An Invitation to Apply: VFW Endowed Chair Pharmacotherapy for the Elderly Professor, Tenured/Tenurable College of Pharmacy University of Minnesota

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1 An Invitation to Apply: VFW Endowed Chair Pharmacotherapy for the Elderly Professor, Tenured/Tenurable College of Pharmacy University of Minnesota THE SEARCH The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy seeks an outstanding scientist, educator, and leader to serve as VFW Endowed Chair Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly. The position includes a twelve-month, full-time, tenured/tenurable appointment at the rank of professor. The Chair is expected to establish and direct a major program addressing the drug treatment of condition(s) prevalent among elders. The position is supported by a substantial start-up package. The University of Minnesota Academic Health Center (AHC) ( with over 1,400 faculty in basic and applied biomedical disciplines, provides a rich environment for research, teaching, and collaboration. The AHC units support interdisciplinary programs, an endowed chair in geriatric nursing in the School of Nursing and an endowed chair in aging and long term care in the School of Public Health. Also critical to the successful mission of the VFW Endowed Chair are the university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center which contains the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), the Institute for Translational Neuroscience ( the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research and the Office of Clinical Research. The VFW Endowed Chair- Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly will provide a focal point for the College of Pharmacy s participation in interdisciplinary research and education in this vital area. The VFW Endowed Chair Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly will be housed in the College of Pharmacy ( Twin Cities campus. Geriatric research 1

2 programs, professional and graduate coursework, and gerontology-focused clinical practice are ongoing at the College in the College s Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and in collaboration with the School of Medicine and other units of the University, the Veterans Administration and other organizations. Candidates must be eligible for rank of professor, based upon qualifications and the vote of the department s tenured faculty. The University of Minnesota offers an exceptional benefit package including excellent medical, dental, disability insurance and faculty retirement programs. A competitive salary and starting package is offered commensurate with the candidate's experience and skills. The initial review of applications will begin upon receipt, and applications or nominations will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. QUALIFICATIONS Requirements for this position include: An earned doctorate (MD, PharmD, PhD or the equivalent) in an area related to the study of experimental and clinical pharmacology and/or pharmacotherapy A minimum of 7 years research experience in the area of pharmacotherapy for diseases in elderly patients A strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals A record of successfully securing competitive external funding Demonstrated leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration skills Eligible for appointment at the rank of professor with tenure at the time of employment Commitment to a diverse environment Preferred qualifications for this position include: Academic and professional leadership experience (formal or informal) An established focus in the pharmacotherapy of neuro-behavioral condition(s) (e.g., depression, stroke, Parkinson s Disease, Alzheimer s Disease) prevalent among elders A pharmacology or drug research background Experience directing post-doctoral fellows, residents, or graduate students RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION The VFW Endowed Chair- Pharmacotherapy for the Elderly will conduct and promote research within the College of Pharmacy and the Academic Health Center. This will entail effective and efficient performance of many functions including: Serving as an innovative visionary in drug research for the Elderly Establishing and directing a major program of research addressing the pharmacotherapy of neuro-behavioral condition(s) prevalent among elders Securing federal and regional extramural financial sponsorship to support research for the Elderly 2

3 Providing strategic and tactical direction in the conduct of research Communicating and disseminating research findings Providing leadership in the AHC, the College and the Department Participating in training fellows and future clinical scientists Participating in the training of students, fellows and residents, and mentoring junior faculty Administering the chair in a fiscally and ethically responsible manner Providing a focal point for the College of Pharmacy s participation in interdisciplinary research and education CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The ideal candidate for this position will personify the mission and vision set forth by the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. While it is realized that no candidate will exhibit all desired qualities, the ideal candidate will possess the following, in addition to meeting the qualifications and responsibilities stated above: Strong interpersonal communication skills Experience in securing grants and managing a research enterprise Demonstrated skills in producing high-leverage, enduring partnerships and alliances Integrity, patience and flexibility Ability to work productively with Department, College and Academic Health Center constituents Demonstrated highest standard of ethics in research serving as a model of the same to students and colleagues Ability to interact with students, colleagues and associated staff in a manner that will earn their respect Skills to successfully mentor junior faculty in the development of their independent research programs Ability to develop and command mutual respect with decision-makers, funding organizations, and other stakeholders, preferring a collaborative, partnering, teamoriented, inclusive approach Ability to embody creativity, charisma, practicality, resilience, strategy and energy Demonstrated ability to be entrepreneurial, proactive, action and results-oriented Sensitivity and perceptiveness necessary to function successfully in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment TO APPLY: The initial review of applications will begin upon receipt, and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Please send a CV with cover letter and the names and contact information for five references, preferably by , in strict confidence to: Sharon M. Flynn Hollander or Dr. Clifford R. Hollander 3

