Division Director – Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology Children’S Mercy Kansas City, Mo

The Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Mercy seeks a creative and scholarly leader
to serve as Division Director of Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic
Innovation. The Division Director will be responsible for leading the research, educational,
and quality missions of Clinical Pharmacology, an academic division focused on providing
clinical consultation and research programs aimed at making the use of medications in
children safer and more effective. Within the division, the Section of Medical Toxicology
provides consultative services for potential poison exposures, including overdoses,
environmental exposures, and envenomations. The Division Director will foster
collaborative ties throughout Children’s Mercy, bridging the division’s research missions
in genomic, clinical research, and translational interests across the Department of
Pediatrics and CMRI.

This is a faculty position offering academic appointments at the University of Missouri –
Kansas City School of Medicine and the Kansas University School of Medicine, rank to
be commensurate with experience. Kansas City's strong culture of philanthropy has led
to the creation of many endowed roles available to distinguished and accomplished
leaders. An endowed position may be extended to the selected candidate, contingent
upon their qualifications and record of achievement.

Established in 1996, Clinical Pharmacology has a national and international reputation
for impactful translational science and excellence in training. The Division has a strong
record for successful extramural funding and an outstanding publication record. Clinical
Pharmacology faculty and staff are national leaders in pharmacogenetics, institutional
leaders in health equity research, and outstanding clinicians, using pharmacology and
toxicology to improve the care of patients. Among the groups in the Division are:

• GOLDILOKs Clinic (GOLDILOKS® stands for Genomic- and OntogenyLinked Dose Individualization and cLinical Optimization for KidS.) is a
multidisciplinary clinic with a pediatrician, clinical pharmacist, and nurse who see
patients with a variety of conditions including adverse drug reactions, drug-drug
interactions, and medication nonresponse. Additionally, the clinical staff meet
weekly with genetics lab experts and a social worker to discuss upcoming patients
and formulate a multidisciplinary care plan individualized to each patient. The clinic
offers educational opportunities to pharmacy students, medical students,
residents, and fellows.

• The Medical Toxicology Consult Team provides consultative services for a variety
of environmental, exposure, overdose and poison issues. A Children's Mercy
Medical Toxicologist is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our
toxicologists also provide medical direction for the Kansas Poison Control Center.
This service on average has 150-200 beside consults per year. Academically, the
toxicologists provide lectures to CMH Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows and
residents, CMH Pediatric Medicine fellows, TMC/University Health Emergency
Medicine residents, and 5th/6th year UMKC medical students. In continuing the
collaboration of research, Kansas Fights Addiction Grant-Opioid Withdrawal
Treatment Clinical Practice Guideline was rewarded.

• Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH) Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology (T32) training
program is the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at CMH one of
the largest and most comprehensive Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology programs in
North America. Our fellowship training program is accredited by the American
Board of Clinical Pharmacology (ABCP) and has formally trained 31 fellows since
1998 (21 pediatricians, 6 pharmacists, 1 advanced practice nurse, 3 PhD
scientists).

• The drug biotransformation core serves to characterize drug disposition pathways
along with the consequences of drug metabolizing enzyme (DME) polymorphisms
in subcellular systems derived from pediatric tissues. A cell culture facility permits
fellows and faculty to explore the regulation and expression of DME related
proteins. A robust analytical core supports in vitro and in vivo pharmacology- and
metabolomics-related research, emphasizing the characterization of
developmental trajectories of drug disposition and response pathways.

Partnerships with University of Kansas Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
spectroscopy core allow for the characterization of drug metabolites or biomarker
development. The Analytical Chemistry Core Director can provide both didactic
and hands-on instruction to our trainees on quantitative pharmacology methods.

