Professor & Chair

Position Summary: The School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as Chair for the Department of Ophthalmology.

This recruitment is Open Track/Open Rank, and the appropriate track and rank will be determined once the top candidate is selected.

The Department’s vision is to improve the health of our patients by providing the highest-quality clinical care, pioneering new approaches to treating and preventing eye disease, and educating the next generation of ophthalmologists.

The Department is comprised of multiple divisions, programs, and specialized internal clinical research units. The department also works in partnership with the UNC Gene Therapy Center, Lineberger Cancer Center, Carolina Nanomedicine Institute, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Our clinical programs serve patients from across North Carolina by providing both comprehensive and subspecialty ophthalmic care. We offer advanced diagnostic services, medical treatments, and surgical interventions for a wide range of eye conditions. Our team includes experts in retina, glaucoma, cornea and external disease, oculoplastics, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, and uveitis.

In addition to our main facility at the Kittner Eye Center, we extend our reach through 10 care locations, including UNC Hospitals, Hillsborough Hospital, Person Memorial Hospital, Chatham Hospital, Holly Springs, Pittsboro, Roxboro, Burlington, North Raleigh, and the Fayetteville VA Medical Center.

The UNC Department of Ophthalmology is proud to offer a highly regarded residency program that provides rigorous, well-rounded clinical training in all major subspecialties of ophthalmology. Our three-year ACGME-accredited program emphasizes early surgical exposure, strong mentorship, and a comprehensive curriculum. In addition to the residency program, we offer fellowships in cornea, glaucoma, and medical and surgical retina. Across all levels of training, our department fosters an environment of academic excellence, collaboration, and compassionate patient care.

UNC Ophthalmology has a long-standing history of excellence in clinical care, education, and research. The UNC Division of Ophthalmology began training residents in collaboration of the McPherson Eye Hospital in 1956 and has upheld a deep commitment to education ever since. The department was established in 1977 and has evolved into a nationally respected academic program with a strong focus on subspecialty care, resident and fellow education, and innovation in vision research.

Our department has experienced significant growth in clinical and surgical volume. From 2011 to 2024, annual clinic visits have increased by more than 54%, and our surgical volume has more than doubled in that time. This growth reflects our expanding patient reach across North Carolina.

The research mission of UNC Eye is to pioneer new ideas and technologies which will set up the stage for better and alternative treatments of eye diseases in the near future.
The Carolina Eye Research Institute supports state-of-the-art research laboratories with national and international recognition. We primarily focus on AAV and nanoparticle translational gene therapy in multiple eye diseases. The department is committed to the study of new treatments in human disease through participation in large scale sponsored clinical trials and close collaboration between its clinicians and basic research scientists.

This recruitment is Open Track/Open Rank, and the appropriate track and rank will be determined once the top candidate is selected. In addition to a primary faculty appointment in the Department of Ophthalmology, the selected candidate will hold a secondary EHRA Non-Faculty administrative appointment as Department Chair.

Minimum qualifications: Board Certified Ophthalmologist – MD/DO

Preferred qualifications: Preference for candidates with a distinguished record of clinical excellence in Ophthalmology, creative research productivity, administrative skills, and a commitment to education.