Orr Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities

Description

The Medical Humanities Program at Baylor University is pleased to invite applications for The Scott & Susan Orr Family Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities & Christian Faith.  The Orr Chair will elevate the Medical Humanities Program with a focus on teaching and mentorship, as well as meaningful academic research and scholarship in this rapidly expanding and innovative field in order to amplify Baylor University’s distinctly Christian voice in the preparation of healthcare professionals. This position is expected to contribute to the tradition of outstanding teaching at Baylor University and to the signature academic initiatives identified by the College of Arts and Sciences and the R1 goals of the university.

The appointment will be as an Associate to Full Clinical Professor in Medical Humanities or an Associate to Full Professor in a related department with a primary appointment in Medical Humanities. It begins in August 2025, but an earlier start date may be possible. 

Baylor University's Medical Humanities Program (https://medicalhumanities.artsandsciences.baylor.edu) was established in 2004--one of the first programs offering a baccalaureate degree in Medical Humanities.  Our mission is to provide a transformational education for students seeking careers in healthcare, the medical arts, and affiliated professions under the guidance of faculty committed to compelling scholarship and dedicated to service. We value excellence in teaching integrated with engagement and service to our community.

We equip undergraduate students who aspire towards careers in and around healthcare with an outstanding foundation in the sciences and rich exposure to the humanities. We encourage students to consider ethical and spiritual issues they will encounter in healthcare, explore the most profound meanings of health and healing, and embrace the sacred nature of their vocation.

Our curriculum consists of courses taught by faculty from many other disciplines, including English, Religion, Philosophy, History, Sociology, and Psychology. Central to this degree are courses that focus on the role of Christian spirituality in healthcare, the importance of the relationship between patient and practitioner, and the changing nature of healthcare in the 21st century. The faculty in our program has strong ties to the Waco medical community, which allow us to offer outstanding opportunities for clinical experiences, mentoring, and service. 

The Medical Humanities Program intersects with multiple units in the University, including the Honors College and Robbins College for Health and Human Sciences. We also have a significant role in the Baylor Ethics Initiative (Human Flourishing, Leadership & Ethics Research). The candidate who fills this position will become an integral part of the, "community of scholars and practitioners dedicated to critical and creative research about how Christian beliefs and practice relate - presently and potentially - the to the broader cultural, social, economic, and political systems that we inhabit as local, national and global citizens."

About Baylor University: Located in Waco, Texas, Baylor University is the oldest college in Texas. With a population of 21,000 diverse students, Baylor is one of the top universities in the nation, having been named an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification in January 2022. Baylor is also on the honor roll of the "Great Colleges to Work For" from The Chronicle of Higher Education; Baylor offers competitive salaries and benefits while allowing faculty and staff to live in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. Our strategic plan, Illuminate, guides the University as we continue to live up to Baylor's mission of educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.

Qualifications

Outstanding candidates with terminal degrees in a professional or academic specialization intersecting with healthcare are invited to apply. The successful candidate will support Baylor University’s stated mission to be a world-class research institution dedicated to Christian principles and ideals, be a recognized scholar in their field, be an experienced and effective classroom teacher, and demonstrate the capacity to mentor u