Vice Chair of Research Affairs and Section Chief of Comparative Medicine Department of Pathology

Pay Range

Vice Chair of Research Affairs and Section Chief of Comparative Medicine

Department of Pathology

The Role

The Department of Pathology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) is seeking a dynamic, innovative and energetic leader to become the Vice Chair of Research Affairs and Section Chief of Comparative Medicine for the department. Candidates must have a record of excellence in translational research and experience with nonhuman primate models.  A successful Section Head of Comparative Medicine will develop strategies to continue advancing and growing Comparative Medicine’s research programs, further leverage collaborations with research faculty and leaders across WFUSM Departments and Centers, promote an atmosphere where team-science is valued and augmented by skills and resources across a large and diverse research enterprise, and support career development of faculty and fellows in the section. As Vice Chair, this individual must demonstrate the ability to effectively steward department and section resources, exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit, and partner with the Department Chair to elevate academics during a time of great change.

The Organization

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Advocate Health

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (AHWFB) is a leading $5.7 billion academic health system based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, serving as the academic core of Advocate Health. It encompasses an integrated clinical network anchored by the 885-bed Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Brenner Children’s Hospital, six community hospitals, over 300 care locations, and more than 2,700 physicians. The system also includes Wake Forest University School of Medicine, renowned for its experiential education and research, and Wake Forest Innovations, which advances medical technologies. Recent investments, such as the $426 million Julie Ann Freischlag Tower, have expanded critical care capacity and enhanced patient-centered facilities.

Advocate Health (AH), formed by the merger of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health, is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the U.S., headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. AH treats nearly 6 million patients in 70 hospitals, 1,000+ care sites, and 160,000 employees spanning 5 states. It excels in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, and pediatrics, leading clinical innovation and value-based care. Partnered with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, AH supports one of the largest graduate medical education program. The system provides over $6 billion in annual community benefits to fulfill its mission of caring for all.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) is nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum, clinical training, and research excellence, ranking among the top 50 U.S. medical schools and consistently securing substantial NIH funding. Guided by its vision of “One School, One Mission, Growing Community, Global Impact,” WFUSM operates two campuses in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, training nearly 2,500 students, residents, and fellows, and supporting over 3,400 faculty members. As the academic core of Advocate Health, WFUSM leads multi-state, multi-site research through unified infrastructure—including a single IRB and harmonized electronic health records—covering over 6 million patients. With $423 million in extramural funding in 2024, the school has developed nationally preeminent programs in aging, Alzheimer’s, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes/metabolism, neurosciences, and regenerative medicine, and established Translational Bridges to accelerate research and clinical integration. WFUSM is committed to producing diverse medical professionals who reflect the communities they serve, reducing physician shortages, and driving health technology and innovation through a regional corridor that brings new treatments to patients faster and supports economic growth

Department of Pathology

The Department of Pathology is committed to outstanding patient care, academic excellence and cutting-edge research. The Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Department of Pathology faculty and staff are dedicated to serving the region and community by providing superior diagnostic care, supporting and conducting advanced research, and educating professionals in pathology and its subspecialties. The Department of Pathology is home to anatomic and clinical pathologists, as well as the section of Comparative Medicine. The Department is currently comprised of approximately 50 faculty members and 650 staff members across the health system.

Section of Comparative Medicine

The Comparative Medicine section has a growing multidisciplinary team of thirteen PhD, DVM, and DVM/DACVP scientists who are uniquely skilled in translational research using nonhuman primates. Areas of research strength include aging, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, behavioral neurobiology, radiation effects, cancer, and pediatric/developmental programming. Comparative Medicine faculty serve as the center for nonhuman primate model expertise and provide research services to other investigators. The Section is also home to two NIH-funded national resource nonhuman primate (NHP) colonies (the Vervet Research Colony consisting of over 300 genotyped and pedigreed vervet monkeys, and the NIAID Radiation Late Effects Cohort, consisting of over 150 rhesus monkeys previously exposed to radiation) with a total population of approximately 500 NHPs. Additional onsite resources available to faculty include: 1) imaging capabilities for large animals (CT/DEXA/ PET/CT),  and 2) MRIa linear accelerator onsite; 3) a ~2600 sq ft ABSL-3 facility; 4) Comparative Medicine Veterinary Pathology Core;  and 5) the Preclinical Translational Research Services Core. These primate resources provide abundant research opportunities and serve as magnets for collaborative work.

