Position Specification Chief Science Officer, Jackson Heart Study

Candidate Report

THE JACKSON HEART STUDY

Continually funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2000, The Jackson Heart Study (JHS) is a groundbreaking cohort study investigating cardiovascular disease in the African American community in Jackson, Mississippi. It represents a major step in addressing significant health disparities among Americans. The Study is defined by a unique collaborative model among three institutions – The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), Jackson State University (JSU), and Tougaloo College – in active partnership with the Jackson community and the National Institutes of Health. A study of this scope and ambition requires an inclusive, multi-faceted collaboration to meet its goals of increasing understanding of the origins, prevention, and management of CVD in a population heavily burdened by early development of chronic illness, building local, national and global research capacity, and developing the next generation of scientists of color.

JHS aims to transform a history of heart disease in African-Americans into a legacy of heart health through research and translation. It is the largest single-site, prospective epidemiologic investigation of causes of cardiovascular disease among African Americans ever undertaken. The specific objectives of the Study are:

 Identification of factors, which influence the development, and worsening of CVD in African- Americans, with an emphasis on manifestations related to high blood pressure (such as remodeling of the left ventricle of the heart, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, and disorders affecting the blood vessels of the kidney).  Building research capabilities in minority institutions at the undergraduate and graduate level by developing partnerships between minority and majority institutions and enhancing participation of minority investigators in large scale epidemiologic studies.  Attracting minority students to and preparing them for careers in the health sciences. The Partnership between educational institutions, the Jackson community, and the NIH anchors the Study. Each plays an integral role in its continued success. The complexity, number, and diverse perspectives of these stakeholders require the Director to manage the interconnected relationship transparently and inclusively.

The Partners:  The University of Mississippi Medical Center is the state's only academic health science center. UMMC has nearly 800 faculty and over 9600 full and part-time employees. There are over 2,900 students in the six health sciences schools. UMMC is the largest diagnostic, treatment, and referral care system in the state with six hospitals with 722 beds.  Jackson State University is a technologically-focused four-year university, one of only two HBCUs designated as a high research activity university. Located on four campuses, it enrolls nearly 9,000 students.  Tougaloo College is a private, co-educational, historically black, liberal arts institution of higher education. Tougaloo College offers 29 majors to its over 900 undergraduate students. Tougaloo College is currently exploring the addition of select graduate programs to its offerings.

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 The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, are the current primary funders of the JHS. The NHLBI manages the five contracts which gather and manage data, community outreach, and training programs. The NHLBI and other NIH Institutes fund competitively awarded research grants using JHS data and conducting ancillary studies.  The Jackson Community: Jackson is the capital city of Mississippi as well as the state’s largest city. In 2010, the population of Jackson city was over 173,000 and of the five county metropolitan area over 539,000.

The 5,300 men and women from broader Jackson participating in the Study are the engaged, committed cornerstone enabling its success. The Study has benefited the community through jobs and economic growth. Looking ahead, the Study is positioned to generate additional research and related activity which would further benefit the region.

The NHLBI and NIMHD, which fund the contracts which support the JHS, have been strong supporters and active partners throughout JHS’s evolution. The Study is an important priority for the NIH, representing a focus on health disparities research. The NHLBI is committed to the findings and to developing the capacity in Mississippi and in disadvantaged communities.

CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER- POSITION OVERVIEW

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Science Officer (CSO) for the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) will provide leadership and oversight for the research activity of the Jackson Heart Study, services and activities, including high-quality operational execution. The CSO is a key member of the Jackson Heart Study leadership team, ensuring all policies, programs and initiatives are consistent and will be supportive of JHS’s missions, vision and values. The CSO will work closely with the Director and Principal Investigator (PI) of the Study and will have primary responsibility for the following:

1. Assisting with guiding the scientific direction and research agenda of the study while helping to expand current and future research collaborations with federal consortia, academic institutions, and other alliances. 2. Participating in JHS committees and subcommittees. 3. Overseeing and guide efforts to optimize scientific output and impact from the collected research data. 4. Providing expertise on study design, analysis plans, and interpretation of study results to researchers and committees. 5. Presenting written and verbal communications of study results to JHS investigators, staff, the scientific community, and study community. 6. Providing mentoring and career advice to junior research scientists.

