Chair, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (LMP)

Position Overview

The University of Minnesota Medical School invites applications for the role of Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (LMP). This prestigious position presents a unique opportunity for an accomplished leader to shape the future of LMP within one of the nation's top academic health systems. The successful candidate will advance the department's mission of excellence in patient care, research, and education while fostering innovation and upholding its legacy of clinical and academic achievement.

This is a transformational leadership opportunity within a research-intensive, land-grant academic health center that ranks among the nation's top institutions in NIH funding and interdisciplinary innovation. The Chair will join a leadership team focused on expanding precision medicine, investing in immunology and cancer discovery, and elevating academic excellence across the University of Minnesota Medical School and M Health Fairview partnership.

Roles & Responsibilities

The successful candidate will possess a strong vision for the future of LMP and the ability to translate that vision into a thriving department. As Chair, you will play a pivotal role in:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a visionary strategic plan that enhances the department's clinical, research, and educational programs while aligning with the broader goals of the University of Minnesota Medical School and health system partners. The Chair will foster deeper integration across these missions-strengthening collaboration between research, clinical care, and training-to promote innovation, reduce operational silos, and elevate departmental impact.
• Faculty Development: Recruit, mentor, and retain exceptional faculty and staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth.
• Research Advancement: Oversee a robust and diverse research portfolio, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and securing extramural funding to advance LMP science.
• Clinical Excellence: Guide the strategic growth of clinical programs, ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge, patient-centered care across all subspecialties.
• Education and Training: Champion the department's educational mission by enhancing residency and fellowship programs, supporting innovative teaching methods, and preparing the next generation of pathology leaders.
• Financial and Operational Management: Manage departmental resources effectively, including budget oversight, philanthropic development, and resource allocation to support strategic priorities.
• External Engagement: Cultivate relationships with regional and national healthcare leaders, industry partners, and community stakeholders to expand the department's influence and impact.

Why Join Us?

The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (LMP) at the University of Minnesota is distinguished by a remarkable legacy of excellence and continuity in leadership. Since its founding, the department has been led by just two chairs, with current Chair Dr. Leo Furcht serving in the role for over 35 years. Under his leadership, LMP has grown into a nationally respected academic powerhouse with a culture rooted in collegiality, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

LMP's legacy includes a tradition of pioneering leadership in pathology-shaping subspecialty fields, advancing translational diagnostics, and contributing to landmark discoveries in immunology, cancer biology, and molecular medicine. For the next Chair, this is a rare opportunity to build upon a strong institutional foundation and lead one of the country's most stable and forward-thinking pathology departments into its next era of scientific and clinical innovation.

The department's resources include the Advanced Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (ARDL), a nationally recognized core facility supporting over 100 global trials across cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological disease domains.

Required Qualifications

• Educational and Professional Credentials:
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD), or equivalent international medical degree.
  • Board certification in Anatomic and/or Clinical Pathology (AP, CP, or AP/CP) by the American Board of Pathology (or equivalent).
  • Eligible for an unrestricted medical license in the state of Minnesota.
  • Qualified for a faculty appointment at the rank of Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
• Leadership Experience:
  • At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in an academic medical setting, with a demonstrated record of advancing clinical, research, and educational excellence.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and inspire excellence across education, research, and clinical care.
• Academic Excellence:
  • Nationally and/or internationally recognized expertise in pathology, as evidenced by a distinguished record of scholarly contributions, including high-impact peer-reviewed publications.
• Skills and Competencies:
  • Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences, including faculty, staff, students, patients, donors, and external stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to foster and sustain collaborative relationships across departments, institutions, and external partners.
  • Strong fiscal management skills, with experience overseeing complex budgets and allocating resources efficiently to support strategic priorities.
• Commitment to Mentorship and Inclusion:
  • Demonstrated commitment to mentoring and developing junior faculty and trainees, fostering career growth and academic achievement.
  • Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across research, education, and patient care domains.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a visionary and collaborative leader who:

• Brings an exceptional track record in academic pathology, including impactful research and innovative clinical program development.
• Possesses strong leadership experience in an academic medical center or health system with the ability to drive strategic growth and inspire faculty.
• Champions mentorship, faculty development, and diversity in the academic workplace.
• Demonstrates commitment to advancing diagnostic innovation, precision medicine, and interdisciplinary research.
• Understands the evolving landscape of laboratory medicine, including regulatory, financial, and operational dynamics in both academic and clinical settings.
• Exhibits a high level of intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial mindset, and business acumen.
• Is a forward-thinking visionary committed to investing in and developing cutting-edge technologies that will shape the future of pathology and laboratory medicine.
• Demonstrates a strong record of impactful research with sustained extramural funding-ideally including NIH, NCI, or other federal support-and a clear vision for advancing the department's national research stature.
• Brings experience in national leadership roles, such as participation in NIH study sections, research councils, or multi-institutional research consortia.
• Has a proven track record of developing and sustaining strong clinical programs, with the ability to articulate and implement a strategic vision that integrates clinical excellence with research and educational priorities.
• Distinguished management experience, with strong financial management and recruitment skills.

The University of Minnesota Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (LMP) has a distinguished legacy of excellence in patient care, research, and education. Through a culture rooted in collegiality, synergistic collaboration, and academic excellence, the department continues to advance the frontiers of medicine. Faculty are actively engaged in innovative research, delivering impactful educational experiences, and providing exceptional patient care. The department values the contributions of its faculty, trainees, staff, and patients in achieving excellence across all areas of its mission.

This role is dually employed by the University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Physicians. Salary for the Professor role at the University of Minnesota is dependent upon academic effort of the person hired and begins at $55,000. Clinical salary, aligned with clinical effort, is provided through University of Minnesota Physicians. Total salary of academic effort, clinical effort and department head role is competitive with market and based on AAMC salary benchmarks. Total salary range, including the potential for a 20% annual bonus, is $518,594 - $625,369.

The University of Minnesota Medical School has retained the services of Academic Med, a national executive search firm that specializes in Academic Medicine, to assist with this strategically important search. The search for this esteemed position is being conducted by Gentry Zacheis, President & CEO of Academic Med & Jim Hagood, Managing Principal & Co- Founder of Academic Med. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be handled with confidentiality.

Interested candidates should submit their curriculum vitae and a cover letter to:
* Jim Hagood, Managing Principal of Academic Med: jim@academic-med.com
* Gentry Zacheis, President & CEO of Academic Med: gentry@academic-med.com

As well as applying online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Application Deadline
The position will be open for applications until 5:00 PM CST on August 22, 2025. Applications received after this date will not be considered by the Search Committee.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).