Chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology

The Opportunity

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has launched a national/international search for the next Chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology in the Department of Pediatrics and inaugural Director of The Center for Kidney Innovation and Care. Reporting to the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, the Chief will lead a clinically essential and academically important division that provides advanced nephrology care for children across North Texas and the broader region.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to envision and realize the next phase of growth for one of the largest pediatric nephrology programs in the country, while also serving as the inaugural Director of The Center for Kidney Innovation and Care. The Center is envisioned as a comprehensive hub advancing pediatric nephrology through integrated clinical care, translational research, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Its mission is to improve meaningful health outcomes for children with kidney disease by bridging scientific discovery and patient care through partnerships among clinicians, researchers, patients, and families.

Our Client

The Division of Pediatric Nephrology

The UT Southwestern Division of Pediatric Nephrology is dedicated to providing exceptional care for children with kidney diseases, expanding knowledge of disease through research, and educating the next generation of nephrologists. The Division includes one of the largest end-stage renal disease programs in the United States, more than 500 kidney transplants performed since the program's inception in 1964, active basic and clinical research, and a commitment to training future physicians and scientists.

The Division includes eleven faculty members and two fellows with expertise encompassing all aspects of renal disease and fluid and electrolyte abnormalities. Patients with renal disorders are referred to the Division from all over North Texas, as well as parts of Louisiana and Oklahoma. The Division provides outpatient and inpatient consultation for Children's Medical Center Dallas, with pediatric nephrologists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to evaluate and treat children with renal abnormalities. They also provide outpatient care at Children's Medical Center Plano.

Clinical Services

The Division provides care for children with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, hypertension, glomerular disease, nephrotic syndrome, nephrolithiasis, congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, kidney transplantation, and complex renal complications of systemic illness.

The Acute Care Nephrology Program provides comprehensive renal and liver support services across pediatric, trauma, cardiac, and neonatal intensive care units. The program has become a national leader in pediatric extracorporeal therapies and offers advanced dialysis modalities tailored to patient size and clinical need. The program is among the few pediatric centers in the country offering Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) therapy for liver support and was the ninth center in the nation to introduce Quelimmune, an extracorporeal selective cytopheretic device designed to help modulate inflammation in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

The Chronic Dialysis Program at Children's Medical Center Dallas is recognized as one of the largest and most comprehensive pediatric end-stage renal disease programs in North Texas. It offers both in-center hemodialysis and home-based peritoneal dialysis services, supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric nephrologists, advanced practice providers, dialysis nurses, dietitians, social workers, child life specialists, dialysis technicians, a psychologist, and a patient educator. The program participates in the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End-Stage Kidney Disease Collaborative (SCOPE), a national quality improvement network focused on safety, quality, and outcomes in pediatric dialysis care.

The Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Children's Health has performed more than 500 kidney transplants since its founding in 1964. In 2025, the program achieved the highest annual kidney transplant volume in Children's Health history and ranked first in North Texas. The program has a history of firsts, including the first renal transplant in Texas in 1964, the first combined kidney/liver transplant at Children's Medical Center in 1991, and the first pediatric kidney/heart transplant in Texas in 2005. The continued growth of the transplant program represents a major opportunity for the next Chief.

Research

Research activities in the Division are aimed at understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of kidney disease in children. Pediatric nephrology faculty include NIH grant awardees and NIH training grant participants. The Division's research portfolio includes basic science, clinical research, quality improvement, transplant outcomes, dialysis outcomes, and acute care nephrology research. The Division has meaningful research momentum, including K awardees, clinical trialists, multicenter research participation, and the opportunity to build a broader clinical and translational research enterprise.

Education

The Division trains medical students, residents, and fellows, with a goal of developing well-rounded physician-scientists and clinical leaders who will advance pediatric nephrology through patient care, education, and discovery. Medical students gain exposure to a wide range of pediatric kidney disorders through inpatient nephrology rotations, and pediatric residents complete a nephrology rotation focused on renal physiology, fluid and electrolyte balance, and management of common and complex kidney disorders.

The Center for Kidney Innovation and Care

The Center for Kidney Innovation and Care will serve as a comprehensive hub dedicated to advancing pediatric nephrology through integrated clinical care, translational research, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Guided by a mission to improve meaningful health outcomes for children with kidney disease, the Center will bridge scientific discovery and patient care by fostering partnerships among clinicians, researchers, patients, and families.

