Medical Director, University of Washington Medical Center

Responsibilities and Functions

The Medical Director of the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) has overall responsibility for overseeing the provision and quality of medical care and for the facilitation of research and medical education programs on both campuses of UWMC (Montlake and Northwest). The Medical Director is a member of the UWMC executive team and serves as the physician executive leader. The Medical Director also holds an appointment as an Associate Dean in the UW School of Medicine and as Chair of the Medical Staff Administrative Committee (MSAC). The Medical Director partners with the Chief Nursing Officer to assure efficient high quality, safe, equitable, service-centered, fiscally responsible care. The Medical Director provides medical administrative support and assistance to the UWMC CEO on all matters concerning patient care, patient safety and quality improvement, organized medical staff, medical practice, and program development. The UWMC CEO is responsible for the operations of UWMC, and the Medical Director is responsible to the CEO and UW Medicine Chief Medical Officer for the medical care that is provided.

Required Competencies

1. Organizational acumen: Have a thorough understanding of and demonstrated ability with leading a large and complex medical staff operation at an academic medical center.
2. Interpersonal savvy: Possess a high emotional IQ that includes the interpersonal skills necessary to effectively work with and inspire all medical staff and other members of our health care community.
3. Clinical excellence: Possess proven ability and reputation of being clinically excellent.
4. Organizational excellence on race, equity, and inclusion: Demonstrates previous success and unwavering commitment to leading and upholding health equity, racial and gender diversity, and inclusion in our organization.
5. Economic expertise: Possess an understanding of business, finance, and health care economics.
6. Integrity: Demonstrate impeccable integrity, discretion, fairness, and professionalism.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assures that the conduct of medical practice, education and research are consistent with the policies and objectives of the UW School of Medicine, UWMC, and the accreditation standards of The Joint Commission (TJC) and other relevant accrediting organizations and licensing agencies.
2. Advises the UWMC Board on medically related matters through membership on UWMC Board committees, as provided in the Board Bylaws and through collaboration with the UWMC CEO and other administrative members of UWMC.
3. Oversees the functions of the Medical Director of the UWMC Northwest Campus, the UWMC Associate Medical Directors at the Montlake and Northwest Campuses, and the UWMC Service Chiefs in collaboration with the appropriate chairs within the UW School of Medicine and School of Dentistry.
4. Partners, supports, and collaborates with the Office of Graduate Medical Education to ensure that all educational programs are supported and meeting the standards put forth by the ACGME and UW Medicine.
5. Works with chiefs and chairs to resolve professionalism issues and professional conflicts within the Medical Staff.
6. Assures the policies of MSAC and the UWMC Board are consistent and followed appropriately.
7. Provides essential medical leadership in creating an environment of patient and family-centered care, service excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion and a just culture at UWMC, while facilitating and enhancing medical staff experience and engagement.
8. Serves on Board and medical center committees as designated in the UWMC Board Bylaws and to provide counsel, working closely with the UWMC Executive Team on matters such as administrative goal setting, resource allocation, and policy development.
9. Serves on UW School of Medicine and UW Medicine standing and special committees, as assigned by the Dean and UW Medicine Chief Medical Officer, respectively, and to communicate the committees’ activities and policies of the UW School of Medicine and UW Medicine to medical staff and management as appropriate.
10. Serves as the physician executive of the medical staff of UWMC to ensure that the medical policies of patient care, education, and research are consistent with the needs of the UW School of Medicine as conveyed by the Dean.
11. Serves as a member of the UWMC executive team and performs administrative duties as a member of the executive staff. These areas of responsibility include activities of the medical staff including utilization review; medical quality improvement and patient safety and executive oversight of the committees related to quality, safety, and other subcommittees of MSAC; patient care coordination; credentialing, clinical risk management; communication with referring physicians and among UWMC medical staff, assuring timely records completion; and other duties.
12. Presides over the patient progression and care coordination group to ensure optimal hospital capacity management and efficient patient flow.

Reporting Relationships

The Medical Director is appointed by the CEO for UW Medicine/Dean of the School of Medicine/ Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs in consultation with the UWMC CEO, subject to the approval of the UWMC Board. The appointment is based on the recommendations of a search committee appointed by the UWMC CEO and UW Medicine Chief Medical Officer. The Medical Director reports to the UWMC CEO and the UW Medicine Chief Medical Officer.

Faculty Appointment

The medical director is a 0.8 FTE position. This position will have a faculty appointment in one of the UWSOM departments appropriate for background and experience. This is a 12-month service period position (July – June) with an anticipated start date in summer 2023. 

Qualifications

The Medical Director shall hold an MD or DO (or foreign equivalent) and hold/be eligible for a faculty appointment in the UW School of Medicine, and licensure to practice medicine in Washington state and a minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience in academic medical center administration.

In order to be eligible for university sponsorship for an H-1B visa, graduates of foreign (non-U.S.) medical schools must show successful completion of all three steps of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), or equivalent as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Required Competencies

1. Organizational acumen: Have a thorough understanding of and demonstrated ability with leading a large and complex medical staff operation at an academic medical center.
2. Interpersonal savvy: Possess a high emotional IQ that includes the interpersonal skills necessary to effectively work with and inspire all medical staff and other members of our health care community.
3. Clinical excellence: Possess proven ability and reputation of being clinically excellent.
4. Organizational excellence on race, equity, and inclusion: Demonstrates previous success and unwavering commitment to leading and upholding health equity, racial and gender diversity, and inclusion in our organization.
5. Economic expertise: Possess an understanding of business, finance, and health care economics.
6. Integrity: Demonstrate impeccable integrity, discretion, fairness, and professionalism.

Application Instructions

Please submit an application (including a cover letter, diversity statement, and CV) through Interfolio.

For questions, please contact John Lang, MD (Search Committee Chair) at jdlang@uw.edu. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).

Privacy Notice

Review the University of Washington Privacy Notice for Demographic Data of Job Applicants and University Personnel to learn how your demographic data are protected, when the data may be used, and your rights.

Disability Services

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Information

Under University of Washington (UW) Policy, University-compensated personnel must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive a UW-approved medical or religious exemption. This requirement will be a condition of any offer associated with this recruitment. For more information, please visit https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/vaccination-requirement/.