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7. Building effective working relationships among management, project teams, data and research coordination teams, and staff. 8. Assist in the development of the Study’s research,, including active participation in research, research management, grant writing and dissemination of research findings.

This JHS CSO position is a dream job for the serious physician scientist who wants a position as leading researcher and mentor with an iconic, vibrant, expanding, and transformative research enterprise addressing cardiovascular health inequities among African Americans; warm weather; great family living area; and a fun and collegial work environment. Special consideration will be given to candidates with expertise and research interests that complement or augment existing strengths of the JHS and UMMC, JSU, and Tougaloo College.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

The Chief Science Officer will report to the Study Director and Principal Investigator, Dr Adolfo Correa. The position will have a close working relationship with the Jackson Heart Study Coordinating Center, Field Center, Community Outreach Center, Graduate Training and Education Center, and Undergraduate Training and Education Center as well as a coordinated connection to the Jackson Heart Study Scientific Directions Advisory Council and Communications Office.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

The preferred candidate must be able to see strategically and execute tactically. To do so, s/he must be able to establish immediate credibility as both a scientist and an executive. As a corollary to the above, the ability to communicate with diverse internal as well as external constituencies and stakeholders is essential.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS:

The successful candidate will be able to work with multiple stakeholders across educational institutions, the Jackson Community and the NIH.

Communication Skills: The successful candidate will have a reputation for dynamic, clear and inspirational communications.

Relationship Building: The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of building strong relationships at all levels and the ability to work effectively in a transdisciplinary systems-based environment. He/she must be able to establish relationships with the collaborating institutions and appreciate that missions of institutions may differ and compete. The successful candidate will be seen as a collaborator and someone who can effect change through relationships.

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The successful candidate will be able to communicate effectively with physicians, scientists and academic leaders. He/she should have strong organization and process-management skills and high energy coupled with a strong work ethic and a desire to have an impact. Finally, he/she will be committed to service, and demonstrate values and professionalism through appropriate conduct and demeanor at all times.

Essential elements in the selected candidate’s credentials and attributes should include:  A doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., ScD. D.Ph., or M.D. with additional advanced degree in epidemiology, health services research, or public health).  Demonstrated expertise in epidemiological and/or health disparities research and proficiency in critical evaluation of research proposals and manuscripts.  A minimum of 7 years’ experience or equivalent as an Associate or Full Professor.  Demonstrated record of successful extramural funding with an established record as Principal Investigator of competitive funded NIH or other research projects.  Demonstrated academic scholarship, including a strong publication record in the peer- reviewed scientific literature.  Demonstrated ability to build effective coalitions across diverse institutions, organizations, and partners.  Demonstrated ability to establish national research agendas as evidenced by leadership roles in national expert panels, grant review committees, publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and/or presentations at national scientific meetings.  Demonstrated excellent collaborative research and management skills as evidence by years of experience in overseeing or managing complex research projects, including supervision of scientific and research support staff.  A hands-on, accountability driven, and operationally oriented research management style, accompanied by attention to detail and an appreciation of the need to respond to issues in a timely and results-oriented manner.  Highly effective communication skills, accompanied by the ability and inclination to relate directly, honestly, openly, and effectively with diverse audiences.  Openness to gathering input and considering the ideas of others and the ability to establish and sustain effective and collaborative working relationships at all levels of the organization.  Demonstrated ability and commitment to provide mentoring and academic career guidance to junior investigators and members of a team.   High level of personal transparency, integrity, trustworthiness, resourcefulness as a problem solver, and the ability to serve as role model to others.  A demonstrated track record of embracing and advancing diversity as essential to excellence and a deep understanding of the value of a diverse community.  In all of the above, a personal presence which is driven by honesty, integrity, and the ability to inspire and motivate others to promote the important work of the JHS.

COMPENSATION

Compensation arrangements are competitive and commensurate with the experience, achievement and responsibilities for this position.

