Division Chief, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Description

The Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine invites applications for an experienced and visionary leader to serve as Division Chief of the Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This is an exceptional opportunity to guide a well-established division within a nationally recognized academic health system, advance EMS research and education, and help shape innovative prehospital and critical incident care for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Division Chief of EMS will provide strategic, academic, and operational leadership for all EMS-related activities in the department, including prehospital care, special event coverage, mass casualty preparedness, research, and education. The successful candidate will be an accomplished physician-leader who is committed to clinical excellence, innovation in EMS delivery, and the academic mission of UVA.

The Division Chief reports directly to the Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and will work collaboratively with departmental and institutional leaders, regional EMS agencies, and community partners to advance UVA’s role in prehospital care, regional disaster preparedness, and community health.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Administration

• Provide visionary leadership to grow and enhance the Division of EMS.
• Recruit, mentor, and support faculty, fellows, and staff within the division.
• Lead efforts to integrate EMS services into UVA Health’s emergency care system, including prehospital care and hospital throughput initiatives.
• Collaborate with UVA Health leadership and regional partners on mass-casualty, disaster, and community-shielding initiatives.
• Oversee division budgets, operational planning, and quality initiatives.

Clinical Care

• Provide high-quality clinical care in the Emergency Department and EMS operations.
• Partner with regional EMS agencies to ensure seamless transitions of care from prehospital to in-hospital settings.
• Support continuous improvement in prehospital quality, safety, and patient outcomes.

Education

• Direct EMS fellowship programs and oversee the education of medical students, residents, fellows, and prehospital providers.
• Develop innovative EMS curricula, simulation programs, and community-based education initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Department’s educational leadership to integrate EMS topics into the residency and medical school curricula.

Research and Innovation

• Promote and support EMS-related research in areas such as early recognition of patient deterioration, prehospital triage, trauma systems, and AI-driven monitoring and prediction tools.
• Build collaborations across UVA’s research ecosystem (e.g., Link Lab, Center for Advanced Medical Analytics, CIAG) to leverage data science and new technologies for EMS care delivery.
• Seek extramural funding to support innovative EMS research and program development.

About the Department of Emergency Medicine

The UVA Department of Emergency Medicine is a nationally recognized leader in clinical care, education, and research. The department’s faculty care for more than 75,000 patients annually across UVA Health’s academic emergency department and regional sites.

Educational excellence is a core mission, with a robust residency program, fellowships in EMS, medical toxicology, ultrasound, and global health, and active student programs. Faculty are nationally recognized for innovation in AI-augmented learning, simulation-based education, physician well-being initiatives, and operational research.

The department has strong institutional support for educational innovation, with collaborative ties to the School of Medicine Office of Educational Affairs, UVA’s Link Lab for data science and engineering, and the Center for Advanced Medical Analytics.

About UVA Health and Charlottesville

UVA Health is the flagship academic health system for the Commonwealth of Virginia and is consistently ranked among the nation’s best. The University of Virginia is a top-public university with a strong culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and service.

Charlottesville offers an outstanding quality of life, combining the vibrant intellectual and cultural environment of a university town with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Qualifiations

Required:

MD or DO (or equivalent) degree.

Board certification in Emergency Medicine (ABEM or AOBEM).

Eligibility for an unrestricted medical license in Virginia.

At least 5 years of experience in EMS medical direction and/or EMS system leadership.

Demonstrated excellence in clinical care, education, and scholarship.

Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred:

Fellowship training in EMS or equivalent professional experience.

Track record of funded research and academic productivity in EMS.

Experience in disaster preparedness, mass-gathering medicine, or tactical EMS.

Demonstrated success in building multidisciplinary programs and partnerships.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit:

• A cover letter describing leadership experience, vision for the role, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV).
• Names and contact information for three professional references.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To Apply:

To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically in confidence, to Shannon Hughen Giger at cwa6tr@uvahealth.org.