Clinical Researcher - Sickle Cell (F73570)

Clinical Researcher – Psychologist - Sickle Cell Disease (F73570, req7988)

Department of Psychiatry - VCU Health - Richmond, VA

Mission or Goal of Unit: 

The Department of Psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University has a mission to improve the mental health of individuals and families through clinical care, research, education and public awareness.

Chief Purpose of this position: 

The Department of Psychiatry in collaboration with the Department of Internal Medicine is seeking a research focused candidate as a faculty member in its Ambulatory Care Division. The candidate will be expected to primarily conduct research in sickle cell disease (SCD) analgesic and psycho-pharmacogenetics, and health systems strengthening and clinical workforce development. The candidate will be responsible for teaching/supervising students/trainees within multiple programs, leadership in the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based treatments, and other scholarly activities.

Position Responsibilities: 

Teaching - Plan, coordinate, and execute educational activities through the Departments of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, including seminars and workshops for faculty or trainees, educational activities for community partners, and annual conferences.

Research - Conduct independent research studies, submit grant proposals, obtain and maintain external support for projects, collaborate with researchers in the Department of Psychiatry, Department of Internal Medicine, and others, present at national and/or international professional meetings and participate in appropriate academic organization, and other scholarly duties. Research shall primarily focus in Sickle Cell Disease analgesic and psycho-pharmacogenetics, and health systems strengthening and clinical workforce development.

Service - Serve as an expert in sickle cell disease (SCD) analgesic and psycho-pharmacogenetics research for groups across the university. Mentor junior faculty and trainees across all affiliate units to develop sickle cell disease research interests and encourage health system strengthening and clinical workforce development. Serve on committees and taskforces relevant to sickle cell disease research and education at the university.

Clinical - Provide psychiatric assessment and treatment to the patients within the Department of Psychiatry’s ambulatory clinic. This position may also rotate or provide telehealth services at VCU Health’s ambulatory sites in the community, such as Community Memorial Hospital, Tappahannock Hospital, Williamsburg, etc.

Other -Provide appropriate annual reporting to School and university leadership, work with finance and business operations for fiscal oversight, and assists with strategic planning for unit, School, and university as needed.

Required Qualifications: 

• Virginia license/licensure-eligible 
• DEA licensure
• PhD (or equivalent training and experience), preferably in Translational Research, Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, or Health Care field
• Research and grant-writing experience
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively deal with all levels of the organization as well as external contacts
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organization skills with attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with teaching at the undergrad, graduate, and medical levels.
• Experience working with community partners on community-engaged research initiatives.
• Experience with strategic development.
• Experience with taskforce engagement around institutional priorities.
• Experience with budget management for a growing academic unit.

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Richmond is centrally located in the Mid-Atlantic region along the East Coast. With easy access to Washington D.C., the Atlantic Ocean, and the Blue Ridge Mountains, this River City is consistently top ranked for its rich history, charm, lower cost of living, outdoor adventure, trendy restaurants, breweries, wineries, upscale shopping, and world class museums.

With the James River flowing through the heart of City and the mild climate, Richmonders take full advantage of the area’s events, public gardens, festivals, and athletic activities. The area boasts a wide variety of arts, culture and entertainment. Among the numerous historical landmarks, you will also find beautiful theaters, concert venues,  ballet, museums including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond Children’s Museum, Science Museum of Virginia, and the Richmond International Raceway, to name a few.

Richmond has something for everyone. It’s family friendly, dog friendly, and there is never a shortage of things to do. Whether you want to live downtown, Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom, Forest Hill, The Fan, or the suburbs of the West End or Chesterfield County, each Richmond neighborhood is unique making it an attractively-sized and very livable city.

Welcome to VCU Health l MCV Physicians, the medical practice of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. As part of VCU’s School of Medicine, our physicians provide quality patient care services, teach the next generation of physicians, and conduct important research. VCU’s Massey Cancer Center is an NCI-designated Cancer Center and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Health is the region’s full-service children’s hospital.

We are over 900 physicians and 19 clinical departments providing services at various sites in Virginia, including VCU Medical Center — Richmond, VA – the region’s comprehensive Level 1 Trauma Center, verified in adult, pediatric, and burn trauma care. VCU Medical Center integrates hospitals, clinical care facilities, health sciences schools and medical research.

Our physician-driven, patient-centered care model reflects the values and vision of an outstanding integrated academic practice.

VCU Health has consistently ranked high in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals study in the state and metro Richmond area. Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU continues to expand inpatient and outpatient services, as well as the new Virginia Treatment Center for Children, opened in 2018, serving as a beacon of hope for families seeking mental health services. We are proud that VCU Health has twice achieved Magnet® designation.  We are honored to be recognized by Working Mother magazine’s “100 Best” for work/life balance and integration. Since 2006, the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce has consistently named VCU Health an Area Employer of Choice. You won’t find a more appreciative organization to work for, nor better people to work with.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an urban university with over 32,000 students located in Richmond, Virginia, two hours south of Washington D.C. As one of the nation’s top research universities it attracts more than $255 million a year in sponsored research funding. Twenty-seven VCU graduate and professional programs rank among the best in the nation in US News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.