Title:  Associate Dean in Excellence in Health Equity

Baylor College of Medicine and Department Summary

Baylor (www.bcm.edu) is recognized as one of the nation’s premier academic health science centers and is known for excellence in education, research, and healthcare and community service. Located in the heart of the world's largest medical center (Texas Medical Center), Baylor is affiliated with multiple educational, healthcare and research affiliates (Baylor Affiliates).

Summary

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) seeks a dynamic and experienced diversity practitioner to serve as its next Associate Dean in Excellence in Health Equity.

BCM is a health sciences university that creates knowledge and applies science and discoveries to further education, healthcare, and community service locally and globally. Baylor is a global leader in biomedical education, innovative research and cure discovery located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex. Houston, Texas is the fourth largest U.S. city. It is the most diverse large metropolitan area in the nation.

The BCM Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion represents the broad definition of diversity, which includes identity, perspective, race/ethnicity, socio-economic, religion, geography, international, sexual orientation and expression status, gender, disability, etc.

The Associate Dean in Excellence in Health Equity will provide oversight for all diversity, equity, and inclusion activities that support medical students, graduate and PhD students, residents, fellows, and faculty and staff members of the College. 

Summary-continued

Reporting to the Senior Dean of Faculty, the Associate Dean in Excellence in Health Equity will serve as the chief diversity officer providing vision in the development and execution of strategic diversity, equity and inclusion goals and initiatives, including lead the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives related to faculty life cycle; demonstrate a strong commitment to achieving excellence in DEI and promoting equity, expansion, and enhancement of the faculty diversity within BCM; with the goal of creating a culture of inclusion, embracing innovation and research to have an impact to achieve excellence in DEI within and beyond BCM. 

As a dynamic leader, the successful candidate will be expected to develop analytical approaches and projects aligned with the College’s strategic initiatives, work with a network of diversity officers, human resources, inclusion and equity ambassadors, inclusion, and excellence council members to develop frameworks that promote equitable, transparent, accountable, and positive growth for diversity at BCM.

The successful candidate will also work in close collaboration with the President and Executive Dean of BCM; Deans of the School of Medicine, School of Health Professions, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Tropical Medicine; Executive Vice President and Dean of Clinical Affairs; Senior Vice President and Dean of Research; Chief of Staff; Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Faculty Senate.

The Associate Dean in Excellence in Health Equity will continue the important work that has already begun at BCM to enhance excellence in DEI, enhance strategies to increase recruitment, promotion, and retention of diverse faculty from underrepresented groups. Anticipated start date is July 1, 2023.

Job Duties

• The Associate Dean in Excellence in Health Equity is responsible for the overarching vision, strategic direction, and implementation of BCM diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Associate Dean serves as a strong voice and catalyst within the College, affiliated healthcare systems, and community.
• Provide oversight for administrative, business, financial, and reporting functions to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• Provide leadership, management, support, guidance, and strategic focused direction to direct and indirect reports (which includes a growing network of Inclusion and Equity Ambassadors).
• Promote organizational and interdisciplinary collaboration among BCM programs and units that will enhance inclusive excellence.
• Build a strategic partnership with Office of Communications and Community Outreach to develop and highlight diversity, equity, and inclusion for both internal and external staff audiences.
• Assist BCM education leaders to meet diversity-related components of accreditation guidelines (Liaison Committee on Medical Education and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education).
• Serve as chair of the BCM Inclusion and Excellence Council to advise and make recommendations to key leadership on issues relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Job Duties-continued

• Advise key leadership groups at the College to inspire, mentor and educate various stakeholders about diversity and inclusion issues, as well as provide input and leadership for decisions, strategic planning, and goal and policy setting that are necessary to improve excellence and operational efficiency, with a focus on enhancing diversity and inclusion for students, trainees, faculty, and staff populations.
• Build and develop effective DEI metrics, tools and analytics with a focus on compositional diversity, climate, curriculum, and culturally and linguistically appropriate initiatives.
• Collaborate on College initiatives designed to recruit, retain, support, and ensure the success and advancement of underrepresented, disadvantaged, and minoritized students, trainees, faculty, and staff populations and lead faculty life cycle initiatives including strategic hiring and onboarding, promotions, career advancement and retention of faculty and formulate plans for enhancement of DEI.
• Represent BCM in matters pertaining to DEI initiatives and cultivate and strengthen relationships with various community and professional organizations to foster collaborations that advance diversity, belonging, inclusion, equity, and engagement initiatives.
• Facilitate access to counseling, wellness, mediation, and conflict resolution programs and resources regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion related issues for students, residents, faculty, and staff.
• Implement programmatic policy and guidance for continuous improvement of the diversity, equity and inclusion at BCM; promote humanistic values of understanding, empathy, perspective-taking, professionalism, ethics, and inclusivity, while also providing the opportunities and tools for the necessary and challenging conversations essential to growing as a community.

Minimum Qualifications

• MD, DO, PhD or MD PhD with academic and or administrative experience as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor level.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in leadership and possess the ability to work with a varied group of educators and stakeholders .
• Outstanding interpersonal skills including the ability to lead and work on a team.
• Proven success in the ability to collaborate with all administrative levels within health science institutions, the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, learners and the ability to lead and work on a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing or leading efforts to improve inclusion, multiculturalism, diversity, and equity in employment or education.
• Credentials suitable for appointment as Professor or Associate Professor.
• Experience in developing cross-departmental or cross-functional partnerships, advancing organizational change, operational leadership, conflict resolution.
• Active involvement in national-level diversity, equity, and inclusion professional associations (e.g., AAMC Group of Diversity and Inclusion, American Medical Women’s Association, National Medical Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, Association of American Indian Physicians, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, etc.).
• Experience with implementation of the AAMC Foundational Principles of Inclusion Excellence and AAMC Holistic Review Framework for Recruitment and Selection.

Competencies for Success

• Acts professionally, ethically and with integrity and self-awareness. The candidate adheres to BCM values and interacts with others in a way that engenders confidence in them and in the organization.
• Builds partnerships and invests in the development of strategic internal and external partnerships – collaborates to reach productive agreements and foster goodwill.
• Has the ability to envision, conceptualize and articulate the diversity mission of the College through a broad and inclusive definition of diversity.

How to Apply

Applicants should send a letter of interest, a complete CV, and contact information, including email addresses and phone numbers for a minimum of three references to deansearch@bcm.edu.

A summary of accomplishments, experience, and vision is optional and can be provided as supporting documents.

Preference will be given to application materials received by February 28, 2023.