• We have an internationally recognized pharmacogenetics/genomics (PGx)
program defining gene sequence variations related to drug disposition and action.
This program also administers the Pharmacogene Variation (PharmVar)
Consortium. The Pharmacogene Variation (PharmVar) Consortium is a globally
recognized central repository for pharmacogene (PGx) variation. The major focus
of PharmVar is to catalogue allelic variation of genes impacting drug metabolism,
disposition and response and provide a unifying designation system
(nomenclature) for the global pharmacogenetic/genomic community.

• A team of dedicated health care providers and researchers in our Clinical
Pharmacology Division and Division of Clinical Genetics and Genomics offer an
in-house pharmacogenetic test called Kiddose™ PGx. This test helps clinicians
better understand how to dose medications for each specific patient when genetic
differences may play a role in their body’s response to pharmaceuticals.

• Quality Improvement projects include Decreasing Turnaround Time of
Pharmacogenetic Testing which won a poster award at the UMKC School of
Medicine QIPS Day. Currently, there is an ongoing project to Decrease Insurance
Preauthorization Time for Pharmacogenetic Testing. Within our faculty roster, we
have someone who is an UMKC School of Medicine QIPS Faculty Scholar.
Through strategic team science collaboration with colleagues locally, nationally and
internationally, Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Innovation has
leveraged Children’s Mercy strengths in clinical care, genomics, and clinical
pharmacology to improve care, enhance research and speed translation of best practice
into the community.

The foremost qualities necessary for this position is vision for the field of clinical
pharmacology research and patient care. Other desired characteristics include 1) a track
record of extramural funding; 2) history of mentorship that includes developing young
investigators into independent scientists; 2) interest in academic infrastructure and
research finances; 3) successful collaborations with administration, hospital, medical, and
research partners; 4) unwavering commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and
inclusion; and 5) commitment to developing a culture of high team accountability and
professionalism.

The individual selected for this position will be a strategic and highly communicative
leader with a doctoral degree (MD, DO, MD/PhD, DO/PhD, PhD, or PharmD). The
Division Director of Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology & Therapeutic Innovation reports
to the Chair of Pediatrics.

About Children’s Mercy
Children’s Mercy is one of the United States’ leading non-profit, independent pediatric
health systems, offering a comprehensive suite of departments, centers, and
clinics. Founded in 1897, Children’s Mercy is dedicated to holistic care, impactful
research, breakthrough innovation and educating the next generation of caregivers.
Guided by our mission, vision and values, our aim is to create a world of wellbeing for
all children. Children’s Mercy is consistently ranked among the best children’s hospitals
in the nation by US News & World Report, and we were the first hospital in Missouri or
Kansas to receive Magnet designation for excellence in patient care from the American
Nurses Credentialing Center — an honor we have received five consecutive times.

Some Children’s Mercy facts and figures:
• 390 licensed beds
• Nearly 800 faculty
• Over 50 specialties
• 600,000 total visits
• 190,000 emergency and urgent care visits
• 20,000 surgical cases
• Primary service area includes150 counties in Missouri and Kansas
• Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons
• Only pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center between St. Louis and Denver
• Comprehensive solid organ transplant center with sustained, exceptional
outcomes

Education
Education is a core tenet of Children’s Mercy. Children’s Mercy provides education
opportunities to nursing students, medical students, residents and fellows, supporting
over 1,400 learners annually. Children’s Mercy is the pediatric clerkship site for both
UMKC and KU medical students and provides elective rotations and sub-internships to
students at any accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school. Children’s Mercy is
highly active in Graduate Medical Education with accredited residencies in pediatrics,
med/peds, child neurology, pediatric dentistry, pediatric optometry and pharmacy.
Children’s Mercy offers more than 40 fellowship programs across numerous areas,
developing the next generation of subspecialists. Certificate and master’s programs are
also operated in conjunction with its academic partners, the University of Kansas (KU)
and the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC). Finally, our robust clinical training
resources are augmented by research opportunities for learners at all levels.

