The Department of Psychiatry in the College of Medicine (COM) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is seeking a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist (open rank with option for tenure track) to build and lead a program in clinical care, research, and scholarship in the areas of early childhood mental illness and associated risk factors, including adverse childhood events, specific trauma, poverty, neighborhood and home violence, neglect, and direct and indirect consequences of substance use. The successful applicant will hold the Urban Child Institute Chair of Excellence in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and will serve as Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UTHSC. The position offers start-up funds and protected time for administration, teaching, and research. The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is affiliated with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Shelby County School system. The Division supports education and training for medical students, residents and fellows and provides consultation liaison and outpatient psychiatric care at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Why Here, Why Now

There is a great need for additional research in adverse childhood experiences and trauma in the city of Memphis and Shelby County. While the city and county are undergoing considerable growth and economic and cultural development, the area also has poverty rates among the highest in the nation. In Memphis, nearly one third of children live in poverty, with poverty rates greatest in Black and Latino populations. Along with poverty, a large population of children live in families with significant health disparities and numerous incidents of life trauma exacerbate negative childhood experiences.

In the Memphis and surrounding Mid-South region, more than 70% of adults are overweight or obese and 15% have diabetes—directly impacting children’s economic and social health. Youth crime is rising with more and more children being involved directly or through family association. Altogether, the social, physical, and mental health of these children is continually compromised.

Examining the neurobiological and neurodevelopmental impact of trauma in children in Memphis must start now. Understanding trauma consequences is essential to improving prevention and treatment in these children. The Department of Psychiatry, through the Center for Youth Advocacy and Well-Being that was founded and is led by Dr. Altha Stewart, and the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, have an exceptional infrastructure to support a research and treatment program.

Faculty Opportunity

At the Assistant Professor level, faculty will be required to have an established research agenda and a clear potential for external funding, and a potential for scholarship or creative expression to complement and expand existing expertise in the division.

At the Associate or Full Professor level, faculty will be required to have a well-developed scholarly/research portfolio with evidence of multi-disciplinary applications and external funding appropriate to complement and expand existing expertise in the division.

Patient care roles may be in the outpatient, inpatient care, or telepsychiatry settings at UCH or affiliated partners. Faculty may work solo or may supervise trainees, including residents, medical students, and fellows.

All candidates should have demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member in the College of Medicine at UTHSC.

Department of Psychiatry

The Department of Psychiatry at UTHSC is a vibrant and growing department. The Department hosts a Psychiatry Residency, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, and a Post-Pediatric Portal Fellowship. Faculty and programs in the Department of Psychiatry support a broad range of care and services across Memphis and Shelby County through the Center for Youth Advocacy and Well-Being, the Shelby County Schools system, and the UTHSC Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The Department of Psychiatry at UTHSC has had a longstanding partnership with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Psychiatry patient care at Le Bonheur includes young children who are economically disadvantaged and who often have experienced poor nutrition, multiple adverse childhood events, high stress, and overt trauma. Le Bonheur has an outstanding national reputation and has been recognized as a U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospital" for eleven consecutive years. Le Bonheur is currently undergoing a $95.4-million, 128,575 square foot expansion. UTHSC and Le Bonheur have extensive infrastructure to support research in biological and social factors in child psychiatry.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is the flagship statewide, public, academic health institution in Tennessee. Founded in 1911, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science is to improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans and the global community by fostering integrated, collaborative, and inclusive education, research, scientific discovery, clinical care, and public service. Employing more than 4,600 people on its faculty, staff, and not-for-profit corporation faculty practice groups, and with more than 3,200 students across the state, UTHSC contributes $4 billion to the economy of Tennessee. Part of the University of Tennessee System, the Health Science Center is headquartered in Memphis and includes all six of UT’s doctoral-degree-granting health science colleges -- Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Graduate Health Sciences, and Health Professions. UTHSC spans the state with its four major, regional clinical health science locations in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville, as well as more than 100 clinical education sites across Tennessee. UTHSC is the largest educator of health care professionals in the state and operates the state’s largest residency and fellowship advanced training programs.

Additional Qualifications

• D., D.O. or equivalent degree required
• Completion of an accredited residency required
• ABPN board certification or board eligibility required
• Unrestricted Tennessee medical license at time of appointment
• Current DEA certification number
• Eligible for malpractice insurance
• Relocation is not required, however the work is on- site.

Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. Interested individuals should include curriculum vitae, with names and addresses of two professional references with the online application system (Taleo). https://ut.taleo.net/careersection/uthsc_faculty/jobdetail.ftl?job=230000009Z&tz=GMT-06%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the (OED). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the OED Office of Equity and Diversity.