Comparative Medicine faculty and resources are mainly located on the 200-acre Thomas B Clarkson Campus where School of Medicine researchers have conducted research for nearly 60 years using a variety of animal models, with the majority of research in nonhuman primates. The Campus also has a large community outreach program that has brought more than 4,000 visitors (mostly students) to our facility to learn more about biomedical research careers and the importance of research in improving human health. The Department also administers several shared research facilities, which are available to investigators throughout the institution. These facilities include Cellular Imaging, Digital Pathology Core, and Comparative Pathology Laboratory.

Research

The Department of Pathology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine leads robust research programs spanning comparative medicine, particularly non-human primate studies in aging, dementia, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, metabolism, and oncology,  as well as clinical pathology with a focus on oncology, digital pathology, artificial intelligence, and biomarker discovery. The department aligns its research priorities with the institutional research plan, fostering multidisciplinary collaborations and supporting translational research that bridges basic science and clinical applications.

Research activity is supported by substantial external funding, averaging $10–13 million annually over the past eight years, with approximately $10 million from NIH and $2 million from other federal, state, or private sources. The department has recently recruited new investigators and is expanding its expertise, highlighted by major NIH awards (P40 Vervet Colony, U01 Radiation Survivor Cohort) and training grants (T32, T35). The newly established Primate Research Center, directed by Dr. Mark Cline, integrates basic and clinical research, enhancing institutional synergies and positioning WFUSM as a leader in translational research using non-human primate models. Faculty actively collaborate with other centers including the Center of AI Research, Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Levine Cancer Institute, the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, and the Institute of Regenerative Medicine, producing around 90 publications last year and driving innovation across disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

• Research Strategy and Vision: Drive the department’s (and in parallel the section’s) research mission, setting strategic priorities and promoting innovative basic, translational, and clinical research.
• Development of Programmatic Research: Initiate and enhance pioneering programmatic translational research.
• Research Administration: Oversee research operations, budget, infrastructure, and compliance with funding agency requirements and institutional policies.
• Grant Facilitation: Support faculty in securing research funding, foster collaborative grant applications, and monitor progress toward funding goals.
• Mentorship and Faculty Development: Partner with the Vice Chair for Faculty Development and other members of the department’s executive team to provide guidance for junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and trainees in building successful research programs and career advancement.
• Interdepartmental Collaboration: Promote partnerships between the department and other departments and institutes to promote interdisciplinary research.
• Quality Assurance: Lead initiatives to ensure the integrity, quality, reproducibility, and impact of departmental research outputs.
• Policy and Compliance: Ensure adherence to institutional animal care and use policies, IACUC guidelines, and external regulatory requirements.
• Performance Evaluation: Establish metrics for research productivity and assess departmental progress in achieving research objectives.
• Communication and Representation: Represent the department’s research enterprise at institutional meetings, external collaborations, and scientific conferences.
• Staff Management: Recruit, train, and evaluate relevant staff; foster professional development and continuing education.

This position will have .3 FTE effort allocated to the Vice Chair and Section Head role.

Candidate Profile

Skills and Competencies Required

• Terminal degree (i.e., DVM, PhD, DO, PharmD, MD)
• Experience in nonhuman primate models
• Academic stature as an established principal investigator
• Current rank of Associate Professor or higher
• Record of extramural grant funding and scholarly productivity
• An outstanding track record of academic accomplishment in administrative, scholarly, and educational endeavors
• The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for the section
• Ability to build purposeful research programs to recruit and develop research faculty
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry
• Established excellence in mentoring and experience teaching and mentoring graduate students/postdoctoral fellows
• Transparent and a collaborative management style
• Business skills including budgeting and resource management
• Track record of careful stewardship of institutional resources, decisiveness and ability to make difficult decisions
• The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, and manage performance
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an academic and clinical culture that advances health equity and a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for all.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae and a 2–3 page research statement to Dr. Diana Cardona (Diana.Cardona@advocatehealth.org), Chair, Wake forest Department of Pathology and Chief Clinical Officer, Advocate Health and cc TK (thavone.khounthikoumane@advocatehealth.org)

***Application materials are due by Monday, March 16th, 2026 and priority review & consideration will be to those that apply before March 16th.

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program