Chair, Department of Indigenous Health

Position Information:

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences,

Associate Professor/Professor, Chair, Department of Indigenous Health, Position #00014103

Compensation and Appointment

Rank: Associate Professor/Professor; commensurate with education and experience.

Position Title: Chair, Department of Indigenous Health

Remuneration/Salary: Commensurate with experience

Position Benefits

Benefits include single or family health care coverage (UND pays the full premium), basic life insurance, employee assistance program, retirement plans with generous employer contributions, and 10 paid holidays.

Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

UND also offers an employee tuition waiver and a variety of professional development opportunities.

Find out more about UND's great benefits and perks here!

Duties & Responsibilities

The purpose of the UND Department of Indigenous Health (DIH) is to create a deeper understanding of the unique health issues facing Indigenous populations. This is accomplished by developing a well-trained health workforce through innovative approaches to education, research, scholarship, and service in collaboration with Indigenous communities in our region and the across the globe. The Vision of the Indigenous Health Department is to improve the health and wellness of Indigenous Peoples. We are empowered by Indigenous knowledges and cultures, and we envision a world in which future generations of Indigenous Peoples thrive with equitable access to health and wellness available to all.

The Department of Indigenous Health at the UND SMHS offers educational programs and conducts research. The Department prepares students to respond to the growing demand for health professionals trained in Indigenous health who can transform data into programs and policies to improve population or Indigenous health. The Indigenous Health PhD is a 60-credit, post-master's doctoral degree with a 48-credit core curriculum and a 12-credit dissertation, where students can choose to focus on completing the Dissertation (academic track) or a Dissertation in Practice (applied track). Research and evaluation methods, including Indigenous methodologies, are essential components of the curriculum. The PhD in Indigenous Health is unique nationally and admitted its first cohort of students in 2020. The DIH also collaborates with the SMHS Department of Population Health to offer a Master of Public Health (MPH) specialization in Indigenous Health.

The number of students enrolled in the Indigenous Health PhD increases yearly, and the scope of the program's activities is expanding. The UND SMHS is seeking to recruit a tenured Associate Professor or Full Professor to serve as Chair of the Department of Indigenous Health. The Chair may teach courses in the PhD curriculum; provide service to the program, university and profession; and to serve on dissertation committees. The appointed candidate will also serve as an academic advisor to multiple PhD students.

The Chair, who reports to the Senior Associate Dean for Medicine and Research, will provide strategic leadership and direction for all aspects of the Department of Indigenous Health and is responsible for the personnel, administrative, educational, and research operations of the department. This Chair will review and update the curriculum and training programs to innovatively meet the need for education and training of current and future health care professionals and lead the Department to a position of academic and professional eminence while furthering the goals and missions of the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). The Chair is expected to promote teamwork both within the department, as well as with other UND SMHS departments in all aspects of academic functions.

The Chair serves as a leader for the SMHS, representing the school at various functions with the university and the external community, and serving in leadership roles in SMHS committees and activities. The Chair is expected to serve as a role model for the faculty, in addition to their administrative responsibilities.

The Department Chair will work in close collaboration with the Indigenous Health Department Graduate Programs Director and other faculty and staff to advance the Indigenous Health Department.

Essential Functions

Teaching and Advising:

UND Indigenous Health PhD courses are taught in synchronous formats using tele-video technologies via Zoom. Blackboard is the teaching platform. Each 3-credit class counts as 10% FTE and 5% FTE if cotaught. This position will serve as a Primary Instructor, Co-Instructor, or guest lecturer for Indigenous Health PhD and/or MPH courses. This position will also serve as a mentor for PhD students and will serve as an academic advisor.

Research:

• Principal Investigator of the Indigenous Trauma & Resilience Research Center (see details below):
  • The Chair of Indigenous Health has the opportunity to serve as the Principal Investigator of the Indigenous Trauma & Resilience Research Center (ITTRC; NIH Center for Biomedical Excellence in Research) program that is in its second year of a 5-year funding cycle. The ITRRC is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20GM139759. The goal of the research center is to address the impact of historical and unresolved trauma on health inequities within the American Indian and Alaska Native population. The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for the preparation of the intellectual content for the proposal, determining the direction and conduct of the research or program activities during the project, and selecting, hiring, and supervising project staff. The PI may hold primary responsibility for managing the project budget, completing technical reports, and any other award requirements necessary to maintain compliance with applicable sponsor and institutional rules and regulations or s/he may share this responsibility with a multi-investigator team. The addition of this role is dependent on NIH approval.
• Build an Indigenous health research portfolio based on the candidate's training, skillsets, and areas of interest.

Service:

• Service includes contribution to the institution/school/department (e.g. committees), to the profession (e.g. professional organizations), and to the community (e.g. boards, etc.).
• Service expectations are commensurate with percent FTE and consistent with promotion guidelines.

This position will provide education, research, and service in a manner consistent with Indigenous Health Department values and vision. It is encouraged that this position will generate 30-50% of salary from external sources for research and creative activity by the end of the first year.

Minimum Requirements

• Terminal degree in Health Sciences or related field.
• Demonstrated success in grant writing, management, and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in developing funding and research priorities.
• Strong track record as a Principal Investigator (PI) of federal grants.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to develop strong partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders and partners.
• Strong publication record.
• Successful completion of a criminal history records check.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of American Indian health issues in reservation and non-reservation settings
• Experience with private foundations

To Apply

Applicants must apply online and submit the following materials:

• Letter of Interest
• Current curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three professional references

Review of applications will begin on 02/13/2023. Position is open until filled.

Additional Information

The University of North Dakota (UND) is a public research University established as a Land Grant University in 1883. Founded with a strong liberal arts foundation, UND has grown into a prominent scientific research university, classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having high research activity. UND was recently ranked among the top 100 public and top 25 most innovative universities in the country by U.S. News and World Report, and is widely regarded as among the top universities in the American Northern Plains region. Currently, the University boasts 200+ fields of study with nearly 15,000 students.

UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of over 50,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Grand Forks boasts high-quality medical facilities, a very low crime rate, many fine restaurants, acclaimed public and private schools, and annual events throughout the year. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America's Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles.

To find out why living and working in Greater Grand Forks is way cooler, check out Grand Forks is Cooler.

All information listed in this position announcement will be used by Human Resources, the Hiring Department, and EO/Title IX for screening, interviewing and selection purposes.

Confidentiality of Application Materials

Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are confidential, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified the top three or more finalists who will be invited to campus.

EEO Statement

The University of North Dakota is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or other protected characteristic. Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants are invited to provide information regarding their gender, race and/or ethnicity, veteran's status and disability status as part of the application process. This information will remain confidential and separate from your application.

Veteran's Preference

Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 or NGB 22 and if claiming disabled status, a current letter of disability from the VA dated within the last 12 months.

Clery Statement

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the University of North Dakota publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes the university's policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, as well as three years of crime statistics for our campus. As a prospective employee, you are entitled to a copy of this report. The report and statistical data can be found online at UND.edu. You may also request a paper copy of the report from the UND Police Department located at 3851 Campus Road, Grand Forks, ND, 58202.