Associate Dean for GME & DIO | Educational Leadership

UCSF Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 500,000; Part time

Job summary

University of California, San Francisco seeks an Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education (DIO) to lead accreditation, quality, and strategic oversight of all residency and fellowship programs. The role partners with department chairs, program directors, and health system leaders to advance educational excellence and trainee well-being.

The position emphasizes innovation in curricula, assessment, and leadership development, with a focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement across

Qualifications

• MD or equivalent degree and associate/full professor rank.
• Experience as program director or DIO in GME.
• Proven leadership in faculty and staff development.
• Commitment to trainee well-being and educational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for UCSF GME programs.
• Advise and collaborate with Deans and health system leaders on GME strategy.
• Chair GMEC and oversee accreditation, quality, and learning environment.
• Represent UCSF nationally in graduate medical education forums.
• Oversee trainee supervision, well-being, and program evaluation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Educational administration

Faculty development

Quality improvement

Education

MD or equivalent degree

Associate or Full Professor rank

Job description

Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education

Position Summary
The Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Designated Institutional Official (DIO) serves as the senior institutional leader responsible for the strategic direction, oversight, accreditation, quality, and continuous improvement of Graduate Medical Education programs. Reporting to the Vice Dean for Education, the Associate Dean/DIO provides vision, leadership, and operational oversight for all accredited and non-accredited residency and fellowship programs sponsored by the institution and serves as the institution’s official representative to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The Associate Dean/DIO partners closely with department chairs, program directors, faculty, health system leadership, affiliated training sites, and learners to ensure excellence in clinical education, trainee well-being, patient safety, and professional development. The position requires deep expertise in graduate medical education administration, accreditation, educational innovation, and organizational leadership.

Key Responsibilities
Institutional Leadership and Strategy

• Provide strategic leadership for all Graduate Medical Education programs and initiatives at UCSF and the UCSF Fresno regional campus.
• Develop and implement a vision for GME that aligns with the institution’s educational, clinical, research, and community missions.
• Advise the Dean, Vice Dean for Education, and health system senior leaders on matters related to graduate medical education.
• Lead institutional efforts to anticipate and respond to evolving trends in medical education, healthcare delivery, workforce development, and accreditation requirements.
• Promote innovation, educational excellence, and continuous quality improvement across all residency and fellowship programs.
• Designated Institutional Official (DIO) Responsibilities
• Serve as the institution’s Designated Institutional Official as defined by ACGME Institutional Requirements.
• Maintain institutional accreditation and ensure compliance with all ACGME requirements.
• Provide oversight of the Sponsoring Institution and all ACGME-accredited programs.
• Chair or oversee the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) and ensure effective governance of GME programs.
• Monitor program quality, accreditation status, and institutional performance metrics.
• Lead institutional reviews, accreditation site visits, annual reporting, and responses to accreditation actions.
• Ensure appropriate oversight of participating sites and educational partnerships.

Educational Leadership

• Provide leadership for the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of graduate medical education curricula.
• Support residency and fellowship program directors in achieving educational excellence.
• Foster innovation in competency-based education, assessment, coaching, and learner development.
• Promote integration and alignment across undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, and continuing professional development.
• Support faculty development initiatives related to teaching, mentoring, assessment, and educational leadership.

Quality, Safety, and Learning Environment

• Promote a culture of patient safety, professionalism, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Ensure residents and fellows are appropriately engaged in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Oversee institutional processes related to trainee supervision, duty hours, fatigue mitigation, and learning environment standards.
• Collaborate with health system leaders to strengthen educational quality and clinical learning environments.

Trainee Success and Well-Being

• Champion resident and fellow well-being, professional fulfillment, and psychological safety.
• Develop strategies to support learner engagement, success, career development, and retention.
• Ensure equitable access to educational opportunities and support services.
• Address trainee concerns and facilitate effective institutional responses to learner issues.

Financial and Administrative Oversight

• Provide oversight of institutional GME resources and participate in strategic financial planning for GME programs.
• Ensure appropriate allocation and stewardship of educational resources.
• Lead and mentor UCSF Fresno DIO, UCSF GME administrative leaders and staff.
• Establish operational priorities, performance measures, and accountability structures for the GME enterprise.

Scholarship and National Leadership

• Represent the institution nationally in graduate medical education organizations and forums.
• Contribute to scholarship, innovation, and dissemination of best practices in medical education.
• Promote evidence-based approaches to educational design, assessment, faculty development, and learner support.
• Serve as an ambassador for the institution’s educational mission and reputation.

This is a 0.80 FTE position, funded through the Office of Medical Education. The additional .20 FTE will be compensated by the individual’s home department for departmental responsibilities.

Personal Qualifications
We seek a physician educator and leader with the capacity to inspire, support, and encourage trainees, staff and faculty. The ADGME must demonstrate expertise in graduate medical education administration (either at the program director or designated institutional official level), program assessment, and continuous quality improvement. The work of the ADGME is done with and through others and thus, the successful candidate must be able to engage and empower School of Medicine faculty and staff as well as UCSF campus staff and health system leaders to advance our collective work and to ensure a positive environment for all. The ADGME must be able to demonstrate a commitment to helping our trainees achieve the excellence expected of a UCSF physician. Essential skills include superb communication; consensus-building; creative problem solving; working through others; change leadership; effective team-based collaboration; flexibility and adaptability; and the ability to design and work within systems.

Position Requirements
The successful candidate must have:

• An MD or equivalent degree and a faculty rank of associate or full professor.
• Experience in graduate medical education with documented effectiveness as a program director, Designated Institutional official or comparable institutional GME leadership role.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in advancing a culture and climate of opportunity.
• Demonstrated effectiveness as a leader of faculty and staff.

Application Process:
Click here to apply. Interested faculty are encouraged to apply and upload the following materials:

• CV
• Cover Letter: Letter of Intent, addressing qualifications outlined in the position description (no more than 2 pages)
• Statement of GME Philosophy: Up to one additional page outlining your experiences related to and vision for graduate medical education
• Statement of Significant Accomplishments: Up to one additional page outlining how you achieved your most significant accomplishment in your position, relevant to this role.

Depending on the department of hire, the total compensation for this position ranges from $250,000 - $500,000, based on experience and clinical specialty.

Total compensation at the University of California, San Francisco includes your base salary, which is determined by your rank and step at appointment, and negotiated pay for Health Sciences Compensation Plan members. Faculty who are members of the Health Sciences Compensation Plan may also be eligible for additional incentive pay.

• An MD or equivalent degree and a faculty rank of associate or full professor.