Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice, Internal Medicine-Rheumatology

POSITION OVERVIEW
UTMB’s Department of Internal Medicine seeks board-certified rheumatologists (Assistant Professor) to join its expanding division. Faculty roles support clinical care, education, and research, with flexible mission profiles tailored to individual expertise.
Faculty members will provide subspecialty care for patients with rheumatic diseases, contribute to the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, and have opportunities to develop scholarly activities aligned with their interests and the division's strategic priorities. Roles may focus on clinical service, education, or research based on candidate expertise and divisional needs.
These positions report to the Division Chief of Rheumatology and work collaboratively with faculty across Internal Medicine subspecialties, hospital leadership, and interdisciplinary colleagues to advance patient care, education, and research missions.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
UTMB, established in 1891 as Texas’s first medical school, is a $3.5 billion academic health center with five schools. With $168 million in sponsored research, it ranks 52nd nationally in NIH funding and among the top 2% of NIH-supported institutions.
UTMB operates four campuses with 1,000+ beds and 90+ clinics, serving over 1.8 million people in Southeast Texas. As the only academic health center south of Houston and a Level I Trauma Center, it offers quaternary care, burn and transplant services, and specialty care for the TDCJ prison population.
UTMB hosts the Galveston National Laboratory (one of two BSL-4 university labs in the U.S.) and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development. Research strengths include microbiology, immunology, infectious diseases, critical care, and translational sciences, with the Moody Brain Health Institute recently launched through a $25 million donation.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB’s John Sealy School of Medicine, led by Dr. Salim Hayek, is the largest department and includes divisions such as Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Pulmonary, and more. It offers a 32-position Internal Medicine residency and a unique Aerospace/Internal Medicine residency with NASA. The department emphasizes precision medicine, AI integration, patient care excellence, strong training programs, and growth in basic, translational, and clinical research.

DIVISION STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES
The Division of Rheumatology provides comprehensive care for patients with rheumatic diseases across UTMB's multi-campus system. Division programs include:

• Comprehensive Clinical Services - Consultative and longitudinal care for patients with systemic rheumatologic conditions 
• Multi-Site Clinical Operations - Rheumatology clinics in Galveston and League City, with expansion to Clear Lake and Angleton-Danbury campuses to meet growing demand
• TDCJ Rheumatology Clinic - Specialized rheumatologic care to the incarcerated population at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration - Integration with nephrology (glomerulonephritis), endocrinology (bone health), dermatology, neurology, orthopedics, and other specialties
• ACGME-Accredited Fellowship - Two-year rheumatology fellowship program with opportunities for faculty to serve as clinical educators and research mentors
• Research Infrastructure - Access to UTMB's strengths in immunology, infectious diseases, and translational sciences, with potential for collaboration on autoimmune disease mechanisms and therapeutics development

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Faculty responsibilities are tailored to individual expertise and appointment track, with flexibility to emphasize clinical, educational, or research missions. All faculty maintain clinical practice and contribute to educational activities commensurate with their appointment.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide outpatient rheumatology care in one or more clinical sites (Galveston, League City, Clear Lake, Angleton-Danbury)
• Deliver inpatient consultative services for hospitalized patients with rheumatic diseases or autoimmune complications
• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including musculoskeletal examination, arthrocentesis, joint injections, and point-of-care ultrasound (where applicable)
• Participate in multidisciplinary clinics and case conferences with nephrology, dermatology, and other subspecialties
• Collaborate with infusion services, pharmacy, and nursing staff to deliver team-based care including biologic therapies and immunosuppressive management
• Maintain clinical documentation, coding, and billing practices consistent with institutional standards
• Participate in clinical quality improvement initiatives and utilization review activities

Educational Responsibilities

• Supervise and educate rheumatology fellows during outpatient clinics, consultative services, and procedural training
• Teach Internal Medicine residents during subspecialty rotations, including didactic conferences and bedside instruction
• Provide clinical teaching for medical students during clerkships and elective rotations
• Participate in divisional, departmental, or institutional educational conferences
• Mentor trainees in scholarly activities, case reports, quality improvement projects, or research initiatives
• Contribute to fellowship recruitment, curriculum development, and program evaluation activities

Scholarly and Research Responsibilities (position-dependent)

• Clinician educators\: Lead curriculum innovation, educational scholarship, or medical education research; participate in teaching academies or faculty development programs
• Physician-scientists\: Conduct independent or collaborative research, seek extramural funding, and mentor trainees
• All faculty\: Participate in quality improvement, outcomes research, or scholarly dissemination; stay current in rheumatology and engage in professional societies

Administrative and Service Responsibilities

• Engage in divisional meetings, planning, and quality improvement
• Serve on departmental, institutional, or professional committees
• Contribute to peer review, credentialing, and clinical pathway development
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and faculty development
• Maintain active licensure, board certification, and institutional credentials

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Required Qualifications

• MD or DO from an accredited institution
• Board certified/eligible in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology (ABIM or equivalent)
• Eligible for Texas medical licensure
• Completed ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology
• Demonstrated commitment to clinical excellence, education, and professional growth

Valued Experience and Skills

• Expertise in inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, and crystal arthropathies
• Skilled in musculoskeletal ultrasound, joint injections, and procedural rheumatology
• Experience in managing complex autoimmune diseases requiring multidisciplinary care
• Proven educator of medical students, residents, or fellows
• Active in scholarship through publications, presentations, or quality improvement projects
• Clinician educators\: background in educational scholarship, curriculum design, or simulation-based training
• Physician-scientists\: record of extramural funding, high-impact publications, and collaborative research
• Engaged in professional societies (e.g., ACR, regional organizations)
• Proficient with EHRs, decision-support tools, and telemedicine
• Dedicated to health equity and culturally responsive care for underserved population

COMPENSATION AND SUPPORT
Compensation follows the Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Compensation Plan and is benchmarked to AAMC Faculty Salary Survey data aligned by academic rank and geographic region. Total compensation includes base salary with potential for clinical productivity incentives, academic achievement bonuses, or research support depending on appointment track.
Faculty have access to:

• Divisional administrative support for scheduling, billing, and clinical operations
• Institutional resources for CME, professional development, and conferences
• Negotiable protected time for scholarship based on appointment track and funding
• Potential startup funding or research support for faculty with active research programs or competitive grant applications
• Mentorship, promotion guidance, and faculty development resources
   

UTMB offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas or Optional Retirement Program, life and disability insurance, and professional liability coverage.

LOCATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Galveston Island, 30 miles south of Houston, offers Gulf Coast beaches, a mild climate, and historic charm, with a lower cost of living and easy access to Houston’s world-class amenities
Houston offers rich cultural and recreational amenities—professional sports, performing arts, museums, diverse dining, and shopping—plus outdoor activities like beaches, fishing, and sailing. Excellent schools and proximity to the Texas Medical Center support academic collaboration and networking.
Major airports (Houston Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental) provide convenient access for national and international travel, supporting both professional engagement and personal connections.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.