Job Title: Chair, Department of Family Medicine

The Aga Khan University is a pioneering institution of higher education whose mission is to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond through world-class teaching, research, and healthcare delivery. AKU educates students for local and global leadership from campuses and teaching hospitals in six countries, primarily in Asia and Africa. It generates new knowledge to solve problems that affect millions of people, especially the most vulnerable. The University is a private, not-for-profit institution and part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.aku.edu).

Established in 2004, Aga Khan University Medical College Tanzania seeks to provide high-quality education for health professional leaders who will then go on to become reputable specialists, generating a positive and lasting impact in the lives of their patients and in the communities they serve. It provides individuals with the opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level of education and research. The four-year training program leads to the award of a Master of Medicine in various specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and child health, and general surgery. Candidates are selected for programs based on merit and their commitment to mastering the 21st-century skills necessary to excel in medicine. The teaching style is evidence-based and involves direct hands-on practice under the supervision of experienced faculty, utilizing state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities at The Aga Khan Hospital in Dares Salaam, a Joint Commission International Accredited (JCIA) hospital.

Aga Khan University, East Africa, invites applications for the position of Chair, Department of Family Medicine, Tanzania.

Reporting to the Dean of the Medical College in East Africa and the CEO, AKH-Dares Salaam, the department chair is primarily a faculty member in the department and is also the department’s chief academic, clinical, and administrative officer, responsible for both the faculty of the department and Aga Khan University. These dual roles require that the chair interpret university policies for the members of the department, ensure their effective execution, and at the same time represent individual and group concerns of department members to the Medical College administration and to the university. The chair is expected to provide visionary leadership for the department and to oversee the departmental strategic planning to improve the quality of the clinical, educational, and research programs. Such planning should be considered within the overall vision of the university, the medical college, and the Aga Khan Hospital, Dares Salaam. The chair will also be expected to be the liaison between the department, other AKU departments, and relevant external bodies and/or agencies.

Educational Qualifications and Experience:

• Appointable as an Assistant Professor or higher:
• A Master of Medicine (specialization in family medicine) is required. Sub-specialization will be an added advantage.
• Registered, or registrable, and allowed to practice by the Medical Council of Tanganyika (MCT);
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a successful administrative leader at an academic institution. Should have served as a division chief, vice chair, or chair who has developed academic leaders, mentored and developed junior faculty, and identified and recruited diverse students, trainees, staff, and faculty;
• Understanding of the complex financial pressures facing academic medical centers and health care delivery organizations and experience with strategies to control and reduce the cost of care (length of stay, appropriate use of facilities and resources):
• Capable of defining the research vision for the entire department and providing basic research and grant mentorship and experience leading a successful research program, either clinical, population-based basic science, or data science, with a proven track record of significant growth in funding, publications, and national or international reputation. Maintain an understanding and be prepared to take advantage of research funding and development trends as they evolve.
• Experience of expanding and fostering strong clinical programs and leading complex clinical programs focused on access, high quality, and outstanding patient satisfaction:
• Having a vision to recognize areas for growth and the ability to lead and support faculty as they develop new opportunities and create a strong and impassioned vision for building excellence in all aspects of the academic mission;
• High reputation for personal academic accomplishments with a record of scholarly academic accomplishments as reflected in the number and impact of publications, history of successful research funding, and service in national and international societies;
• With healthcare reimbursement moving from a volume-based system to a value-based system and an increasing focus on managing the health of populations, the successful candidate should understand and implement a strategy for these market expectations.

If you meet the criteria for this position, please email your application letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, and the contact information of three referees addressed to the Senior Manager, Executive Search, Human Resources at Aga Khan University at [email protected] with the title of the position specified in the subject line. The deadline for submitting applications is July 15, 2024.

Only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted.