George W. Comstock Professor in Public Health Research and Prevention
The Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health invites applications from an accomplished research leader to serve as Director of the George W. Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention and to hold the prestigious George W. Comstock Professorship.
This is a unique leadership position that combines visionary strategy with operational management. The new Director will steward the renowned, nationally recognized research field center located in a semi-rural area uniquely situated to advance non-communicable clinical and epidemiological research. Responsibilities of the new Director include:
- Sustain and elevate the Center’s portfolio of grants and contracts while maintaining research excellence.
- Lead new multidisciplinary collaborations focused on non-communicable diseases, while broadening the Center’s research portfolio through new grants that leverage its location, strong community partnerships, and expertise in conducting high-quality intervention trials and longitudinal studies with repeated assessments.
- Foster a collaborative and engaged research environment that connects associated and new Johns Hopkins faculty, staff, and students, while building strong partnerships with local healthcare systems, community organizations, and populations to address the unique public health needs of the population in the surrounding areas.
About the George W. Comstock and the Center for Public Health Research and Prevention
George W. Comstock’s work in Washington County revolutionized the field of community-based epidemiologic research. Decades before others recognized the value of population-level biological specimens, Dr. Comstock led a private census of the county and then established the first, large population-based biological repository. This repository and its associated populationlevel data led to groundbreaking research findings in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and numerous other critical health conditions, fundamentally reshaping modern epidemiology.
The Johns Hopkins Training Center for Public Health Research was established in 1962 and renamed the Comstock Center in 2003 to honor the long-standing contributions of Dr. Comstock. Today, more than 60 years later, Washington County remains an exceptional environment for health discovery. Washington County is a semi-rural community with a state-ofthe-art hospital, cancer center, and dedicated medical community. The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine was established in Hagerstown in 2022, with its inaugural class in July 2025, further expanding potential research partnerships and infrastructure.
Critical to the work of the Comstock Center, the community has a strong interest in health research and a willingness to participate in projects that benefit the advancement of medical knowledge to improve the health of society. The Center’s largest studies focus on heart disease and aging (ARIC), cancer prevention and biology (CLUE), and cognitive health in older adults (ACHIEVE). Current studies build on nearly a century of community-based research collaborations, between Johns Hopkins University and Washington County, and collectively these studies include tens of thousands of study participants and dozens of dedicated staff.
Essential Qualifications
- Doctoral degree in epidemiology, medicine or related field. Clinician scientists are encouraged to apply
- Demonstrated track record of peer-reviewed research and sustained funding in the area of non-communicable diseases
- Proven experience developing a strategic vision and leading interdisciplinary teams
- Experience building and maintaining partnerships with community-based organizations
- Excellent management, writing, and communication skills
- Demonstrated commitment to identifying new projects
- Experience in supervising and mentoring students and early career professionals
- Interest in and commitment to teaching and mentorship
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit
- Curriculum Vitae (including publication record and funding history)
- Three publications or reports that best exemplify and reflect your research impact/vision
- Cover letter (1-2 pages) describing your vision for advancing public health research and prevention at the Comstock Center, your experience building and sustaining community partnerships in research, and your leadership philosophy.
- Three to five references (name, title, institutions, contact information)
Applications should be submitted to https://apply.interfolio.com/187761.
posting expires November 9, 2026
Chair of Family and Community Medicine
University of California Davis Health System
UC Davis School of Medicine (SOM) seeks a visionary and engaged leader to serve as the next Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a department at the forefront of advancing primary care for diverse communities across NorthernCalifornia and beyond.
The SOM is among the nation's leading medical schools committed to scholarly advancement and education, and it is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report for these efforts. The Institution excels at translating scientific discoveries and new technology into improved patient care with a research-funding portfolio of over 1,300 active awards with more than $330 million in extramural funding. As the clinical engine, UC Davis Health (UCDH) is a multibillion-dollar health system within the University of California System with more than 1 million outpatient and 35,000 inpatient visits each year across the 660-bed academic medical center, 32 ambulatory sites, and a 1,200-member medical group.
The Department of Family and Community Medicine is deeply integrated within UCDavis Health, the UC Davis School of Medicine, and the broader Sacramento community. The Department benefits from a highly collaborative environment that supports clinical excellence, medical education, research, faculty development, physician wellbeing, health equity, and community engagement.
Reporting to the Dean, UC Davis School of Medicine, the Chair will serve as the strategic, academic, and administrative leader of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, providing vision and direction for its continued growth and impact across the institution and community. The Chair will foster collaborative partnerships throughout the School of Medicine, UC Davis Health, and community-based healthcare organizations to strengthen the department's leadership in primary care delivery, medical education, research, and population health.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a collaborative, driven physician to shape the long‑term trajectory of a department with a proud history of training the next generation of family medicine providers and a critical role in the region's primary care landscape. The successful candidate will bring a strong track record of leadership and successful mentorship of diverse faculty at all stages of career development, along with a demonstrated understanding of sponsored research and a desire to expand the research portfolio of the Department. Credentials appropriate for appointment as an associate professor or professor in the SOM. Candidates must hold an M.D., D.O., M.D./Ph.D., D.O./Ph.D., or equivalent degree, along with current board certification in family medicine, and possess the ability to obtain licensure in the state of California.
For confidential nominations or expressions of interest, please contact the WittKieffer searchteamattporter@wittkieffer.com.
The salary range for this position is $388,000 - $480,000. This position includes membership in the Health Sciences Compensation plan (https://aadocs.ucdavis.edu/policies/apm/apm-670.pdf).
je-3a8ed1618ef74a35b1e44338246d9197
posting expires November 9, 2026