The Center's vision is to become a nationally recognized leader in pediatric nephrology by translating scientific breakthroughs into transformative care. Through infrastructure supporting clinical research, biobanking, data science, clinical trials, and quality improvement, the Center will accelerate the development and implementation of novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and care delivery models. Research activities will be embedded in clinical practice so that discoveries rapidly inform patient care and patients have access to cutting-edge studies and emerging therapies.

The Center will cultivate a collaborative research network that brings together investigators across disciplines and institutions to address complex kidney diseases and improve long-term outcomes. Through faculty development, pilot funding opportunities, and educational programs, the Center will help train the next generation of leaders in pediatric nephrology. Sustainable investment in research infrastructure, innovation, and strategic partnerships will position the Center as a destination program for children with kidney disease while elevating the national profile of Children's Health and UT Southwestern.

Learn more about the division here: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/pediatrics/divisions/nephrology/

The Department of Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern is a vibrant hub of research, training, and clinical care. Its physicians, researchers, and educators are advancing the science of childhood health, preparing future leaders, and delivering care across North Texas and beyond. The Department's mission is to safeguard the health of all North Texas children through expert patient care, biomedical research, and training of future pediatricians.

The Department includes 20 divisions and centers, more than 500 faculty and staff, 11 nationally ranked pediatric specialties, seven clinical sites, more than 200 doctors in training, and 19 ACGME-certified pediatric subspecialty fellowships. In FY25, the Department received $36.1 million in overall research funding and produced more than 400 publications.

Learn more about the department here: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/pediatrics/

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern is an internationally recognized academic medical center renowned for its research, medical education, clinical and scientific training, and nationally recognized clinical care. UT Southwestern Medical Center has four schools: UT Southwestern Medical School, UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Southwestern School of Health Professions, and UT Southwestern Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. The schools train approximately 4,000 medical, graduate and health profession students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows each year. Additionally, many early career researchers have been appointed scholars in the Medical Center's acclaimed programs, including the Endowed Scholars Program in Medical Science, Disease-Oriented Clinical Scholars.

UT Southwestern is home to many nationally and internationally recognized physicians and scientists, including six Nobel Laureates since 1985, 23 members of the National Academy of Sciences, and 24 members of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine). UT Southwestern is also home to 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigators and, as faculty members in basic science departments, their recognized leadership is an important source of the organization's strengths in biomedical research. UT Southwestern is ranked No. 1 in Dallas-Fort Worth for the ninth consecutive year and has 12 specialties ranked among the nation's best in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Children's Health

For more than 110 years, Children's Health has pursued a long-standing commitment to the community to provide high-quality patient care, advocacy, and education with an unwavering focus on their mission: to make life better for children. Children's Health is hailed as one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and includes Children's Medical Center Dallas, Children's Medical Center Plano, and multiple Children's Health Specialty Centers. The organization is comprised of more than 11,000 employees, providing care for more than 370,000 patients annually. Through a longstanding academic affiliation with UT Southwestern, Children's Health serves as a leader in life-changing treatments, innovative technology and ground-breaking research. Children's Health is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report across all 11 pediatric specialties for 2025-2026, marking the eighth consecutive year of recognition across every specialty area. It is the only hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding region recognized across all pediatric specialties and is ranked No. 2 in Texas.

Joint Pediatric Enterprise (JPE)

UT Southwestern Medical Center is proud to collaborate with Children's Health to recruit top-caliber faculty and pediatric advanced practice providers who work within both health care systems to provide the very best care for children and their families.

The Joint Pediatric Enterprise (JPE), formed in 2019, is structured to facilitate shared decision-making and operational alignment between UT Southwestern and Children's Health, which have been affiliated for more than 60 years. Together, the institutes are better equipped to meet the rapidly growing needs of the North Texas pediatric community and beyond. This powerful partnership strengthens patient outcomes by providing access to renowned faculty, biomedical research, and clinical trials.

As part of the JPE, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health broke ground on October 1, 2024 on a new $5 billion pediatric health campus in Dallas' Southwestern Medical District. Spanning more than 33 acres, the new pediatric campus will encompass more than 4.7 million square feet of construction, including a new pediatric hospital as its centerpiece. The hospital, comprised of two 12-story towers and an 8-story tower, along with the broader care site, will significantly expand inpatient, surgical, and ambulatory capacity to meet the needs of one of the fastest-growing and largest metropolitan areas in the country.

