Description

Chair, Department of Surgery 

Medical College of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) invites nominations and applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief. This is a defining opportunity for a visionary leader to shape the future of surgery and advance one of the nation’s most distinguished academic surgical departments to new heights of national and international prominence within a premier, research-intensive health sciences university.

Located in Milwaukee along the shores of Lake Michigan, MCW is Wisconsin’s largest private research institution and a nationally recognized leader in medical education, biomedical discovery, and patient care. MCW advances world-class care and groundbreaking research that improve health locally, nationally, and globally. Guided by its mission to pioneer pathways to a healthier world, MCW fosters collaboration, innovation, and community engagement that continue to define its growing impact. MCW is one of five medical schools in the nation to receive the prestigious Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, given to programs that excel in fostering meaningful, sustained partnerships with communities locally and globally.

The Department of Surgery at MCW is a highly accomplished and forward-looking academic department distinguished by excellence in patient care, education, research, and community engagement. With more than 100 full-time faculty and over 60 residents and fellows across 11 divisions, the Department delivers high-acuity, high-volume surgical care across all major subspecialties. Faculty provide advanced, patient-centered care at Froedtert Hospital, southeastern Wisconsin’s only adult Level I Trauma Center, and at Children’s Wisconsin, the state’s only Level I Pediatric Surgery and Trauma Center, as well as at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center and affiliated community hospitals statewide. The Department maintains a robust and growing research portfolio supported by NIH and industry funding, with faculty advancing innovation across basic, translational, and clinical sciences. Its educational programs are nationally recognized for training the next generation of surgical leaders through exceptional mentorship, hands-on experience, and scholarly engagement.

MCW seeks a visionary and strategic leader to guide the Department into a new era of growth, innovation, and national prominence. The Chair partners closely with the Dean of the School of Medicine, and hospital affiliates to shape and execute a bold, forward-looking vision that advances the Department’s mission, elevates its impact, and positions it for long-term success. The Chair will lead efforts to expand clinical programs, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, promote faculty and trainee development, and align departmental priorities with MCW’s strategic goals, while upholding excellence in patient care, research, and education.

The successful candidate will hold an MD, MD/PhD, DO, DO/PhD or equivalent degree from an accredited institution with board certification by the American Board of Surgery, and eligible for an unrestricted Wisconsin license, with a record of outstanding clinical, scholarly, and leadership accomplishments. This is a defining opportunity to shape the future of surgery at MCW and strengthen its position as a national and international leader in academic surgical excellence.

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Procedure for Candidacy 

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Confidential nominations and inquiries can be a submitted via the MCW Executive Recruitment Nominations Form or can be directed to Amanda Steffens, Executive Faculty Recruitment, Medical College of Wisconsin via asteffens@mcw.edu. 

To receive full consideration, please submit your application materials by the priority deadline of December 12, 2025.

Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

A formal application submission should include: 

• Current CV 
• Letter of Interest describing:

  • Interest in the role

  • A description of your experience and leadership approach, supported by specific examples that showcase your experience with the following competencies: Emotional Intelligence, Development Mindset, Collaboration, Inspiring trust, Change Leadership, Effective Communication, Innovation, Results Orientation and Financial Stewardship

Recommendations:

• You do not need to address every competency in equal depth, but the letter should touch on each.
• Use specific examples and outcomes to demonstrate how you embody these competencies.
• Aim for a balance of professional accomplishments and insights into your leadership style.
  
  

Medical College of Wisconsin

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is the state’s only private medical school and health sciences graduate school.  MCW consists of a School of Medicine with campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay and central Wisconsin, a School of Graduate Studies, and a School of Pharmacy. MCW is a major national research center ranking in the top third of U.S. medical schools in NIH funding and is the second largest research institution in Wisconsin. The core of everything we do at the MCW is academic medicine, which brings together scientists, clinicians, students, and community members to solve challenges in health and society. MCW is a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to build a healthier world. Every study we conduct, and every patient we see, leads to new learning and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge. The beautiful, safe, and modern campus of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) houses Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Health System, Curative Care, Blood Research Institute of Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.  

Milwaukee

Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is located on Lake Michigan’s western shore. A metropolitan area with more than 1.5 million people, Milwaukee is an affordable, comfortable place to live, work, and play, big enough to be exciting and uncongested enough to get around easily. Milwaukee’s many neighborhoods have incredible charm, accommodating a variety of lifestyles, from high-rise apartments to small farms. Nestled along a magnificent bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, Milwaukee’s downtown is home to botanical gardens, museums, a theater district, the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers, and many fine restaurants. The lake and its harbors are skirted by scenic parklands and provide first-class opportunities for recreation, including hiking, cycling, boating, and more. 

Our Commitment to MCW Values and Equal Employment

At MCW all our endeavors, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: Caring – Collaborative – Curiosity – Inclusive – Integrity – Respect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives through merit-based processes and in alignment with all applicable laws.  We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you.

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.