Chair - Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Temple University

Company/Organization: Temple University - College of Public Health
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Contact: Nicole Ruffin
Email: nicole.ruffin@temple.edu 

Item/Job/Service Description

In the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University College of Public Health, we dedicate ourselves to health in all its parameters. Through interprofessional education, practice, and research, our students, staff, and faculty embrace public health as a catalyst for individual and community change in pursuit of the common good. We offer a range of dual degree programs and have many research initiatives with faculty across the university, including medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, computer science, psychology, and more. Our faculty are tackling today’s most challenging issues, including cancer prevention and treatment, disparities in access to healthcare, community inclusion for individuals with severe mental illness, autism, interpersonal violence, and trauma informed care. We value differences among our faculty and believe that we can better serve and understand our Philadelphia community and the other communities we serve through the diversity of our individual faculty and our disciplines. In 2025, the College of Public Health will move into our newly-constructed building in the heart of the Temple University campus, which will include a state-of-the-art simulation center and offer opportunities to foster further interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in our teaching, research, and service. Join us in our mission to develop progressive, compassionate researchers, educators, practitioners, and clinicians who will work across disciplines to make us the healthiest nation.

Position. The new Chair of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences will be a senior rank faculty member in either the non-tenure instructor track or the tenure track who will lead a unique unit that is home to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs, including athletic training (AT), exercise science, health professions/health studies, kinesiology, neuromotor science, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and recreational therapy (RT). The breadth of faculty expertise presents an exciting opportunity to transform and model approaches to rehabilitation sciences with a focus on community engagement.

The Chair will work closely with the faculty to advance educational training, research and scholarship and opportunities for expanding clinical research. The Chair will serve as a mentor for faculty and staff, providing individual guidance and development. The Chair will be an advocate for the department within the broader college context and facilitate collaborations with other units in the college. The Chair will also work to expand upon existing partnerships with Temple University Health System and Fox Chase Cancer Center, as well as our many local community organizations and employers. 

Qualifications. The College seeks a nationally-recognized leader with a distinguished record of achievement in education and scholarship, as well as experience managing a complex organization. The successful candidate will have a broad understanding of the rehabilitation sciences and professions from clinical practice to community-based programs, with a focus on health disparities and social determinants of health. The Chair must demonstrate high emotional intelligence, transparency, clear and consistent communication, a deep sense of professionalism, commitment to diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and strong support for integrative health and interdisciplinary collaboration. This individual must have strong leadership skills, managerial acumen, and the ability to develop faculty and staff. The ideal candidate will have previous administrative experience in educational programming, research and scholarship, professional development of junior colleagues, and an understanding of clinical practice.

Roles and Responsibilities. The Chair will lead the faculty and staff, as well as be a strong advocate for student success. The following is an overview of roles and responsibilities expected of the chair:

Within the Department

• Supervise departmental staff, including annual assignment of goals and tasks, performance review and salary recommendations.
• Supervise the executive council, composed of the Associate Director of Administration and all program directors
• Engage with students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels, including in-person attendance at research days, recruiting days, convocation, graduation, and other special events
• Convene faculty and staff on a regular basis, including monthly department meetings, program director meetings, and department retreats, as well as engage in regular communication with the department regarding upcoming events, policy changes, etc. and maintain a strong in-person presence
• Ensure compliance with departmental academic policies and procedures
• Facilitate a departmental culture of inclusion and belonging through fostering in-person engagement among staff, faculty, and students
• Provide mentorship and professional development for all faculty
• Provide leadership, mentorship and guidance for all program directors and staff
• Collaborate with the respective program directors on oversight of academic programs, including hiring and assignment of adjunct faculty, full-time faculty course assignments, evaluation of graduation and retention rates, and accreditation (where applicable)
• Collaborate with respective program directors to review student feedback forms after each semester as well as manage any student complaints or concerns
• Conduct annual review of departmental faculty, including review of faculty annual reports and performance to offer guidance for professional development and recognition
• Coordinate with the Associate Director of Administration on marketing the department and its programs, in concert with the college and university
• Develop and oversee departmental budgets, including resource allocation, authorization of departmental purchases, faculty workload and travel, and monitoring of expenditures
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for the department that integrates across faculty and programs to advance the mission and goals of the department