As North Texas experiences unprecedented growth, and with the pediatric population expected to double by 2050, there is an urgent demand for advanced pediatric health care. To meet those needs, the new campus will expand access to a full range of pediatric services from routine care to complex treatments, creating a one-of-a-kind hub for academic research, training, and the development of life-saving technologies. The pediatric campus, which will replace the existing Children's Medical Center Dallas, is expected to open in the next five years. It will be built on the UT Southwestern campus on the corner of Harry Hines Boulevard and Mockingbird Lane, across from UTSW's William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.

Highlights of the project include:

• 4.7 million square feet of construction
• 552 beds (38% increase) with space for future expansion
• Expanded Emergency Department space (15%) and operating rooms (22%)
• Two helicopter pads
• A Level I pediatric trauma center, 90 ER exam rooms, and 24 observation rooms
• A connector bridge between the new campus and Clements University Hospital, ensuring continuity of care for babies with direct access to the pediatric expertise provided at the Children's Health Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)
• A new fetal care center to provide the region's most advanced and accessible services for complex maternal and fetal health care, including fetal surgery capabilities at the adjoining Clements University Hospital
• A new outpatient clinic building that will add 96 exam rooms to the 344 that will continue to operate at the existing Children's Health Specialty Center Dallas outpatient facility on Stemmons Freeway at Medical District Drive

The new pediatric campus adds to the ongoing investments by UT Southwestern and Children's Health to meet the region's growing pediatric medical and surgical needs. In October 2024, the new Children's Health Plano hospital tower opened and substantially increased the number of beds to 212 to increase access to care for children in North Texas. The partnership is also expanding access to care in surrounding communities with new specialty centers, a growing referral network, and more - each a part of their commitment to growing with North Texas, anticipating long-term pediatric needs, and providing extraordinary care close to home.

Milestone gifts from The Jean and Mack Pogue Family Foundation and The Rees-Jones Foundation

A recent $100 million gift from The Rees-Jones Foundation to support the construction of the new pediatric campus followed a $100 million gift from the Jean and Mack Pogue Family Foundation in May. This marks the first time in Texas that a not-for-profit construction project has received two individual leadership gifts of $100 million. To publicly recognize The Rees-Jones Foundation gift, the central hospital tower at the new Dallas pediatric campus will be named Rees-Jones Tower. In addition, the greenspace on which the campus will reside will be known as the Pogue Family Park.

The Role

UT Southwestern is seeking a national leader as the next Chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology in the Department of Pediatrics and inaugural Director of The Center for Kidney Innovation and Care. The position will report directly to the Chair of Pediatrics, Dr. Jorge Bezerra, and will play a critical leadership role within the Department, Children's Health, and the Joint Pediatric Enterprise. The Chief will provide strategic, administrative, financial, and operational leadership for the Division, with responsibility for the clinical, research, and education missions. This leader will build on a foundation of clinical excellence while defining the Division's next era of growth and culture. The Chief will lead a diverse group of faculty, advanced practice providers, staff, fellows, residents, and students at a time of unprecedented institutional investment and growth. They will collaborate across the Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern, and with key partners at Children's Health.

Clinically, the Chief will ensure the delivery of excellent, high-value kidney care across inpatient, outpatient, transplant, dialysis, acute care nephrology, and consultative services. Key priorities include advancing the kidney transplant program; strengthening dialysis and renal replacement therapy services; supporting expansion of acute care nephrology across ICUs; developing more specialized clinical lanes within the Division; expanding ambulatory access in Dallas, Plano, and future sites of care; and preparing the Division for the new pediatric campus. The clinical platform is extensive, and the opportunity in renal replacement therapy and transplant is particularly ripe for further investment and innovation.

The Division's growth and evolution will be a critical element in achieving the Department of Pediatrics' vision of transformation and advancement of subspecialized care and programs. Through collaboration across Divisions and with Children's Health, the Chief will establish and promote best practices, improving high reliability of clinical services. They will leverage data and analytics to measure outcomes and drive quality improvement. The Chief will ensure alignment of the clinical and academic missions of the Division, the Department of Pediatrics and Children's Health.

The Chief will elevate and promote the importance of the academic mission in the Division, building on the strong partnership between UT Southwestern and Children's Health, which marries the University's success in scientific discovery and innovation with the investments of Children's Health in clinical practice and the care environment. The Chief will build a robust portfolio of research, while encouraging the importance of grant-funding, scholarly output and publications in high impact journals. This Chief will foster an outstanding teaching environment, while continuously improving and advancing the medical education curriculum and training programs available.

