Description
The Section of General Academic Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine is seeking a collaborative, visionary physician leader to serve as Section Head. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a dynamic and accomplished team dedicated to excellence in clinical care, education, research, advocacy, and community engagement.
About the Section
Our section comprises:
25 pediatricians across all academic ranks
5 advanced practice providers (APPs)
A mental health professional
Several PhD researchers
Faculty members are highly productive and engaged in a broad range of scholarly activities, including research, education, quality improvement, and advocacy. Many also hold national leadership roles in organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the North Carolina AAP chapter, and the Academic Pediatric Association (APA).
Highlights
Clinical Services
Our General Pediatrics team provides care in a community-based primary care clinic, designated as a patient-centered medical home, serving an under-resourced population. This clinic is also the primary teaching site for our pediatric residency program.
Additional clinical roles include:
Staffing the newborn nursery within a state-of-the-art labor and delivery suite and mother-baby unit (opened July 2019)
Providing subspecialty care through our Adolescent Medicine team, which serves patients aged 11–21 years and specializes in eating disorders, adolescent gynecology, mental health, and substance use disorders
Research Focus
Our clinical work drives a robust research agenda. Key areas of investigation include:
Health-related social needs (especially food insecurity)
Obesity prevention and treatment
Early childhood nutrition and development
Literacy and school readiness
Early relational health
Biomedical informatics
Mental health
Vaccination practices
Position Summary
The Section Head will provide strategic leadership and operational management to advance the mission of the section. This role requires:
Clinical expertise
Administrative skill
A commitment to academic excellence
A collaborative spirit
The Section Head will also serve as a career mentor to faculty, fostering professional growth and supporting scholarly and leadership development.
Training and/or Experience Required
Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
Board certification in Pediatrics.
Proven leadership experience in an academic medical setting.
Strong understanding of financial management principles.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.
Benefits
Paid Time Off programs available for eligible positions
Comprehensive health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage
Retirement benefits, including 401(k) options with employer contributions and access to financial wellness resources
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Family support benefits, which may include parental leave, adoption assistance, and surrogacy support
Educational assistance and professional development programs
Paid medical liability insurance
Continuing Medical Education (CME) allowances
Relocation assistance
About Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem beautifully blends rich history with modern innovation, offering residents a vibrant and welcoming community. Known for its picturesque neighborhoods like West End and West Salem, the city features charming historic homes and tree-lined streets. The city boasts a thriving arts and culture scene, with galleries, theaters, music venues, and festivals that bring the community together year-round. Walkable neighborhoods make it easy to explore local shops, parks, and restaurants, supporting an active and healthy lifestyle. Winston-Salem offers a high quality of life with a cost of living below the national average and affordable housing options. It's home to excellent educational institutions such as Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, and Salem College, recognized among the South's best college towns. With over 3,500 acres of parks, 25 miles of greenways, and easy access to both mountains and beaches, Winston-Salem offers abundant outdoor recreation. Above all, residents take pride in their genuine southern hospitality, making it easy to feel at home and build connections in this dynamic and evolving city.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is one of the largest nonprofit integrated health systems in the United States, providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin. With Wake Forest University School of Medicine as our academic core, we are shaping the future of health care through innovation, research, education and compassionate care.
When you join Advocate Health, you’re joining a team that’s committed to being a Best Place to Care—where clinicians are heard, supported and empowered to focus on what matters most: caring for patients. This enterprise-wide initiative is grounded in listening to care teams, removing barriers to excellent care, and fostering well-being and connection. It reflects our purpose—from discovery to everyday moments, we’re redefining care - for you, for us, for all—and lives through our values: lifting each other up, leading with purpose, thinking boldly together and embracing change with optimism. Here, you’ll find not just a job, but a career with meaning, growth and impact—for all.
Requirements
Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
Board certification in Pediatrics.
Proven leadership experience in an academic medical setting.
Strong understanding of financial management principles.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.