At the College and University Levels

• Adhere to the provisions of collective bargaining contracts for personnel
• Monitor departmental compliance with university and college policies and procedures
• Evaluate full-time departmental faculty and work with the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs on issues of merit, tenure, promotion, and renewal of appointments
• Advocate for the department at monthly chair meetings with the Dean’s leadership team
• Advocate for individual faculty and staff for recognition within the university, the regional and professional associations
• Participate in regular Collegial Assembly meetings and encourage faculty engagement
• Participate in leadership meetings as requested by the dean or provost
• Develop new partnerships with outside agencies and key constituents to promote the department, the faculty, research, clinical practice, and academic programs

The Department. The Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences has undergraduate and graduate degree programs (along with the associated accrediting body, where applicable) including:

• Athletic Training - MS and DAT - Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training
• Exercise and Sport Science - BS
• Health Professions and Health Studies – BS and BA 
• Kinesiology - BS 
• Neuromotor Science – MS and PhD
• Occupational Therapy – OTD and ppOTD - Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education
• Physical Therapy – DPT - Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
• Recreational Therapy – BS and MS – Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education

The department is also home to a very large anatomy and physiology program and a full complement of physical activity courses, both of which are major service courses for students across the university. It is home to 65 full-time and numerous adjunct faculty with expertise in trauma-informed care, concussions, sexual misconduct, physical activity, chronic pain, and more. The department is home to 7 staff who manage the academic, financial, and human resource needs of the unit. The Department also has a strong executive council composed of the Associate Director and the academic program directors who support the chair with the management of each of the various disciplines’ course scheduling, faculty workload, annual reviews, mentorship, and budget management.

The Department prepares students for a variety of roles in rehabilitation facilities, clinics, academic medical centers, community hospitals, community health settings, and long-term care. The faculty are committed to engaging students in evidence-based practice and research, providing bountiful opportunities in field settings, and supporting the needs of Philadelphia communities.

The College. Devoted to an interprofessional environment for education, research, and practice, the CEPH-accredited College of Public Health consists of academic units in the public health disciplines, health professions, and the School of Social Work. The College’s research aims to understand the fundamental factors that affect the health and well-being of individuals and populations by examining health problems through foundational research, policy and practice, and the development and dissemination of evidence-based interventions. We focus on social determinants of health and social justice with strengths in cancer, obesity, trauma-informed care, HIV, substance abuse, mental illness, mobility research, cognition and language, developmental disabilities, organ transplantation and aging. CPH research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Gates Foundation, and other major private foundations, state and federal agencies. The College is home to the Collaborative on Community Inclusion and the Center for Obesity Research and Education. The Office of Clinical Affairs and Interprofessional Education leads our clinical activities, including the development of forward-looking IPE within the College and throughout the university. The college is staffed by a complement of seasoned professionals including offices of Admissions and Recruitment, Communications and Marketing, Information Technology, Sponsored Research, Academic and Clinical Affairs. Available to all the College’s faculty are biostatisticians and methodologists located within the College’s public health departments and within its Biostatistics Center. Also available is a large and robust Office of Research Administration.

The University. Temple is an urban, research-intensive Carnegie R1 university located in historic and culturally rich Philadelphia, the nation’s 6th largest city. The city was ranked 3rd by the New York Times as a world tourist destination. The National Science Foundation ranks Temple among the top 100 universities in the country for research expenditures. Temple is the 6th largest provider of professional education in the nation and includes Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Law, and Dentistry and research centers. 

For more information or to make nominations, please contact Nicole Ruffin, Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs, at nicole.ruffin@temple.edu. To apply, submit a detailed CV, a cover letter discussing your qualifications and experiences with diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership experience, a research statement, and a list of 5 references to nicole.ruffin@temple.edu. Application review begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Temple University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. People of color, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.