Associate Dean for Rural Health and Director of the Center for  Rural Health

University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine

This posting represents the confluence of three closely related positions: 1) the Associate Dean for Rural Health in the School of Medicine (SOM), which is an endowed position—the Williams Family Foundation Endowed Chair for Rural Health; 2) the Director of the emerging Center for Rural Health, which will be housed in the Department of Family Medicine (DFM); and 3) the current incumbent leader of the SOM’s and DFM’s rural activities, who, among many other things, currently directs the SOM’s Rural Program. The position to which we are recruiting expands and consolidates these and other rural programs and activities, some with incumbent directors. Because of these related activities, in this Job Description we will refer to the person in this position simply as the Leader. This Leader will coordinate rural programs and efforts at the Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC), direct rural programs in the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) and coordinate these activities with our multiple external partners and stakeholders. The Anschutz Medical Campus is one of four University of Colorado campuses located along the front range of the Rocky Mountains; to the east, one-third of the state is rural high plains; and sixty miles west lies the continental divide with the so-called western slope beyond, which also is largely rural. This is a rural state, and the University of Colorado has made the concerns of Colorado’s rural citizens a priority since its inception: the president of the university and its regents make regular visits to rural communities; the schools on the Anschutz Medical Campus (dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, and public health) all have rural health programs that work closely together; the School of Medicine has a successful medical student Rural Program with a 20-year history; and the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) has a 60-year history of rural education, research, policy work, and engagement with rural clinicians, including two rural practice-based research networks and a policy center with a specific rural emphasis. We have excellent relations with other academic departments, the other CU health professional schools, various CU academic centers and institutes, and partner across multiple programs with external state and national organizations that have rural interests. These are established relationships that the Director will be expected to maintain and expand as new opportunities arise, under the auspices of an emerging Center for Rural Health. The Rural Program as it stands today has been under excellent leadership, is stable, has financial reserves, and faces many new or expanded opportunities for further growth and development.

TOTAL FTE COMMITMENT: 1.00

Work Location

Hybrid – this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick
leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

Minimum Qualifications
This is an open rank position and could be categorized as Associate Professor or Professor based on experience and qualifications as indicated below:

Associate Professor

• Must hold a M.D., D.O degree or equivalent terminal medical degree
• At least 7 years of experience in medical education or healthcare education, including curriculum development, clinical education, or program management.
• At least 5 years’ experience in research, advocacy, and/or development of clinical services or community development focused on rural health
• Ability to travel to rural communities for several days at a time.

Professor

• Must hold a M.D., D.O degree or equivalent terminal medical degree
• At least 10 years of experience in medical education or healthcare education,
  including curriculum development, clinical education, or program
  management.
• At least 5 years’ experience in research, advocacy, and/or development of
  clinical services or community development focused on rural health
• Ability to travel to rural communities for several days at a time.

Find more information on this job, including examples of work performed, pay range, preferred qualifications, and more, here!

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

For more information or to apply, visit CUCareers and search for posting number 38137.

posting expires April 6, 2026