disciplines.

Teaching:

Provide leadership and oversight of the department's educational mission across predoctoral, postdoctoral, and graduate programs, with emphasis on diagnostic reasoning and patient-centered care. Oversee curriculum development and continuous improvement across oral diagnostic disciplines. Develop and lead interprofessional teaching sessions or courses that integrate ODS expertise with other health professions to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Ensure Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) compliance and promote educational innovation through new teaching strategies and learning models. Engage in national educational leadership through active participation in organizations such as American Dental Education Association (ADEA) to elevate the department's profile and influence within the profession. Mentor learners while fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and educational excellence across interconnected training programs.

Research:

Provide leadership in advancing a culture of inquiry, scholarship, and innovation. Maintain a focused program of scholarship contributing to advancements in oral diagnostic sciences and translational research. Engage with the Philips Institute for Oral Health Research in interdisciplinary research collaborations, including pathology, spatial multiomics, and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) related investigations. Mentor faculty and learners in scholarly activity, fostering dissemination of knowledge and achievement of individual research goals. Support master's thesis and doctoral research across departments, providing clinical insight to elevate learner scholarship and increase departmental visibility through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Service:

Provide service to the Department, School, University, and broader profession through participation in leadership roles. Strengthen partnerships within dentistry and across health professions to advance interdisciplinary care. Represent the four specialties of oral diagnostic sciences, highlighting the department's unique expertise within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Foster active participation in VCU Health System initiatives and community programs, partnering with organizations such as the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Dental Association, and the American Cancer Society to improve public health outcomes and access to care.

Clinical:

Provide clinical leadership across ODS practices, which include direct patient care, diagnostic consultation, and laboratory-based services. Oversee the predoctoral Radiology Clinic, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) interpretation services, and the Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine clinic. Support faculty practice operations within the Oral Diagnostic Services laboratory, maintaining working knowledge of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CUA) regulations. Leverage technology and clinical infrastructure to improve efficiency, support effective medical insurance utilization and billing processes, and respond to the broader Virginia oral health landscape, including services with limited statewide availability. Ensure delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care while collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to manage complex cases.

Required Qualifications:

• DDS or DMD degree, or international equivalent degree
• Eligibility for an unrestricted Virginia dental license
• Completion of a CODA-accredited advanced education program in oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, orofacial pain, or oral medicine
• Current board certification in at least one of the above specialties
• A record of scholarly achievement and teaching excellence commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, preferably with tenure
• Experience in administrative leadership and fiscal management in an academic setting
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
• For tenure eligible positions at the Assistant Professor rank, an established research agenda and a clear potential for external
• funding, as well as potential for scholarship or creative expression to complement and expand existing expertise in the department
• For tenure eligible positions at the Associate Professor or Professor level, a well-developed scholarly/research portfolio with evidence of multi-disciplinary applications and external funding appropriate to complement and expand existing expertise in the department

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced expertise in oral and maxillofacial pathology, reflecting the department's historical foundation, biopsy service mission, and collaborative research engagement with the Philips Institute
• Proven success in mentoring and advocating for faculty through the successful navigation of professional advancement, promotion, and tenure processes
• Experience leading or supporting interdisciplinary clinical, diagnostic, and research programs, including the implementation of innovative diagnostic technologies
• Experience with leadership or active engagement in national professional organizations that demonstrates a commitment to advancing the oral diagnostic sciences at a national level

Application Process:

Candidates must apply to this faculty position through the university's career website at https://vcujobs.com (search requisition 45001960) to be considered for faculty position: F33400. For further information about this position contact Dr. Luciano Andrada, Search Committee Chair, VCU School of Dentistry at [email protected].

Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond. Virginia, VCU enrolls nearly 31.000 students in 223 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Sixty-eight of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU"s thirteen schools and one college. VCU Health System and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University comprise the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. For more information, see www.vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.