How to Be a Department Chair of Epidemiology: A Survival Guide

As former chairs of 3 of the largest departments of epidemiology in the country, the authors provide "lessons learned" on how to be an epidemiology chair. To start, they suggest discussing strategic visioning with faculty, staff, and students; evaluating existing operational and governance structures; setting a predictable style; and considering which traditions to keep and which to modernize. Next, the authors consider key administrative issues. Recruitment and retention of the best faculty and students are critical to a successful department's future. A great department requires a great vision. To manage the change a new vision creates, the chair must attain buy-in and proceed with persistence. Chairs must promote the interests of the department to higher administration, a job best accomplished by being a team player and picking your battles. Keeping an eye on the mission involves balancing quality education with research and always striving to improve public health. Finally, a chair must continuously assess whether he or she is doing the best job. Eventually, the chair must know when to quit and how to quit well. Although being chair is demanding and sometimes difficult, it is a position that can be rewarding to both the individual and the department.