Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral MedicineMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) invites nominations and applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. This is a defining opportunity for a forward-thinking and strategic leader to shape the future of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at a critical moment for behavioral health. The next Chair will lead the Department’s clinical, educational, research, and community missions, foster an inclusive and high-performing culture, and advance strategic priorities across MCW and its health system partners. Building upon the foundation of an established and thriving academic department, the next Chair will advance innovative models of care, expand access to services, train the future behavioral health workforce, and drive meaningful impact on mental health and well-being across Wisconsin and beyond.
MCW is a leading academic health sciences institution advancing education, research, clinical care, and innovation across Wisconsin and beyond. With medical school campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Central Wisconsin, along with a School of Graduate Studies and a School of Pharmacy, MCW anchors one of the nation’s premier academic health enterprises. As the largest private research center in Wisconsin, MCW reported more than $428 million invested in research, teaching, training, and related activities in fiscal year 2025 and supported more than 5,000 active research studies. Consistently ranked in the top third of U.S. medical schools for NIH funding and the nation’s third-largest private medical school, MCW drives scientific discovery, advances clinical excellence, and prepares the next generation of health leaders.
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine is a leading academic psychiatry department dedicated to advancing mental health through excellence in patient care, education, research, and community engagement. Over the past decade, the Department has experienced remarkable growth and transformation, expanding from approximately 60 faculty members to more than 143 faculty members. The Department is also supported by 20 advanced practice providers, 88 non-clinical staff members, and 105 trainees.
The Department’s growing clinical enterprise spans inpatient, outpatient, emergency, consultation-liaison, and specialty settings through partnerships with Froedtert Health, Children’s Wisconsin, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, and other healthcare and community organizations throughout Wisconsin. Faculty provide expertise in child and adolescent, addiction, geriatric, consultation-liaison, and forensic psychiatry, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders, integrated behavioral health, health psychology, and interventional psychiatry.
The Department’s educational mission includes one of the nation’s most comprehensive psychiatry training portfolios. This includes three ACGME-accredited Psychiatry Residency Programs serving Milwaukee, Northeastern Wisconsin, and Central Wisconsin; a combined Internal Medicine-Psychiatry Residency Program; and five ACGME-accredited psychiatry fellowships. The Department also supports health psychology training programs, advanced practice provider education and fellowship training, medical student education, and continuing medical education.
Beyond its clinical and educational programs, the Department leads statewide behavioral health innovation through initiatives such as the Wisconsin Child Psychiatry Consultation Program, which has delivered more than 15,000 consultations to pediatric primary care providers, and the development of WISCOPE, a statewide adult psychiatry consultation program.
The Department’s growing research enterprise provides a strong foundation for continued innovation and discovery. Faculty conduct basic, translational, clinical, and community-engaged research across a broad range of behavioral health priorities, including mood disorders, addiction, suicide prevention, neurodevelopmental disorders, integrated behavioral healthcare, health psychology, cancer survivorship, psychosocial determinants of health, and population mental health.
The successful candidate will be a nationally respected academic psychiatry and behavioral medicine leader with experience leading within a complex and community-driven organization. They will bring a record of clinical, scholarly, and administrative achievement; a collaborative and inclusive leadership style; and the ability to articulate and execute a compelling strategic vision. The Chair will be expected to develop faculty, foster innovation, build productive partnerships, and position the Department for sustained growth and impact. Additional information regarding the qualifications, experience, and personal attributes sought in the successful candidate can be found later in this document.
Review the Full Position Profile
The MCW Executive Faculty Search team is assisting with this critical recruitment. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted confidentially as outlined at the end of this document.
Procedure for Candidacy
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited and can be directed to facultyleadershiprecruitment@mcw.edu.
To receive full consideration, please submit your application materials by the priority deadline of November 16, 2026. A complete application includes a current curriculum vitae and a cover letter. Executive biographies are also welcome. Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The cover letter can be addressed to the Search Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Chad Carlson and Dr. Shelly Timmons and should describe the candidate's interest in the opportunity and highlight key leadership experiences, research interests, and/or accomplishments in education. Candidates are encouraged to address the following leadership competencies: Emotional Intelligence, Growth and Development Mindset, Collaboration and Relationship Building, Ability to Inspire Trust, Change Leadership, Effective Communication, Innovation, Results Orientation and Financial Stewardship. Candidates are not expected to address each competency in equal depth; however, the cover letter should provide evidence of strength across these areas in highlighting career accomplishments and experiences.
The MCW Executive Faculty Search team is assisting with this critical recruitment:
Amanda Steffens, CPRP, Principal, Executive Faculty Search asteffens@mcw.edu
Cedric Kuakumensah, Executive Faculty Search Associate ckuakumensah@mcw.edu
Kate Martin, Senior Executive Recruitment Coordinator kamartin@mcw.edu
Medical College of Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is the state’s only private medical school and health sciences graduate school. MCW consists of a School of Medicine with campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin, a School of Graduate Studies, and a School of Pharmacy. MCW is a major national research center ranking in the top third of U.S. medical schools in NIH funding and is the second largest research institution in Wisconsin. Academic medicine is at the core of everything we do at MCW, bringing together scientists, clinicians, students and community members to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. MCW is a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to pioneer pathways to a healthier world. Every study we conduct and every patient we see leads to new learning and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge and innovation.
Approximately 1,780 MC