Research
Children’s Mercy is dedicated to becoming a leader in pediatric research. A directed
strategic planning initiative established the Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI)
to focus on research and research infrastructure. Through the generosity of two
philanthropic gifts totaling $150 million, the hospital constructed a nine story, 375,000
square foot research facility to provide scientists with state-of-the-art technology. In
addition, these generous gifts help support funding for scientific programs and
recruitment. Research conducted today includes basic, translational, and clinical
research in numerous areas including pharmacology, cancer, cardiology, genetic
diseases and health outcomes. Areas of research strength include Precision
Therapeutics, Genomic Medicine, Population Health, Emerging Pathogens and
Innovations in Health Care Delivery. Beyond these areas of emphasis, Children’s Mercy
and the CMRI also provide encompassing resources for Children’s Mercy faculty to
pursue research, from developing a research question, biostatistical planning, grant
application and management, and coordination of clinical trials.

About Kansas City
Crossing into both Missouri and Kansas, the Kansas City Metropolitan Area is an
affordable and comfortable place to live and raise a family. The metro’s anchor city,
Kansas City, Missouri, is the largest city in the state and has great museums, a busy
downtown, multiple professional sports franchises, an exciting music scene and many
charming neighborhoods. Throughout the Metro area, you will find highly ranked public
schools, beautiful parks and other green spaces, and lots of amazing people. Kansas City
is large enough to provide the amenities of a metropolitan area, while small enough to
allow for easy commutes, assessable amenities and a very high quality of life.

Ideal Qualifications and Experience
• MD, DO, PhD, or PharmD (or combination of degrees) is required
• Current academic rank of Associate Professor or Professor
• A strong record of academic achievement as evidenced by extramural funding in
the field of Clinical Pharmacology
• Demonstrated interest in advancing research as it pertains to division activities and
interactions with the broader Children’s Mercy community
• A commitment to our true north pillars: quality and safety, people, patient
experience, delivery and stewardship
• Fosters and models our values: kindness, curiosity, inclusion, team and integrity
• A deep commitment to fostering and supporting programs that address equity,
inclusion and diversity
• A track record of partnership with academic medical centers
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability and commitment to collaborate with
leadership at partner institutions

Nominations and Applications (cover letter and curriculum vitae) should be submitted via
e-mail to: Facultyjobs@cmh.edu as well as the committee co-chairs Dr. John Perry
(jmperry@cmh.edu) and Dr. Rachel Chevalier Chevalier (rlchevalier@cmh.edu)

All materials will be treated as confidential.
Children’s Mercy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

For additional
information, please visit our website at www.childrensmercy.org

Children’s Mercy Kansas City is an independent, non-profit, 390-bed pediatric health system, providing over half a million patient encounters each year for children from across the country. Children’s Mercy is ranked by U.S. News & World Report in nine specialties. We have received Magnet® recognition five times for excellence in nursing services. In affiliation with the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the university of Kansas School of Medicine, our faculty of more than 800 pediatric specialists and researchers is actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research and educating the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. 

The Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) integrates research and clinical care with nationally recognized expertise in genomic medicine, precision therapeutics, population health and health care innovation. In 2021 the CMRI moved into a nine story, 375,000 square foot space emphasizing a translational approach to research in which clinicians and researchers work together to accelerate the pace of discovery that enhances care. We invite you to visit Children’s Mercy Hospital virtually at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtlXT3xK-bI

Kansas City is a thriving cultural and economic city with more than 2 million residents. Our city’s long list of attractions includes world class museums, a vibrant arts scene, professional sports, superb shopping, great jazz clubs, and the best places to enjoy barbeque! The city offers low cost-of-living, excellent commute times, and a vibrant downtown, eight-block dining, entertainment and shopping district.  Kansas City offers excellent opportunities for both public and private school venues and is home to several colleges and universities. It’s a community with a heart – friendly, easy-going and forward-thinking – a great place to live and pursue a career. For more information about activities in Kansas City go to www.visitkc.com

 For more information about Children’s Mercy Kansas City and about Kansas City itself, visit childrensmercy.org/careers/take-your-place/

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