4 The Hollander Group The College of Pharmacy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY The College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota (U of M) is recognized as one of the world s outstanding pharmacy education and research institutions. The College is ranked as Number 3 in US News and World Report s Best Graduate Schools, and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education. Graduates of the College's four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program enter the profession as wellqualified, highly sought-after pharmacists. The College graduates approximately 160 PharmD students per year. The College's programs are supported by centers of excellence in pharmaceutics, pharmacy management and economics, rural pharmacy, and pharmaceutical care. The teaching, research and service activities of the 97 full-time faculty members are focused in four disciplines: medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical care and health systems, and experimental and clinical pharmacology. These efforts are supported by scores of adjunct, clinical and volunteer faculty and preceptors. The U of M s College of Pharmacy is the only college of pharmacy in Minnesota. The College is primarily housed in the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center in Minneapolis, a complex designed specifically for health education, research, and practice. Pharmacy students have access to modern classrooms and laboratories. With a campus in Duluth, as well as in the Twin Cities, the College can better serve the needs of Minnesotans, especially those in rural areas. The shortage of pharmacy practitioners in Minnesota was a driving force for extending the program to the Duluth campus in The College of Pharmacy has expanded its experiential offerings throughout Minnesota and as a result, more students have the opportunity to experience pharmacy practice in non-urban areas. STUDENT PROFILE The College of Pharmacy is comprised of a vibrant student body. The Fall 2008 student profile information indicates the following: PharmD Medicinal Chemistry Graduate Program Graduate Program Social, Administrative & Clinical Pharmacy Graduate Program Experimental and Social and Clinical Administrative Pharmacology Pharmacy Pharmaceutics Graduate Program Total Enrolled

5 In addition to the PharmD and graduate programs, in the departments of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Social and Administrative Pharmacy train residents and fellows. These trainees are not included in the above student profile statistics. FACULTY PROFILE The College of Pharmacy faculty profile information by rank for Fall 2008 indicates the following: Rank Non-Tenure Track Voting Faculty Number Total Tenured Tenure- Track Full Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor Instructor 1 1 Total Other Full and Part-time Paid 16 Faculty (all ranks) Preceptors/Clinical faculty 350 In addition to the above paid faculty the College has 350 preceptor and clinical faculty throughout the United States, most located in Minnesota. MISSION OF THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY The College of Pharmacy educates pharmacists and scientists and engages in research and practice to improve the health of the people of Minnesota and society. Through a common patient-care process, the program teaches students how to meet the drug-related needs of society at a patient-specific level. Emphasis is placed on preparing a generalist PharmD practitioner with the knowledge, skills and values required to provide patient care. The program provides knowledge of the chemical, biological, physical, social and clinical sciences that underlie pharmacy. Students in the program develop skills in problem-solving, communication and analytical thinking, as well as the ability to adapt to change and challenges in health care. Professional ethics, social responsibility, professional citizenship, and commitment to life-long learning are values emphasized by the program. Graduates are prepared to enter pharmacy practice, advanced professional training programs, graduate education or the industry setting. VISION OF THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY The College of Pharmacy excels in innovation and leadership in all aspects of its mission while serving the health care needs of Minnesota. Doctor of Pharmacy graduates deliver essential pharmaceutical services and lead the profession. Research, scholarship and 5

