Description
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.
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 Ontogeny-Linked 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 six 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
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.
