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Thoracic Medical Oncologist - Endowed Chair Eligible (Associate Professor/Professor)

OHSU · Portland, OR

Posted October 3, 2026

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute - South Waterfront · 3485 S Bond Avenue, Portland, OR, US, 97239

Department Overview

The Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is seeking a highly-qualified translational or clinical researcher in Lung Cancer and Thoracic Malignancies for the Knight Cancer Institute.

The successful candidate will ensure the university’s mission and goals of research, patient care, teaching, outreach, and public service are met. Keys for the successful candidate shall include being a Clinical or translational physician-investigator with the intellectual vision to develop and expand lung cancer research at the Knight Cancer Institute.

This position is eligible for an endowment from the Wayne D. & Joan E. Kuni Foundation. The successful applicant for this position will be nominated for this endowment, subject to OHSU policies governing such appointments, including length and term of the appointment, and subject to approval by the Dean of the School of Medicine and the OHSU Provost.

Function/Duties of Position

The Endowed Chair will serve as a prominent physician-investigator and strategic leader tasked with driving the clinical, translational, and research expansion of the Thoracic, Head & Neck Oncology program. Backed by immediate access to substantial endowment funding, the incoming Chair will bridge the Knight Cancer Institute's appetite for cutting-edge innovation with a scalable vision—expanding OHSU’s regional market footprint, elevating its national research prominence, and accelerating the delivery of next-generation therapies to patients.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Programmatic Expansion (50% Allocation)

  • Co-Direct the Comprehensive Lung Program: In collaboration with the thoracic program director, formulate and execute a cohesive, long-term strategic plan for the Thoracic, Head & Neck service line across the Knight Cancer Institute.
  • Cultivate Institutional Collaborations: Break down silos by building robust partnerships between basic science laboratories, translational research teams, and clinical operations to elevate the program to national prominence.
  • Drive Clinical & Trial Growth: Coordinate closely with health system executives and community partners to scale clinical operations, optimize patient referral pathways, and expand the portfolio of open clinical trials.
  • Financial & Resource Stewardship: Manage assigned endowment funds, divisional research space, and program budgets sustainably, aligning resource allocation with high-impact scientific and clinical targets.

Clinical Excellence & Patient Care

  • Provide exceptional, patient-centered care for individuals with lung, thoracic, and head/neck malignancies.
  • Maintain a dedicated clinical presence in alignment with Division and Institute objectives, modeling best practices in multidisciplinary, complex tumor board navigation.

Research, Scholarship & Innovation

  • Establish an Innovative Portfolio: Maintain a distinguished, actively funded clinical or translational research program focused on the causes, early detection, or treatment of thoracic and head/neck cancers.
  • Advance Clinical Research: Commit a minimum of 50% of programmatic efforts to expanding the investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trial portfolio.
  • Serve as a principal investigator or mentor on major institutional grants, fostering a culture of peer-reviewed publication and continuous scientific discovery.

Education, Mentorship & Public Service

  • Actively participate in the education and mentorship of medical students, residents, and hematology/oncology fellows in accordance with guidelines from the Curriculum Committee and Department Chair.
  • Champion a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, trainees, and patients.
  • Represent OHSU and the Knight Cancer Institute on national committees, advisory councils, and via consultative outreach to non-university public health groups.
  • Position Qualifications & Competencies

The role includes a balanced portfolio of clinical care, research, teaching, and inpatient service responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

  • MD, MD/Ph.D., or equivalent
  • Must qualify for the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor at OHSU
  • M.D. board certification in medical oncology
  • Eligibility to obtain a license to practice medicine in Oregon

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a visionary and collaborative leader with a strong record of scientific achievement and program development. Key attributes include:

  • National or international recognition in lung cancer research, with a strong publication and funding record
  • Demonstrated success leading clinical and/or translational research programs
  • Experience designing and conducting clinical trials
  • Proven ability to build or expand programs within an NCI-designated cancer center
  • Commitment to multidisciplinary, patient-centered care
  • Excellence in clinical practice
  • Strong leadership, communication, and partnership-building skills
  • Experience with programmatic growth, financial stewardship, and strategic planning
  • Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic medicine

Additional Details

As an OHSU faculty member, you will have access to robust, competitive benefits for well-being and peace of mind. Packages include medical, dental, and vision plans, generous paid time off, multiple retirement options, participation in the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, wellness support, and more.

You’ll also find a commitment to belonging. OHSU welcomes diverse people and ideas, and we foster a culture that is inclusive, equitable, and accepting of all. We aim to help you:

  • Feel supported.
  • Explore well-being programs and resources.
  • Connect with colleagues to share and build knowledge.
  • Find fulfillment by balancing work, life and community.

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Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply.

Employer

OHSU

Oregon Health & Science University is Oregon's only public academic health center. OHSU brings together world-class patient care, groundbreaking research and the education of the next generation of health care professionals — all in service of improving the health and well-being of every Oregonian.

From OHSU Hospital and OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital on Marquam Hill to the Center for Health & Healing on Portland's South Waterfront, OHSU's physicians and advanced practice providers care for the most complex patients in the region at a Level 1 trauma center, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, the Casey Eye Institute and the Knight Cardiovascular Institute. Through OHSU Health partners such as Hillsboro Medical Center and Adventist Health Portland, and community collaborations from Astoria to Klamath Falls, OHSU faculty also bring academic medicine to communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Faculty at OHSU practice at the leading edge of medicine while teaching residents and students and contributing to discovery. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, academic appointments and career development, and the chance to live in the Pacific Northwest — with Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon coast all close to home.

Livability

2,084,045
Portland population
$668K
Avg 3-bedroom home
64° / 47°
Avg high / low
Nearby cities
Salem
42.3 mi
Pop. 272,331
Vancouver
11.2 mi
Pop. 192,696
Gresham
12.1 mi
Pop. 112,818
Source: US Census Bureau
Annual family budget — Multnomah County
—
Housing, food, transport, healthcare, childcare & taxes for a typical family
$668K
Avg 3-bedroom home
$1,774
Avg monthly rent
Source: EPI Family Budget Calculator
Source: Zillow
64° / 47°
Avg high / low
32.20 in
Yearly rainfall
95
Sunny days / yr
Source: WeatherAPI.com
Population — ZIP 97239
18,337
Total residents
8,874
Male residents
9,463
Female residents
Age distribution
total
18,337
0-9
1,554
10-19
1,107
20-29
3,018
30-39
3,998
40-49
2,331
50-59
1,859
60-69
1,899
70-79
1,570
80+
1,001
Ethnicity
White
14,786
Black Or African American
438
American Indian Or Alaskan Native
19
Asian
1,023
Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander
0
Other
684
Two Or More
1,387
Source: US Census Bureau
9
Walk Score — Car-Dependent
49
Bike Score — Somewhat Bikeable
54
Transit Score — Good Transit
Source: WalkScore.com
Nearby airports
Portland International Airport (PDX) 8.22 mi
Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field (SLE) 42.83 mi
Mahlon Sweet Field (EUG) 97.68 mi
Source: FAA database