6 practice at the College result in the development of new drugs and drug delivery systems, the optimization of drug use and the advancement of pharmaceutical care and education. Masters and Doctors of Philosophy graduates are outstanding researchers in academia, industry, government and practice settings. DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy has several departments and divisions. Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology ( Department of Medicinal Chemistry ( ) Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems ( Department of Pharmaceutics ( Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Duluth) ( Division of Clinical Affairs Division of Professional and External Relations ( Division of Professional Education ( Division of Research and Graduate Programs ( ACCREDITATION The College is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education. The next accreditation visit is scheduled for Fall The College is actively engaged in self-study development. ENDOWED CHAIRS AND PROFESSORSHIPS The units within the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center (AHC) currently have a number of holders of endowed chairs and endowed professorships in related areas, including: Professor Jean Wyman holds the Cora Meidl Siehl Endowed Chair in Nursing Research ( Professor Robert Kane holds the Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging ( Professor Joseph E. Gaugler is a McKnight Presidential Fellowship within the School of Nursing 6

7 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Pharmacy Professional Program (PharmD) The Pharmacy Professional Program prepares students to identify, resolve and prevent drug-related problems. Students learn to provide patient care to achieve positive drug therapy outcomes that improve the quality of a patient's life. In 2008, 167 of 1,124 applicants were admitted to the PharmD program. Before enrolling in the College, students complete pre-pharmacy coursework at an accredited college. Approximately 80% of students enter the college with a previously acquired BS degree. The Experiential Education Program is the practice component of the Pharmacy Professional Program curriculum. Its goal is to enhance the students' attitude, skills and knowledge to better prepare them to provide pharmaceutical care. The College recently developed a PharmD/MBA dual degree program for those students with an interest in business or industry careers. ( Graduate Programs (MS and PhD) College of Pharmacy graduate programs for the MS and PhD degrees are offered through the Graduate School in the following areas: Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology ( Medicinal Chemistry ( Pharmaceutics (PhD only) ( Social and Administrative Pharmacy ( The Graduate Program in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology was approved in September of 2000 and enrolled its first students in the fall of Since then the program has enrolled 33 students averaging approximately 4 new students each year. Two students have graduated with masters degrees, eleven students have received PhDs degrees. At present there are 19 students in the program. The graduate faculty has grown from 15 faculty to 34 representing the depth and breadth of research interests and excellent opportunities for graduate students. Areas of research interest are oncology, infectious disease, epilepsy, critical care, drug disposition and metabolism, pharmacometrics, cardiology, pharmacogenomics and orphan drug development. Graduate Program in Gerontology 1 There is an interdisciplinary graduate minor program in gerontology available to master s and doctoral students in other programs. Several faculty members in the College of Pharmacy are also members of the faculty for the gerontology minor. Also offered is the Certificate of Study in Gerontology and specialized course work leading to original licensure as a nursing home administrator in Minnesota. ( 1 The Graduate Program in Gerontology is not housed on the U of M s Mankato campus and is not specifically associated with the College of Pharmacy. 7

8 ( RESEARCH The College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota is a research-intensive institution. In FY2008, research expenditures by source for the College were: Federal: $6.48 million State: $2.86 million Other: $3.14 million Many of the faculty are world-renowned experts in their respective fields of research. College of Pharmacy research has resulted in groundbreaking medications and treatments for diseases such as HIV-AIDS, epilepsy and cancer. Research in the College of Pharmacy covers a wide area of topics, including drug discovery/delivery, mechanisms of drug action as well as clinical and translational studies. In addition, health economics, social and administrative pharmacy are fields of active research in the College. The newly established Brain Barriers Research Center (BBRC) reflects a growing interest in the neurosciences across all College of Pharmacy departments. ( BBRC activities and memberships already range across 2 campuses and 2 schools within the Academic Health Center. This is a typical example of the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of research in the Colleges. CENTERS, INSTITUTES AND PROGRAMS The AHC and College of Pharmacy have a number of Centers and Institutes that are critical to the successful mission of the VFW Endowed Chair. These include the university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center which contains a Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) ( the Institute for Translational Neuroscience ( the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research ( and the Office of Clinical Research ( Other College of Pharmacy Centers and Institutes include: Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development (ITDD) ( Epilepsy Research and Education Program ( Center for Orphan Drug Research ( Center for Forecasting Drug Response ( Antibiotic Pharmacodynamic Research Institute ( p_description.htm) 8

