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Program Director, Wellness Institute
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research, and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.
Summary:
An experienced role to expand and strengthen our national reputation in leading wellness for cancer centers. This individual will oversee, in close collaboration with the Chief Wellness Officer, the research and QI strategy for the wellness institute including mentoring the Division Wellness Leads and BeWell Champions on how to incorporate meaningful metrics and academic dissemination into local wellness related projects.
The ideal candidate will serve as a cornerstone in developing the infrastructure necessary to support research, quality improvement, and programming in workforce well-being. They bring a strong background in behavioral outcomes—ideally with previous clinical experience—and have successfully translated that experience into academic and operational contributions. This individual has a proven track record of research and scholarly output, including peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, and grant writing, with a focus on burnout prevention that goes beyond personal resilience alone. Proficient in data analysis, program evaluation, and quality improvement methodologies, they are skilled at using outcome data to inform and enhance well-being strategies. The ideal candidate also demonstrates strong leadership and collaboration skills, mentoring junior staff while working effectively across multidisciplinary teams. Experience in high-intensity healthcare environments, particularly within cancer centers, is preferred. Familiarity with frameworks such as the Quadruple Aim, the National Academy of Medicine’s plan for health workforce well-being, or the Stanford Model of Occupational Well-being is highly desirable. This individual thrives in an academic setting, ideally having held a faculty role that combines research with the operational implementation of wellness programs, and is committed to building a culture of well-being through thoughtful, evidence-based initiatives.
Research and Program Development:
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Lead and design research studies on employee wellness and mental health specific to cancer care settings
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Oversee research efforts, analyze outcomes and drive continuous improvements to foster a culture of wellbeing, reduce burnout and improve patient outcomes.
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Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to translate evidence based interventions into actionable wellness strategies
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Create and lead multi-site trials for employee wellbeing interventions in cancer care settings
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Develop and implement evidence-based interventions to support staff well-being, including mental health, workload optimization, and stress reduction programs.
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Secure external funding through grants and partnerships to support ongoing research initiatives.
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Present research findings at national conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
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Serve as an external and internal ambassador for the wellness institute when CWO not available.
Quality Improvement and Data Analysis:
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Use data analytics, such as those provided by PWAC and engagement survey, to assess trends in employee burnout including identifying key drivers and opportunities for intervention
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Develop customized reports and presentations on burnout trends for internal and external stakeholders
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Ensure validated tools for measuring wellness and interventional impact are used consistently across the organization
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Engage with national and international networks to stay informed on best practices in workforce wellness and QI.
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Utilize collected data to inform external recognition programs such as AMA Joy In Medicine, Magnet, Lorna Breen Foundation/NIOSH etc.
EDUCATION
Required- PhD in Public Health, Psychology, Human Factors, Health Services Research, Organizational Behavior, or a related field.
EXPERIENCE
Required- 7 years in a related field to include two years of people or program leadership experience.
Preferred: Experience working within a cancer center or high-intensity healthcare environment.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS - Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.
It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html
