Scott M. Smith Presidential Endowed Chair, Department of Anesthesiology

Position Overview

The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Utah invites applications and nominations for the Scott M. Smith Presidential Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology. The Scott M. Smith Presidential Endowed Chair was established in 2008 in honor of Scott M. Smith, M.D., a pioneer in Utah’s anesthesiology history.

Anesthesiologists, other physician scientists, and PhD-scientists with strong records of translational research related to anesthesiology including disciplines such as pain medicine, neuroscience, echocardiography, clinical pharmacology, perioperative analytics, bioengineering, and personalized medicine are encouraged to apply.

The candidate should have:

1. A track record of publication in preclinical and/or clinical research.
2. Evidence of successful federal grant funding as the principal investigator.
3. Proficiency in research mentorship and laboratory organization.

The candidate will be expected to foster research culture within the Department of Anesthesiology and to advance interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research collaborations across University research entities. Preference will be given to individuals with current NIH funding who complement one or more of the strategic research priorities of the Department. This position will report to the Department Chair and will contribute to the Department’s research council leadership.

In addition to base salary, clinical income pay, and grant support, the recipient will supervise an endowment of over $1,500,000. The Department will provide the successful candidate significant startup funding and a relocation budget to move the candidate and their research laboratory.

The Department offers extensive resources, including access to the NIH CTSA -funded Center for Clinical and Translational Science, the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group; a NASA -, NIH -, NSF -, FAER -, and APSF -funded Patient Simulation Center; an Anesthesiology Bioengineering Lab deeply integrated into the Department; an Anesthesia Clinical Research Area; and Pain Research and Management Centers.

Position Details

Academic Rank

Open Rank (Assistant / Associate / Professor) in the Department of Anesthesiology

Position Title(s)

Scott M. Smith Presidential Endowed Chair, University of Utah School of Medicine

Department

Department of Anesthesiology

Position Location  

Salt Lake City, Utah

Tenure Track

Tenure Track Available
Track Dependent on Qualifications

University of Utah Health System

University of Utah Health is an economic engine unlike any other in Utah. With more than 20,000 faculty and staff it is one of the state’s largest employers and contributes millions of dollars in net tax revenue to Utah every year. But University of Utah Health’s impact goes beyond the balance sheet. Its bottom line includes the health and well-being of Utah residents in every corner of the state and from all walks of life.

University of Utah Health is the only university health care system in the state of Utah and provides patient care for the people of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and much of Nevada. It is also the training ground for most of Utah’s physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and other health care professionals.

University of Utah School of Medicine

The University of Utah School of Medicine was founded in 1905 as a two-year medical school and transitioned to a four-year, medical-degree-granting institution in 1941. It serves as the only MD-granting institution in the state of Utah and as the only academic medical center in the Mountain West.

Department of Anesthesiology Overview

The Department makes important contributions to the high quality and safe care for which University of Utah Health is well known. Our clinical and research activities are especially remarkable for excellence in total intravenous anesthesia, ultrasound guided regional anesthesia, perioperative echocardiography, and pain management. Our residency and fellowship programs produce highly sought-after medical professionals who elevate the practice wherever they land.

Pain Research Center

The overall mission of the center is to investigate the perception, causes, and consequences of pain. We take a broad view of this mission. Pain is more than signals traveling this way and that through the body. The onslaught and persistence of pain depend on psychology, personal history and the medical, social and cultural environment. Though we share a common nervous system infrastructure, we experience pain as unique individuals.

At the Pain Research Center, we study underlying scientific mechanisms against the ever-present background of individual differences that modulate these mechanisms—the person and the pain. It’s not possible to understand one without the other.

Anesthesiology Bioengineering Lab

The Anesthesiology Bioengineering Laboratory was established in 1976 at the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah Health. To date, the cumulative research in this laboratory has resulted in the ME, MS, or PhD of over 95 graduate students in biomedical engineering and medical informatics at the University of Utah.

The laboratory is involved in the development and testing of medical devices for use during anesthesia and intensive care. It has facilities for simulation, animal testing and clinical studies. Through close interaction between bioengineers, anesthesiologists, and critical care physicians, numerous drug delivery systems and monitoring devices are being developed for patient care.

Utah Vascular Research Lab (UVRL)

The Division of Geriatric’s Utah Vascular Research Lab (UVRL) has a long-standing interest in oxygen transport from air to tissue. Our group’s current research interests revolve around the link between vascular and skeletal muscle function. Specifically, we are interested in the mechanisms that appear to limit skeletal muscle function as the result of healthy aging and age-related diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and hypertension.
One of the many potential candidates upon which we are currently focusing considerable attention is the role of oxidative stress in the regulation/dysregulation of skeletal muscle metabolism and vascular control.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Nestled between the Wasatch Mountains on the east and the Great Salt Lake on the west, at an elevation of 4,330 feet, lies Salt Lake City. Utah’s capital and population of around 200,000, The entire metropolitan area is about 1.2 million strong. Salt Lake combines the amenities of a large metro area with the opportunity to take advantage of year-round outdoor recreation within minutes in every direction. An attractive, safe, and growing city, Salt Lake offers unequaled views, a thriving economy, and the warm hospitality of a small western town.

Utah is home to the Greatest Snow on Earth^® with 10 ski resorts less than an hour away from Salt Lake City. The distance between the different ski resorts in Utah makes it easier for ski enthusiasts who would love to try different slopes. For many, it’s the unmatched access to world-class skiing in the winter. During the summer months, many resorts are open for hiking, mountain biking and family fun.

Park City is the largest resort in the US, it’s not just sheer vastness that makes Park City stand out. It’s the holy grail of excellent quality powder and consistent snowfall makes it quite a popular ski destination for families and large groups.

Just outside of downtown Park City at 7,300 ft. elevation, the Utah Olympic Park still buzzes with excitement and enthusiasm that one might have expected 20-years ago when the Park hosted five events during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Park City Mountain has developed a reputation for sophistication, excellent skiing, world-class terrain parks and accessibility.

The hiking in Zion National Park is world famous for its views of sweeping vistas, clear pools, natural arches and narrow canyons. Trails range from half-mile paves hikes to multi-day backpacking routes, so hikers of all abilities will have days worth of hiking to explore.

How To Apply

The University of Utah School of Medicine has retained the services of Academic Med to assist with this strategically important recruitment effort. Academic Med is the leading executive search and recruitment firm in the realm of “Academic Medicine”. The search will be led by Academic Med’s Co-Founders – Jim Hagood and Gentry Zacheis. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply via the “Submit Your CV” link on this page. For any additional questions, applications, or nominations please feel free to contact:

Jim Hagood – Managing Director of Academic Med  
Gentry Zacheis – President & CEO of Academic Med