Job Overview

Hoxworth Blood Center (HBC) was founded in 1938 and serves more than 30 hospitals in 18 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, HBC collects more than 100,000 units of blood from local donors to help save the lives of patients in area hospitals. HBC is located within the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine (COM). UC COM has a reputation for training best-in-class health care professionals and developing cutting-edge procedures and research that improves the health and clinical care of patients.  In partnership with the UC Health academic healthcare system and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, UC COM’s doctors and faculty are transforming the world of medicine every day.

The Hoxworth Blood Center is seeking a Director for the Transplantation Immunology Division. This UC faculty position, at Assistant or Associate Professor level on the clinical track, will be appointed based on the candidate’s credentials and experience.

The Hoxworth Blood Center Transplantation Immunology Division provides services to multiple organ and tissue transplantation and procurement programs in the states of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, and serves some of the largest organ transplantation programs in the Midwest. The laboratory has a three-shift, dedicated, highly qualified staff which applies state-of-the-art technologies including, but not exclusively, conventional MHC type I/II typing, next-gen sequencing for high-resolution HLA typing, minor histocompatibility antigen typing, quantitative PCR, analysis of mixed chimerism (including micro-chimerism analysis), and KIR typing. The laboratory maintains a regional program of deceased donor HLA testing for OPOs (Organ Procurement Organizations) and a stem cell transplantation program. The laboratory also maintains a highly demanding program of serological testing for antibody screening, immunoglobulin subtype identification, titer analyses and donor-recipient cross-match by using state of the art methods that include, but not exclusively, flow cross-match and Luminex methodologies.

Essential Functions

• Oversee clinical laboratory operations in transplantation immunology, ensuring compliance with GMP/GLP standards in genotyping and phenotyping of histocompatibility molecules and other antigens for organ/tissue matching, as well as the identification and tittering of allo- and auto-antibodies against relevant tissue antigens in the pre- and post-transplantation setting.
• Lead the development, evaluation, validation and implementation of new molecular and serological test procedures to expand test offerings and/or increase margins.  Collaborate with the marketing team to grow market share and improve margin of patient genomic testing.
• Provide strategic input into genomic testing of donors and patients. Engage in leadership roles at regional, national, and international levels and contribute to solid organ transplantation-based research in collaboration with UC, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and UC Medical Center.
• Participate in teaching and education activities for the University of Cincinnati, hospital customers, and regional residency, fellowship and Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) programs.
• Collaborate with Medical Directors, Laboratory Directors and  key stakeholders of Transplantation Services to support cross-functional initiatives.
• Provide clinical consultation and interpretation of test results.
• Ensure all activities within the Transplantation Immunology Division comply with institutional, state and federal regulations.
• Engage in scholarly activity in molecular biology, genomics and blood group/platelet antigens; publish and present findings at regional, national and international venues.
• Support staff development, succession planning; performance management, including evaluation, discipline, and discharge of laboratory personnel, as necessary.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• M.D., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.
• Board certification by the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI).

Required Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of post-graduate experience in molecular immunohematology and genomics, including at least three years in a management role.
• Comprehensive knowledge of scientific principles related to genomics and the application of molecular methods in clinical testing.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Academic credentials in training, education and research commensurate with the academic level sought.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching, manuscript preparation, and ideally, experience with grant writing. The successful candidate should be able to develop cost analyses, evaluate projects, manage an operating budget, and motivate and lead effectively.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment