Open Rank Faculty, Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health (SMPPH)

The Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health (SMPPH) which is a rapidly growing department in the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, is recruiting up to two tenure track or tenured faculty members at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor. The SMPPH Department seeks highly accomplished scholars with active research programs focused on health equity, which may be in the areas of racial justice, reproductive justice, environmental justice, gender equality, or other areas of critical inquiry. The focus on equity and health justice may be combined with any number of substantive areas. The SMPPH Department is especially interested in outstanding scholars whose research, teaching, and service on equity are coupled with expertise in chronic disease, infectious disease, health services delivery, implementation science, community-based participatory research, behavioral health, occupational health, environmental health, climate change, public health informatics, or structural and social determinants of health. Deep knowledge and understanding of the diverse populations of Inland Southern California is a preferred qualification.

UCR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: AN OVERVIEW

The UCR School of Medicine is the sixth University of California medical school and serves the rapidly growing and dynamic Inland Southern California region by training a much-needed physician, biomedical, and public health workforce and catalyzing innovations in research, education, and health care delivery that will improve the health of medically underserved populations. In particular, the School of Medicine has a sustained focus on Inland Southern California, also known as the “Inland Empire.” Defined as Riverside County and San Bernardino County, this area has a population of 4.7 million (it is the 12th most populous region in the U.S.) and covers more than 27,000 square miles (bigger than 10 states). The population is highly diverse (54% Hispanic/Latinx, 27% White, 8% Asian, 7% Black). Inland Southern California is also home to 13 federally-registered Native American tribes. The region exhibits pronounced health disparities by race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

MISSION, VISION, VALUES

MISSION

The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation.

VISION

•    Education: Educate and retain a diverse physician and research workforce needed to address the underserved patient care needs of the region. 

•    Research: Develop a platform for expanded biomedical, translational, clinical, and population-based research programs to advance knowledge in the medical sciences. 

•    Clinical (UCR Health): Improve the health of the people of Inland Southern California by developing innovative health care programs that will deliver quality healthcare within their communities. “Bringing Health Home.”

VALUES 

•    Inclusion – Embracing diversity in the broadest sense and appreciating all points of view. 

•    Integrity – Exhibiting honesty and the highest ethical standards in all matters. 

•    Innovation – Pursuing organizational goals with creativity and novelty. •    Excellence – Demonstrating extraordinary dedication to the highest quality outcomes. 

•    Accountability – Taking responsibility and ownership. •    Respect – Showing consideration and appreciation for others.

UCR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE LEADERSHIP

Deborah Deas, MD, MPH is the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences, the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the School of Medicine, and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).

Since arriving in 2016, Deas has led efforts to increase the class size of UCR School of Medicine’s medical and biomedical sciences programs, expand clinical affiliations, develop and expand the UCR Health clinical enterprise, and increase National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding as well as private giving. Working in partnership with University of California leadership and state legislators, Deas helped to secure state funding for the new Medical Education Building II on the UCR campus, which opened in September 2024. 

Her research interests include pharmacotherapy and psychosocial treatments of adolescents and adults with substance use disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and anxiety disorders. She has received NIH funding (R01) as well as industry funding for her research, has published articles in several peer-reviewed journals, and won multiple awards and honors for her work.

In 2024, Dr. Deas was named a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She is both a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a fellow with the American College of Psychiatrists and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. She is also a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Council of Deans and as well as the Group on Diversity and Inclusion, the Group on Education Affairs, and the Group for Student Affairs. Other affiliations include the American Psychiatric Association Council on Addiction, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the National Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the Research Society on Alcoholism, and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism.

THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL MEDICINE, POPULATION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health (SMPPH) is home to 14 faculty and 16 staff. Faculty are trained in a variety of fields related to public and population health, including anthropology, psychology, sociology, epidemiology, community health, and education. Areas of research include substance use, mental health, infectious disease, cardiovascular health, obesity, research ethics, and the science of teaching and learning in the health professions. Community-engaged research methods and health equity are common threads that link much of the work carried out by members of the department. Our faculty have funding from multiple sources, including the National Institutes of Health (including NHLBI, NIAAA, and NIDA), the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Veterans Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and a variety of state and foundation funders for their research, training, and service activities.

In September 2024, SMPPH launched a new Master of Public Program, with a concentration in community health equity. The program, which has 15 students in its inaugural class and is expected to grow dramatically in the future, is focused on building the public health workforce to serve the diverse population of inland Southern California and other underserved regions.

ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

UCR is a world-class (Carnegie R1) research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. In 2023, UCR also was recognized by Carnegie for Community Engagement. UCR’s mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. UCR is officially recognized as a Hispanic-Serving and as an Asian American-Native American-Pacific Islander Serving Institution. A strong commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

The University of California, Riverside provides an environment that is highly conducive to interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges, departments, and centers. Beyond the School of Medicine, there are opportunities to collaborate with the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering; the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; the Graduate School of Education; the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; the School of Business; and the School of Public Policy.

UCR is situated in a historic citrus growing area surrounded by mountain ranges. Riverside has a historic downtown with an assortment of dining options and cultural amenities, including the Mission Inn. Riverside is about an hour away from ski slopes, beaches, and hiking and sightseeing in mountain or desert environments. Housing in the area is very affordable. There is also easy access to the rich cultural amenities of the greater Los Angeles area.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate for Associate or Full Professor rank should demonstrate notable scientific contributions, evidenced by high quality and impactful peer-reviewed publications and a record of sustained extramural funding. A successful candidate for the Assistant Professor rank should demonstrate strong potential for, or demonstration of, notable scientific contributions as indicated by peer-reviewed publications and extramural funding commensurate with state of career.

Successful candidates will also be expected to show a strong commitment to education, University and public service. The successful candidate will have opportunities to contribute to the education of medical students, residents, and graduate students, and to contribute to teaching and advising in our new Master of Public Health program.

Candidates must possess a PhD, DrPH, EdD, MD, or equivalent degree in public or population health, anthropology, economics, education, political science, preventive medicine, psychology, sociology, or a similar field. The SMPPH Department is especially interested in candidates whose work complements the current research and teaching expertise of faculty in SMPPH and other departments in the UCR SOM.

The appropriate rank at the Assistant, Associate or Full Professor level at the time of appointment will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and experience. After appointment, advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.

SALARY RANGE

The posted UC salary scales (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel- programs/compensation/index.html) set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 5 for the salary range. The Base Salary range for this position is $127,000 – $333,700. This position includes membership in the health sciences compensation plan (https://somacademicaffairs.ucr.edu/sites/g/files/rcwecm2346/files/2021-02/2021-02- 11HSCP%20Plan.pdf), which may provide eligibility for additional compensation.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates must apply directly through the UC Riverside job portal: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02046.  Only candidates with complete applications will be considered. Initial review of applications will begin on February 20, 2024, and applicants will be considered until the position is filled. Storbeck Search has been exclusively retained by UCR School of Medicine to assist in the recruitment.