Professor and Head of Department, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

As professor and head of department, you will direct the further development of the Plastic Surgery department. You will connect our core tasks—patient care, education, and research—and ensure that these sustainably reinforce one another.

You are a visible and accessible leader who sets course, creates connection, and stimulates professionals to get the best out of themselves and each other. Based on a clear vision, you will direct the academic and strategic development of the department and contribute to the positioning of plastic surgery within Radboudumc, the region, nationally, and internationally.

The coming years present a challenging task. Plastic surgery is developing rapidly under the influence of technological innovations, AI, digitalization, and the increasing concentration of complex care. At the same time, themes such as appropriate care, sustainability, labor market shortages, psychological safety, and talent development demand new leadership.

In addition, you will personally make an active contribution to patient care within one of the department's academic areas of focus.

As head of department, you will provide hierarchical leadership to the medical staff. In doing so, you will work closely with the operations manager, the training coordinator, researchers, center directors, and the Executive Board. You will represent the department within the Strategic Medical Council and within various internal and external networks.

• Sustainably connecting the three core tasks of patient care, education, and research.
• Directing the strategic course of the department, which may require making choices regarding key priorities.
• Further strengthening a safe, inclusive, and stimulating work and learning environment.
• Stimulating talent development and leadership development within the department.
• Further expanding cooperation with centers within Radboudumc.
• Strengthening regional, national, and international partnerships.
• Further increasing academic profiling and societal impact.
• Positioning the department for future developments within the field.

This position offers you the opportunity to lead a department with an exceptionally broad academic profile, a strong reputation in highly complex care, and a solid research and education foundation.

You will be given the space to, together with the department, the centers, and the Executive Board, direct the next phase of the department and thereby make a lasting contribution to the future of plastic surgery.

The Plastic Surgery department of Radboudumc is among the most broadly oriented academic plastic surgery departments in the Netherlands. From a strong academic foundation, we provide highly complex, innovative, and person-centered care and actively contribute to education, training, and scientific research.

The department holds a leading position in, among others:

• Breast reconstructive surgery and microsurgery.
• Lymphatic surgery and lymph node transplants.
• Reconstructive surgery for oncological and trauma-related defects.
• Hand and wrist surgery.
• Peripheral nerve surgery.
• Pediatric plastic surgery.
• Cleft surgery.
• Vascular malformations.
• Pediatric burn care.
• Transgender surgery and genital reconstructions.

We are visible nationally and internationally due to our expertise in the field of complex reconstructive surgery, innovative treatment techniques, and multidisciplinary cooperation. For instance, the department belongs to the national top in breast reconstructions and lymphatic surgery, contributes to the European-recognized expertise center for craniofacial disorders, and plays a pioneering role in transgender care, pediatric burn care, and advanced hand and nerve surgery.

Innovation is deeply anchored in our care. The department is at the forefront in the application of, among other things, 3D planning, 3D printing, 4D CT, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, PROMs, and digital care pathways.

We also fulfill a prominent role in the fields of education and research. We provide education within Medicine and Technical Medicine, train plastic surgeons in collaboration with regional partners, and offer various fellowships and international masterclasses.

Our research is organized within the Plastic Surgery Research & Innovation Lab, with a focus on:

• Prediction models and healthcare outcomes.
• Regeneration and scar modulation.
• Technical innovations and 3D technology, including 4D CT.

In this, we collaborate with, among others, the University of Twente, MUMC+, Erasmus MC, UMCG, Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic, and various other international partners.

You are an (academic) plastic surgeon with a clear vision for the future of the field. You are a connecting leader who is able to direct a complex academic department and possesses the experience and stature to further develop academic patient care, research, education, and training.

You combine academic leadership with administrative sensitivity and know how to connect professionals, areas of expertise, and collaborative partners. In doing so, you dare to make choices, provide focus, and create support for the further development and positioning of the department.

In addition, you recognize yourself in the following profile:

• You are a registered plastic surgeon.
• You hold a PhD.
• You are a professor or associate professor with a profile that is suitable for an appointment as professor.
• You have a distinctive academic profile, evidenced by experience in acquiring research funding and extensive experience in supervising doctoral candidates (at least three doctoral trajectories successfully supervised until manuscript submission in the last 5 years).
• You possess demonstrable and internationally recognized expertise within highly complex reconstructive surgery.
• You possess a strong national and international network.
• You have extensive experience in leading within a complex professional organization and possess the leadership style that matches Radboudumc's vision on leadership:
• You are a connecting leader who builds trust, coaches employees, and stimulates cooperation.
• You possess the power to drive change: you analyze complex issues, provide focus, make well-founded choices, and direct change.
• You create an environment in which psychological safety, innovation, and talent development are central.
• You think strategically, actively contribute to the vision of Radboudumc, and know how to translate developments within and outside the field into the future of the department.
• You are transparent, approachable, and you dare to make choices.
• You actively promote cooperation within and outside the department.
• You visibly embody the core values of Radboudumc: person-centered, innovative, sustainable, and together.
• You meet the criteria of a Professor - Leader in Academic Healthcare.

• Appointment as head of department is for a period of five years, with the possibility of one extension of five years. After five years, reappointment as professor takes place.
• If this aligns with the further development and strategic ambitions of the department, it may be explored whether a candidate can propose a new staff member to strengthen the department.
• To request the organizational report and/or the criteria pertaining to this position, you can contact: Anne Sophie Mekelenkamp MSc.
• An assessment may form part of this procedure.
• A Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required for this position.

We are recruiting for this vacancy ourselves. We do not appreciate acquisition; however, sharing within your network is welcome.