Division Chief, Gastroenterology & Liver Disease

University Hospitals invites applications and nominations for the position of Division Chief, Gastroenterology and Liver Disease.The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition stands as one of the Department of Medicine's most prominent and rapidly evolving clinical and research programs. After 18 years of distinguished leadership, Dr. Fabio Cominelli is stepping down, and a national search is underway to recruit the next Division Chief, Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. The successful candidate will bring a strong national reputation in gastroenterology, a demonstrated record of leadership in academic medicine, and a deep commitment to advancing the tripartite missions of patient care, education, and scientific discovery. The Chief will report to Dr. Ighovwerha Ofotokun, Chair, Department of Medicine and will hold a dual appointment as Chief at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, reinforcing the department's deep academic roots and fostering collaboration across research and educational initiatives. The Chief will maintain a close operational partnership and matrixed relationship with the leadership of the UH Digestive Health Institute (DHI) and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of digestive health across University Hospitals Healthcare System and Case Western Reserve University.The Division Chief will be charged with uniting and advancing gastroenterology across the entire UH system, bringing together a network of approximately 45 academic and community-based physicians into a cohesive, high-performing enterprise. This leader will take an operationally focused approach to integrating clinical programs across academic and community settings, strengthening collaboration with regional medical directors and service line leadership, and ensuring consistent standards of clinical excellence throughout the system. Success in this role will require an individual who is both strategic and pragmatic, capable of aligning diverse stakeholders, managing complex academic and clinical environments, and fostering a culture centered on the collective success of the division and the broader organization. The research enterprise is equally robust. In 2016, the Case Digestive Disease Research Institute (DHRI) was established to unify digestive disease research efforts across the academic enterprise, bringing together investigators from 15 clinical and basic science departments. The program has secured significant federal support, including NIH-funded multidisciplinary initiatives such as the T32 Combined Training in Digestive Disease Sciences, the T35 Medical Student Summer Research Program, and the P30 Silvio O. Conte Cleveland Digestive Diseases Research Core Center, alongside numerous investigator-initiated grants that together have generated more than $30 million in NIH funding. The next Chief will be expected to expand this research portfolio, recruit emerging academic talent, and cultivate the next generation of physician-scientists and clinician-investigators.Equally important will be the new Chief's role in faculty development, recruitment, and culture building. The division currently includes a strong group of senior faculty and a highly competitive fellowship program that trains 15 fellows annually, many of whom pursue academic careers or remain within the system. The next leader will have the opportunity to recruit and mentor mid-career and early-career faculty, develop future academic leaders, and strengthen the division's national reputation. Success will require a collaborative, high-emotional-intelligence leader who can navigate diverse personalities, foster engagement across the faculty, and cultivate an inclusive environment where faculty, trainees, and staff feel heard, supported, and aligned around a shared vision for the future.The incoming Chief will also have the opportunity to address several near-term operational priorities, including optimizing efficiency within endoscopy laboratories, improving patient access and scheduling reliability, modernizing capital equipment and clinical infrastructure, and enhancing clinical documentation systems. These initiatives represent an opportunity for a clinically engaged, operationally minded leader to drive meaningful improvements that will strengthen the division's clinical performance while supporting its educational and research missions. Qualified candidates are those who: hold a medical degree (MD, MD/PhD or equivalent). They will have a demonstrated track record of progressive leadership experience within a complex and dynamic academic health system and/or medical school and be eligible for faculty appointment at the Associate or Professor level at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Candidates must be board certified in Gastroenterology and eligible for licensure in the state of Ohio. The Academic Practice of Korn Ferry is assisting University Hospitals with this recruitment. Applications should include a detailed curriculum vitae and a letter of interest that addresses their relevant leadership experience and their motivation to apply. Applications, Inquiries and nominations should also be submitted electronically in confidence, to c/o:

Apply Now