Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.

Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

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.

Board Certified Ophthalmologist - MD/DO

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

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost office at (919)-962-1091 or send an email to facultyrecruitment@unc.edu.

Please note: The Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

If you have any questions about the job requirements or the hiring department notify the Department Contact.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.