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Advertising Summary: The VCU School of Dentistry seeks qualified candidates as an Oral Diagnostic Sciences Department Chair to lead faculty, advance education, research, and patient care, and shape future dental leaders at Virginia’s only dental school. 

Unit: School of Dentistry

Department: Oral Diagnostic Sciences

Duties & Responsibilities:

Chief Purpose of this Position: The Chair of the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences (ODS) serves as a strategic and unifying leader within the School of Dentistry, advancing the school’s mission through excellence in education, research, and patient-centered diagnostic care. The role provides leadership across the integration of oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral medicine, and orofacial pain, fostering a cohesive and high-performing academic environment that aligns diagnostic innovation with education and clinical service. The Chair guides the development of clinically relevant programs that support diagnostic reasoning and professional competency across predoctoral, postdoctoral, and graduate education. By leveraging the department’s clinical and laboratory-based services and expanding collaborative research with the Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, the Chair advances scholarly activity, supports faculty development, and strengthens the department’s role as a leader in oral diagnostic sciences. Through collaborative leadership and a commitment to a supportive academic environment, the Chair enhances the department’s impact across the School, University, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Position Responsibilities:

Administrative:

Provide strategic leadership to advance excellence in education, research, and patient care in alignment with the VCU School of Dentistry mission. Oversee faculty and staff recruitment, development, mentorship, and evaluation, including promotion and tenure processes. Foster a supportive, inclusive, and high-functioning departmental culture. Guide departmental planning and resource allocation. Implement innovative initiatives that enhance clinical services and research productivity while ensuring efficient coordination of departmental operations. Serve as a primary liaison for departmental priorities within the School and University, representing the department’s unique expertise across disciplines.

Teaching:

Provide leadership and oversight of the department’s educational mission across predoctoral, postdoctoral, and graduate programs, with emphasis on diagnostic reasoning and patient-centered care. Oversee curriculum development and continuous improvement across oral diagnostic disciplines. Develop and lead interprofessional teaching sessions or courses that integrate ODS expertise with other health professions to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Ensure Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) compliance and promote educational innovation through new teaching strategies and learning models. Engage in national educational leadership through active participation in organizations such as American Dental Education Association (ADEA) to elevate the department's profile and influence within the profession. Mentor learners while fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and educational excellence across interconnected training programs.

Research:

Provide leadership in advancing a culture of inquiry, scholarship, and innovation. Maintain a focused program of scholarship contributing to advancements in oral diagnostic sciences and translational research. Engage with the Philips Institute for Oral Health Research in interdisciplinary research collaborations, including pathology, spatial multiomics, and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) related investigations. Mentor faculty and learners in scholarly activity, fostering dissemination of knowledge and achievement of individual research goals. Support master’s thesis and doctoral research across departments, providing clinical insight to elevate learner scholarship and increase departmental visibility through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Service:

Provide service to the Department, School, University, and broader profession through participation in leadership roles. Strengthen partnerships within dentistry and across health professions to advance interdisciplinary care. Represent the four specialties of oral diagnostic sciences, highlighting the department’s unique expertise within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Foster active participation in VCU Health System initiatives and community programs, partnering with organizations such as the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Dental Association, and the American Cancer Society to improve public health outcomes and access to care.

Clinical:

Provide clinical leadership across ODS practices, which include direct patient care, diagnostic consultation, and laboratory-based services. Oversee the predoctoral Radiology Clinic, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) interpretation services, and the Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine clinic. Support faculty practice operations within the Oral Diagnostic Services laboratory, maintaining working knowledge of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. Leverage technology and clinical infrastructure to improve efficiency, support effective medical insurance utilization and billing processes, and respond to the broader Virginia oral health landscape, including services with limited statewide availability. Ensure delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care while collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to manage complex cases.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• DDS or DMD degree, or international equivalent degree

• Eligibility for an unrestricted Virginia dental license 

• Completion of a CODA-accredited advanced education program in oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, orofacial pain, or oral medicine 

• Current board certification in at least one of the above specialties 

• A record of scholarly achievement and teaching excellence commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, preferably with tenure 

• Experience in administrative leadership and fiscal management in an academic setting  

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

• For tenure eligible positions at the Assistant Professor rank, an established research agenda and a clear potential for external funding, as well as potential for scholarship or creative expression to complement and expand existing expertise in the department

• For tenure eligible positions at the Associate Professor or Professor level, a well-developed scholarly/research portfolio with evidence of multi-disciplinary applications and external funding appropriate to complement and expand existing expertise in the department

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced expertise in oral and maxillofacial pathology, reflecting the department’s historical foundation, biopsy service mission, and collaborative research engagement with the Philips Institute 

• Proven success in mentoring and advocating for faculty through the successful navigation of professional advancement, promotion, and tenure processes

• Experience leading or supporting interdisciplinary clinical, diagnostic, and research programs, including the implementation of innovative diagnostic technologies

• Experience with leadership or active engagement in national professional organizations that demonstrates a commitment to advancing the oral diagnostic sciences at a national level

Salary Range: Commensurate

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Rank: Open

Tenure: Open

Months: 12 Months

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Luciano Andrada
Contact Email: andradal@vcu.edu