Description

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

The Ohio State University College of Medicine seeks a Vice Dean/Director to provide innovative, visionary, and collaborative leadership for its School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Across OSU campuses, growth, energy, and investment are evident in every aspect of the tripartite mission, and a culture of transformation is pervasive. The $3 billion expansion of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Wexner Medical Center successfully delivered a new hospital tower, the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center, and a comprehensive Innovation District on West Campus to bolster interdisciplinary research.

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) is one of the most comprehensive health science leaders in the nation and part of the top-ranked OSU College of Medicine https://hrs.osu.edu/. Established in 1966, the School prepares students for elite careers in the healthcare professions. It offers a variety of degree programs and tracks to suit individual interests and abilities. With 124 faculty and 54 staff, SHRS is organized into nine divisions serving 3,379 graduate and undergraduate students through 23 academic programs. Many of the School’s programs are nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, including the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) at #4, the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) at #9, and the Online Health Science Program at #5. Our graduates remain in high demand, boasting robust career paths and exceptional success in graduate school placement.

The Role

The Ohio State University College of Medicine seeks a Vice Dean/Director to provide innovative, visionary, and collaborative leadership for its School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Across OSU campuses, growth, energy, and investment are evident in every aspect of the tripartite mission, and a culture of transformation is pervasive. The $3 billion expansion of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Wexner Medical Center successfully delivered a new hospital tower, the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center, and a comprehensive Innovation District on West Campus to bolster interdisciplinary research.

The Vice Dean and Director serves as the chief executive and academic leader of SHRS, responsible for strategic vision, financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, student success, and the recruitment, development, and retention of faculty and staff. This leader will advance SHRS as a global force in health sciences by leveraging expanded campus infrastructure to drive innovation in research, education, and clinical practice, while defining a forwardlooking vision that responds to the evolving landscape of healthcare, education, and rehabilitation science. The role requires active engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners across the College of Medicine, Health Sciences Colleges, the University, and the broader community.

The Director will guide faculty and staff in curriculum development, outreach, operations, and governance; champion scholarly activity; and collaborate with the University to strengthen interprofessional education that transforms clinical practice. The ideal candidate is a dedicated educator and recognized scholar whose expertise aligns with the School’s programs and who brings experience advancing research, educational initiatives, and community engagement—particularly in ways that support marginalized and underserved populations.

Core Responsibilities 

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Define a forward-looking vision that positions SHRS as a national leader, integrating its pioneering spirit in online education with its commitment to academic rigor.
• Anticipate and respond to rapid changes in healthcare delivery, technology, and policy, ensuring the School remains at the forefront of the dynamic academic landscape.
• Serve on the Dean’s Cabinet and College Leadership Team to align School initiatives with university-wide priorities.
• Define a distinctive identity for SHRS that prioritizes programmatic offerings and research with the greatest potential for societal impact and distinction. 

Educational Excellence

• Lead a high-quality educational portfolio, identifying opportunities to optimize, expand, and align programs with emerging industry needs and national trends.
• Advance the use of digital platforms, hybrid delivery models, simulation, and AI-supported tools to enhance equity and excellence in education.
• Foster a student-centered environment by ensuring high-quality academic advising, wellness resources, and professional pathways.
• Collaborate across the University to enhance longitudinal, interprofessional curricula that prepare graduates for the modern healthcare workforce.

Research, Scholarship & Innovation

• Lead a long-range plan to sustain growth in research funding, emphasizing faculty success in grant acquisition and impactful publications.
• Champion initiatives across the University and with clinical partners to accelerate translational science and technology-enabled health solutions.
• Support faculty in translating intellectual property into scalable tools and practices that improve global health outcomes.
  Manage the strategic allocation of laboratory space and core facilities within the new West Campus Innovation District.

Faculty & Staff Excellence

• Recruit and retain world-class faculty and staff, fostering a culture of shared accountability and professional excellence.
• Provide robust systems of support to guide faculty through tenure, promotion, and leadership opportunities.
• Cultivate an environment that fully embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion, valuing a broad range of perspectives to spark creativity and innovation.

Collaborative Engagement & Development

• Identify and nurture unique ventures with industry partners, foundations, and community healthcare systems.
• Act as an enthusiastic advocate with donors and alumni, and lead fundraising efforts by exploring both traditional and unconventional sources.
• Represent SHRS and the University to internal and external constituents as a local and national thought leader in health and rehabilitation sciences.

Financial & Administrative Stewardship

• Oversee the preparation and management of the School’s budget, ensuring financial health and sustainability for the academic mission.
• Ensure full compliance with internal policies, federal regulations, and accreditation standards for all ten accredited programs.

All inquiries, nominations, and applications with cover letter and curriculum vitae can be directed in confidence to: Katlyn Spano, Katlyn.Spano@osumc.edu

Requirements

• PhD or equivalent degree required.
• A national/international record of scholarly achievement commensurate with the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure, including a distinguished and sustained record of scholarly achievement, teaching excellence at the post-secondary level, and professional service.
• Demonstrated and effective leadership and administrative experience in academia, with desired experience in fundraising, budgeting, and management.
• Evidence of a demonstrated ability to cultivate positive work relationships with students, colleagues, and staff.
• Experience in leading change and the ability to work successfully across disciplines within a complex organization.
• Experience in undergraduate and graduate education, with the ability to support and further develop the School’s existing and potential research and educational programs.Experience with successful collaborations, such as those with other academic units, centers/institutes, community partners, and professional organizations.