Chair, Department of Neurosciences

The Opportunity

The University of South Dakota (USD) Sanford School of Medicine (SSOM) located in Sioux Falls announces a nationwide search for an accomplished academic board-certified neurologist to serve as the next Chair, Department of Neurosciences. The Department of Neurosciences at the SSOM includes faculty in neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

USD SSOM features a community-based faculty model that utilizes clinician educators employed by the three major hospital systems in South Dakota. At present, there are 46 neurologists and 17 physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians spanning a wide range of sub-specialties with faculty appointments in the Department of Neurosciences providing clinical care across the state. An additional 30 faculty members hold adjunct faculty appointments in the department from a variety of disciplines including nursing, bioethics, pharmacy, psychology, chaplaincy, and other interprofessional backgrounds.

In 2023, Sanford Health and the SSOM initiated an accredited four-year neurology residency program with its first class of three residents. Residents train at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, a level-one trauma center on the campus of the SSOM, with additional opportunities for training at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center. This is the only neurology residency program in the state of South Dakota. The SSOM also offers medical students a neurology clerkship and electives.

The Position

The Chair of the Department of Neurosciences for SSOM will be a respected board-certified academic neurologist with leadership experience in a medical school or similar environment. This individual will have demonstrated abilities as a leader, educator, clinician, and scholar. The position is based in Sioux Falls, but the chair is expected to work effectively and collegially with colleagues throughout the state, advancing the mission of the department in both rural and urban areas. 

Required Qualifications:

• Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or equivalent accredited medical degree
• Board certified and residency trained in neurology
• Minimum of eight years of clinical experience
• Regionally and/or nationally recognized achievement in clinical, educational, and/or scholarly pursuits that would warrant an academic appointment at an advanced rank at USD
• Able to work collaboratively with academic and clinical faculty, medical students, and residents
• Commitment to holistic care of patients from every background
• Commitment to rural and urban practice environments, and to inter-professional education
• Able to obtain a medical license and hospital privileges to practice in South Dakota

Specific duties and qualifications, along with additional information about the position and USD SSOM, can be found in the leadership profile above.

Nomination and Applications

Interested candidates are encouraged to initiate a confidential conversation about this opportunity through an email contact with Dr. Alvarado at elizabeth.alvarado@agbsearch.com prior to submitting materials. To receive full consideration, nominations and application materials should be submitted no later than the target date of June 25, 2026.

Application materials must include:

1. a letter of interest, which responds directly to items listed under The Position, along with addressing each of the listed Strategic Priorities, both of which are included within the Leadership Profile.
2. a curriculum vitae.
3. the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of five references (indicate your professional relationship with each). No references will be contacted without prior permission granted by the candidate.

Please include your personal email and cell phone number. All candidate names will remain confidential, except for those individuals invited to finalist interviews.

Application and nomination materials should be submitted electronically through the AGB Search portal. Please direct all nominations and expressions of interest to USD_Neurology@agbsearch.com or to the AGB Search team:

Cody Futch, MBA
Principal
(202) 949-8641 Mobile 
cody.futch@agbsearch.com

Garry W. Owens, Ph.D.
Senior Executive Search Consultant
(806) 239-3049 Mobile
garry.owens@agbsearch.com