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THE COMMUNITY

Discover the scenic state that is legendary for its hospitality and warm, friendly people. Wherever you travel in the state, from the Hill Country to the Coast, from the Delta to the Heartland, a genuine southern “welcome” greets you at every corner. Mississippi’s landscape is only one example of the diversity that you’ll find within its borders. It is home to excellence in the arts, technology, commercial ventures, health-care advances, and a commitment to educational achievement. It is home to a broad range of enterprises including casinos, ship- building, service industries, agriculture, commercial fishing, and manufacturing such as the recently opened Toyota plant. Mississippi has produced a diverse multitude of prominent talent including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Leontyne Price, John Grisham, B.B. King, Walter Anderson, Faith Hill and Morgan Freeman, just to name a few.

Mississippi is home to a wide array of music, artisans, museums, art galleries, theatres, and every type of delightful cuisine imaginable. It is also home to celebrations of its numerous ethnic backgrounds and cultures with festivals and special events all year round. Whether you prefer the country or city living; golfing on championship courses or sail boating on Jackson’s 33,000 acre reservoir; attending the International Ballet Competition held in Jackson or wandering through a museum or historical site; Mississippi truly has something for everyone. Majestic trees, fresh air, short commutes, and a lower cost of living can all be found in this lush, beautiful state where everyone is considered a neighbor and hospitality is a lifestyle.

There’s no better way to sample the South than Jackson, Mississippi. A blend of the old and the new, Jackson offers glimpses of the past while looking ahead to the future. From fabulous history, art and science museums to world-class exhibits and performances, Jackson is a secret full of surprises.

Mississippi’s Capital City is conveniently located at the crossroads of Interstate 55 (north-south) and Interstate 20 (east-west) in the heart of our “Hospitality State.:” As the center for the Metro Jackson area, home to more than 425,000 people, the city of Jackson is steeped in history, music, performing arts, sports and truly Southern way of life.

Although less than 8,000 people lived in the Jackson area at the turn of the century, its population began accelerating rapidly after 1900, and it is now one of the dynamic growth areas of the Sunbelt. It is a major distribution center with a prime location, equal distance between Memphis and New Orleans (north-south) and between Dallas and Atlanta (east-west).

As a major distribution center, efficient transportation facilities are a must. Seven major air carriers – American Eagle, ASA, Comair, Continental Express, Delta, Northwest Air link and US Airways Express provide service to the Jackson International Airport and Hawkins Field. The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and scores of major truck lines provide freight service to all parts of the nation.

Eleven hospitals, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center, provide diagnosis and treatment for nearly every possible physical and emotional ailment. Every major church denomination is represented in the city and there are more than 400 houses of worship scattered throughout the 105 square miles of community. Excellent public and private school systems are

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an integral part of the area, and seven colleges and junior colleges are located within 15 miles of Jackson’ center.

Jacksonians are extremely proud of their famed southern hospitality and quality of life. Community support is strong for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Mississippi Opera, New Stage Theatre, and a minor-league professional baseball team, along with the Mississippi Museum of Art, the National Science Museum, Agriculture and Forestry Museum and the Smith- Robertson Museum and Cultural Center, the Old Capital Museum, and other venues. The Mississippi’s Children’s Museum opened in 2010. Jackson is the United States host city to the International Ballet Competition every four years.

Gourmet dining and nightlife sparkle on the Jackson scene. Many races and ethnic groups provide the city with cuisine that is truly international. One can choose, Greek, Continental, Indian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French, Mexican, Thai, Russian or good ole Southern cuisine.

Jackson is a city with wonderful citizens who are dedicated to providing the energy to meet today’s challenges and to make Jackson one of “America’s Most Livable Cities”. https://www.pinterest.com/m2recruiting/

CONTACT INFORMATION

Qualified candidates should confidentially submit their current Curriculum Vitae along with a supporting Cover Letter of interest electronically c/o: Patrick Smith, PhD, Chief of Faculty Affairs.

Additional contact information follows:

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP Chief Faculty Affairs Officer University of Mississippi Medical Center Associate Dean (Faculty Affairs) & Professor (Family Medicine) School of Medicine 601-984-5003 [email protected]

Maggie Cunningham Director, Academic Leadership & Faculty Recruitment Services University of Mississippi Medical Center 601-984-5578 office [email protected]

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