9 Center for the Integration of Drugs and Devices ( Center for Leading Health Care Change ( Peters Institute of Pharmaceutical Care ( Pharmacy Rural Education, Practice, and Policy Institute PRIME Institute ( Centers, institutes and programs of the Academic Health Center (AHC) with strong College of Pharmacy leadership and involvement include: Center for Drug Design (CDD) ( Center for Interprofessional Education (CIPE) ( Center for Excellence in Critical Care (CECC) ( Masonic Cancer Center ( ( Health Survey Research Center ( Biomedical Genomics Center ( ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER (AHC) The goals of the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center (AHC) are to sustain the vitality and excellence of Minnesota s health research, prepare new health professionals who are evidence-based and patient-centered, and build a culture of service and foster accountability to Minnesota. ( The Academic Health Center includes the schools of Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, and Dentistry; the College of Pharmacy; and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Centers and programs in the AHC offer broad opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching and research in bioethics, cancer, genomics, infectious disease, drug design, food safety, spirituality and healing, and more. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota comprises five campuses: the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Crookston and Rochester. With an additional eight regional extension 9

10 offices, and research and outreach centers throughout the state, the U of M is one of the most comprehensive land-grant universities in the nation. The Minneapolis-St. Paul campus is in the heart of the metropolitan area, providing an excellent setting for lifelong learning. The largest of the four U of M campuses, it is home to 20 colleges offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Adjacent neighborhoods cater to student interests, and downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul are only minutes away. The University President, Dr. Robert Bruininks, has set the University on the path toward becoming one of the top three public research universities in the world through a strategic planning process entitled: Transforming the U. ( This goal will be accomplish by cultivating outstanding students, exceptional faculty and staff, an efficient institutional organization and a dedication to innovation. VITAL, PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES The University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus is located in the heart of the vital and progressive cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul a beautiful urban area of more than 2.1 million people. Minnesota is well known for its commitment to the education, welfare and rights of its citizens and protection of the environment. The Land of 10,000 Lakes offers natural beauty and a full menu of sports and recreation, available in both urban areas and the state s wild lakes and forests. The area provides year-round opportunities for recreation and possesses one of the most active and progressive arts communities in the country. Child Magazine ranks the Twin Cities third on its list of the top 10 best cities in which to raise children, and Places Rated Almanac ranks it eighth out of 354 metropolitan areas in the United States and Canada for its variety and participation in the arts. For a record seven years in a row, Minnesota has been ranked the nation s Most Livable State. Located in northern Minnesota at the southwestern tip of Lake Superior, Duluth has a population of 86,000 and offers students immediate access to health care delivery in a non-metropolitan area. The city is home to two large regional medical centers and associated clinic systems, which provide students with opportunities for interprofessional experience. Duluth's natural resources and its setting on Lake Superior, along with the city's cultural and entertainment opportunities, are among the most noted features of the city. Duluth is the gateway to the North Shore of Lake Superior and is the largest city near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It is rated in the top ten of "America's Greatest Outside Towns" by Outside Magazine. Duluth is also home to the world-class Grandma s Marathon and the Bayfront Blues Festival. 10

11 Minnesota s health care industry is one of the most advanced and innovative in the nation. Its famed LifeScience Alley ( is home to health care giants from Medtronic to the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic. Minnesota was ranked the healthiest state for nine of the 15 years from 1990 to 2004, according to the United Health Foundation. 11