The Chief will prioritize recruiting, training, developing, and retaining world-class faculty to advance the Division and Department's bold growth strategy. This leader will maintain a collaborative and transparent atmosphere, further develop existing programs, and identify potential opportunities for additional development. Through the continued advancement of research, education, and clinical care, the Chief will significantly elevate the national reputation of the Division of Nephrology during their tenure. To be successful, this Chief must take a concerted approach to partnering with key constituency groups in and outside the Department of Pediatrics, effectively collaborating across Children's Health to realize the shared mission of the medical school and the health system.

Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center is located in Dallas, Texas. Relocation is required for this role.

Candidate Profile

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

Education and Experience

• MD or MD/PhD (or equivalent) from an accredited medical school is required
• Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in Pediatric Nephrology
• Must qualify for an unrestricted Texas medical license
• Nationally recognized as a leader in the field of Pediatric Nephrology with an outstanding track record of accomplishment in clinical care, research, and education
• Demonstrated administrative and leadership experience in academic medicine, with an ability to build and expand upon a strong foundation
• Operationally minded; ability to outline a clear road map for the execution of the division's expansion
• Highly organized individual with strong leadership skills, administrative dexterity, and a demonstrated ability to create and lead within a complex, matrixed, evolving environment
• Strong business acumen with the ability to build collegial relationships, influence and negotiate within a highly matrixed, large and complex organization
• Demonstrated track record of building trusted relationships outside of Pediatric Nephrology with key divisions, departments and institutional leaders
• Demonstrated success in faculty recruitment, mentoring and development across the spectrum of clinical faculty, clinician-scientists, basic science researchers and staff
• Experience building and supporting clinical and research programs and promoting academic and clinical excellence
• Strong track record of scholarly achievement, including publications and external research funding
• Outstanding communication skills and an ability to work collaboratively with hospital staff, hospital and system management, and community stakeholders are required
• Exceptional skills in advocacy and influencing, with the capability to represent and advocate for the division, team, and resources across the academic, research and clinical enterprises
• Experience advancing the education mission related to fellowship training programs
• Demonstrated success building diverse and cohesive teams, fostering a sense of inclusion, community and collaboration
• Track record of promoting a culture of respect, positivity, and inclusivity
• Proven successful track record of mentorship
• Ability to connect and build strong relationships with others, demonstrated strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly
• Experience attracting and recruiting top talent, motivate, delegate effectively, and manage performance
• Dynamic, collaborative team builder; ability to nurture growth, communication, and development of the teams around them
• Comfort with ambiguity
• Experience in research, training, and clinical achievement, commensurate with appointment to the faculty at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor

Setting Strategy

• The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for the organization, not only for the areas they are directly responsible for, but the enterprise as a whole.
• The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the organization's overall strategy.
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry.
• The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of how much change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful.

Executing for Results

• The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
• A risk-taker who seeks data and input from others to foresee possible threats or unintended circumstances from decisions; someone who takes smart risks.
• A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking into account what is best for the organization.

Leading Teams

• The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges, and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.
• A leader who is self-reflective and aware of their own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.

Relationships and Influence

• Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in their beliefs, and active drive.
• Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team.
• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond their own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for the organization as a whole.

Nomination and Application Procedure

To receive full consideration, interested individuals should electronically submit a Curriculum Vitae and a letter of interest to Russell Reynolds Associates. The letter of interest is a two-page cover letter, primarily detailing your experience, qualification, and key achievements related to this position specification and briefly expressing your interest in this Chief role. All inquiries should be sent to UTSWPediatricNephrology@russellreynolds.com

Applications will be reviewed immediately and accepted until the position is filled.

Contact

Kathy Vuturo

Russell Reynolds Associates

155 North Wacker Drive

Suite 4100

Chicago, IL 60606-1732

Mobile: +1-513-5039573

kathy.vuturo@russellreynolds.com

Ben Grover

Russell Reynolds Associates

155 North Wacker Drive

Suite 4100

Chicago, IL 60606-1732

Mobile: +1-312-5602140

ben.grover@russellreynolds.com

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

Appointment rank will be commensurate with academic accomplishment and experience. Consideration may be given to applicants seeking less than a full-time schedule.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

Benefits

UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!