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Vice Chair of Research Family Medicine -Associate Professor/Professor -

Medical College of Wisconsin · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Jan 12, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about your own research and funding history in primary care or family medicine.

What they are checking: Whether they bring credibility as a funded researcher who can lead others.

Tell me about a time you developed a new line of research funding from scratch.

What they are checking: Whether they can open new funding sources beyond NIH, which the posting asks for.

Tell me about a time you mentored an early-career investigator to their first grant.

What they are checking: Whether they have actually grown other researchers, which this role depends on.

What would you do

How would you help clinician faculty who aren't primarily researchers study and publish their own work?

What they are checking: Whether they can build support for busy clinicians, which the posting names directly.

How would you attract and retain funded researchers to a family medicine department?

What they are checking: Whether they know what researchers need, such as protected time, staff and mentorship.

You'd also see patients in the residency programs. How do you balance clinical work with research leadership?

What they are checking: Whether they stay connected to practice, which keeps research grounded in real primary care problems.

As part of the executive team, how would you make the case for investing in research when clinical budgets are tight?

What they are checking: Whether they can argue for research in terms that department leaders care about.

About the work

The goal is to reach a target Blue Ridge ranking. How would you get the department there?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that NIH funding drives the ranking and have a concrete plan to grow it.

What research questions matter most for underserved or minority populations in Milwaukee, in your view?

What they are checking: Whether they connect research priorities to the communities the department serves.

How do you oversee grants, IRB work and research facilitators without micromanaging faculty?

What they are checking: Whether they can build solid research infrastructure while keeping faculty independence.

How would you run practice-based research across community clinic sites?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the practical challenges of research in busy community clinics.

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The full job description

As published by Medical College of Wisconsin.

The Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) , seeks a board certified / board eligible physician to lead our research within the department . Candidates will also support clinical care by seeing patients in the residency programs.  This position is located in Milwaukee , WI at the Medical College of Wisconsin . We are comprised of nationally and internationally renowned, dedicated group of faculty and staff with a strong commitment to clinical care. Position Highlights: • Evolve the research operation so eventually it consistently achieves target Blue Ridge ranking, brings in research funds from other sources and broadly supports research into questions of importance to primary care, family medicine, and underserved or minority populations. • Participate as a member of the DFCM Executive Team led by the Department Chair • Sustain robust lines of research and funding, develop new lines of research and funding while attracting new funded researchers to the research enterprise and retaining productive researchers. Support and encourage the Department’s other efforts to help all faculty to study and publish on their own work, even when not primarily researchers. • Oversee how faculty and research staff manage specifics in research functions such as grants, IRB, research-evaluation services, research facilitators at local sites, consultation to faculty proposing projects. • Maximize research funding and productivity that aligns with department goals, along with broad awareness of research opportunities and funding, including for pilots and small grants for new researchers. • Incorporate the work of the Center for Healthy Communities and its Director as a consistent and aligned part of the overall DFCM research program. • Serve as a liaison to the major research entities across MCW, such as the CTSI, Office of Research, Office of Community Engagement, Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin, and relevant Research Centers and Departments, promoting collaborative research and scholarship within the larger institution. • Cultivate a culture of inquiry for faculty and learners to ask and answer practice‐based questions and publish as an academic family medicine department; work with Vice Chairs for Clinical Affairs and Education and to promote a feasible and gratifying exercise of scholarship and publication among all clinical faculty, non‐primary researchers, and learners. • Be a model—an active researcher on own projects—producing results, interacting with other researchers inside and outside the institution. • Provide high-level direction and mentoring for researchers as a group or as individuals, including establishing pathways for novice researchers to become research-focused faculty. Find or develop other mentors inside or outside the department. • Oversee Department dashboard metrics related to research. Develop and propose metrics to be tracked annually and expanded metrics to monitor and improve the research operation. • Performs other duties as assigned by Chair or Chair-Designate. Department/Division Highlights: The Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) at the Medical College of Wisconsin teaches a comprehensive, whole-person approach to care. In an age where specialists abound, DFCM incorporates the broader behavioral sciences into the practice of medicine and values a patient-physician relationship within the totality of family and community. With our progressive partnerships and strong, community-based residency programs, DFCM pioneers student learning opportunities that deepen the understanding of the social, economic and cultural aspects of patient care. Qualifications • Medical degree (MD, DO, or equivalent) from an accredited institution. • Board certification in Family Medicine • Additional Research Training preferred • State medical licensure, or eligibility to obtain license, in the state of Wisconsin. • Rank will be determined by the qualifications and experience of the successful finalist. Procedure for Candidacy To submit your application, please click on “Apply Now.” You will create a candidate profile, and you will be prompted to upload your CV and your cover letter, describing your interest and qualifications. References will be required at an appropriate time in the process. All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For inquiries or to learn more, please contact: Jen Van Abel Thibodeau, Physician & APP Recruiter jvathibodeau@mcw.edu #LI-JV1 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. Academic medicine is at the core of everything we do at MCW, bringing together scientists, clinicians, students and community members to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. MCW is a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to pioneer pathways to a healthier world. Every study we conduct and every patient we see leads to new learning and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge and innovation. Approximately 1,780 MCW physicians and approximately 905 advanced practice providers care for more than 484,000 patients of all ages annually at Froedtert Hospital, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Children’s Wisconsin, and many other hospitals and clinics throughout eastern Wisconsin, representing more than 5.1 million patient visits annually. The beautiful, safe and modern campus of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) houses Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Wisconsin, Curative Care Network, Versiti Blood Research Institute and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division. These member entities share a common mission of excellence in patient care, medical education, biomedical research and community service. Commitment to MCW Values All of our endeavors at MCW, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: acting in Caring ways – engaging in Collaborative efforts – approaching our world with Curiosity – advancing Inclusive practices – demonstrating Integrity in all we do – treating everyone with 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 in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is located on Lake Michigan’s western shore. A metropolitan area with more than 1.6 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, lakefront museums, a theater district, the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers, bustling nightlife, and award-winning restaurants. The lake and its harbors are skirted by scenic parklands and provide first-class opportunities for recreation, including hiking, cycling, boating, and more. A recent study ranked Milwaukee as the 15th most walkable of the 50 largest US cities. Milwaukee has all the advantages of a large, vibrant city but without the stress or cost. MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination 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.

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