Description

The Alan H. Porter, MD, & Claudia B. Porter, RN, Department of Radiation Oncology 

The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Florida College of Medicine is nationally recognized as one of the country’s leading academic radiation oncology programs. Established over 60 years ago, the department has a longstanding mission to remain among the best in its field by providing superb patient care and pursuing excellence in research, education, and leadership at the local, state, and national levels. In 2026, UF honored two of its most generous alumni and benefactors, Alan and Claudia Porter, by officially renaming the department as The Alan H. Porter, MD, & Claudia B. Porter, RN, Department of Radiation Oncology. This renaming followed a significant philanthropic gift from the Porters, which also established the Porter Department of Radiation Oncology Endowment Fund to support the department’s most pressing needs, including ongoing faculty recruitment, endowed professorships, research initiatives, and clinical program enhancements. This investment has launched a dynamic new chapter for the department and is accelerating its upward trajectory as part of the NCI-designated UF Health Cancer Institute.

Notably, Radiation Oncology is the only UF College of Medicine clinical department that spans both the Gainesville and Jacksonville campuses, significantly broadening the scope of the department. Faculty physicians and medical physicists in the department practice at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, integrating patient care and academic activities across North and Central Florida. This dual-campus presence enables the department to serve a wide patient population and leverage resources and expertise from both UF Health’s main campus in Gainesville and its Jacksonville health campus: a unique position among UF departments.

The Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology reports to the dean of the UF College of Medicine and directs the patient care, research, and education missions of the Department. The Chair is responsible for providing leadership in the development and execution of all strategic plans and daily operations. In close partnership with all stakeholders, the Chair will ensure patient-focused, high-performing, and results-oriented clinical, educational, and scientific programs. In addition, the Chair will lead initiatives to support exceptional patient service, quality outcomes, faculty and staff satisfaction, growth and volume management, expanded research capabilities, and improved financial performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• In collaboration with institutional leadership, provide visionary and innovative leadership to take the department into the next phase of growth, achieving higher levels of excellence across its missions and leading a vision for the next phase of radiation oncology technology to position the department favorably for the institution and patients served.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop others to build internal capabilities and the talent that facilitates succession.
• Develop innovative clinical growth strategies to care for larger cross-sections of the patient population.
• Establish strong professional relationships, foster open communication and teamwork, and champion healthy change.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the leadership team to build, grow, and integrate areas of acknowledged clinical excellence, with outstanding outcomes, value, access, and patient satisfaction.
• Ensure top-tier clinical education and advanced training for the medical students and residents, as well as research training for trainees. Provide leadership and oversight to the residency programs within the department.
• Supervise, prepare, implement, and monitor the department budget, which encompasses all funding sources and ensures compliance with grant, legislative, and institutional guidelines.
• Communicate effectively and regularly to college and hospital leadership, along with department faculty and staff, regarding the department’s overall health and performance.

DESIRED OUTCOMES

• An energized faculty bolstered by key recruits who are passionate about their work and committed to the highest levels of excellence across the tripartite mission.
• An integrated clinical strategy across the health system and collaboration with key stakeholders.
• An engaged and empowered team at the chair’s leadership table.
• Strong relationships with faculty and enhanced morale across the department through a focus on faculty, trainee, and staff engagement.
• Thriving research and education programs aligned with the University, College, Cancer Institute, and Health System strategic goals.
• Continued national recognition and excellence in high-quality clinical care, innovative and impactful research, training, and leadership.

Requirements

The successful candidate for Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology will be a dynamic, passionate, entrepreneurial, and experienced physician leader, with a proven track record across the spectrum of individual scholarship, collaborative clinical leadership, program development, educational excellence, successful faculty recruitment and career development, and community engagement. Given radiation oncology’s unique position spanning two campuses, experience leading in a complex environment across multiple sites will be of increased importance.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE 

National reputation for personal academic accomplishments: An outstanding track record of academic, clinical, scholarly, scientific, and educational endeavors.

Significant and successful leadership experience at an academic institution: A record of advancing a radiation oncology unit in highly matrixed environments in which achievements are realized through trust, shared purpose, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Expanding and fostering strong clinical programs: Proven track record of developing, leading, and growing complex clinical programs that focus on access, high quality, and outstanding patient satisfaction.

Developing talent at all levels: Experience developing academic leaders and mentoring junior faculty, while identifying and recruiting diverse students, trainees, staff, and faculty.

Medical degree and board certification in radiation oncology: Licensed or eligible for medical licensure in Florida.