Chair, Rheumatology

Chair, Department of Rheumatology

Ochsner Health

New Orleans, LA

AMN Healthcare has been retained to lead a national search for the new Chair, Rheumatology at Ochsner Health. Ochsner Health, the premier nonprofit health care provider in the Gulf South, is searching for an innovative Chair of the Department of Rheumatology to advance the education, research, and clinical programs at their flagship academic medical center.  

The Opportunity

Located in the New Orleans, Louisiana metropolitan market, the incoming Chair, Rheumatology will oversee the largest rheumatology practice in the region with over 6,600 unique patients who are cared for by seven rheumatology faculty physicians, four fellows, and two advanced practice providers. The clinical care team is supported by medical assistants (1:1 ratio), clinic RN, nursing supervisor, and a clinical pharmacist. Ochsner Internal Medicine Residents and Ochsner Clinical School third- and fourth-year medical students also rotate through clinics.

This is an exciting time to join Ochsner, who recently extended their unique partnership with University of Queensland (UQ), one of the top 50 universities in the world, through their joint transnational Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. Additionally, Ochsner recently announced approval for their collaboration with Xavier University of Louisiana to establish the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM). XOCOM is anticipated to be the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South, which will be designed to enhance diversity in the medical professions, address health disparities in diverse communities, and help to fulfill the urgent need for more physicians in Louisiana.

A long-time leader in tech-enabled innovation, Ochsner is at the forefront of new advances in quality and safety. The incoming Chair is uniquely positioned to craft an impactful legacy through innovation and transformation of care delivery models, leading to improved patient access, lowered costs, and enhanced patient and provider experience. As part of a growing academic enterprise, the Chair is also expected to support the clinical team, recruit additional faculty, facilitate excellent clinical educational experiences, promote scholarship and discovery, and further enhance the clinical research program. 

The Position

The Rheumatology Department at Ochsner Medical Center is committed to providing exceptional, value-driven patient care. Covering a vast area across Louisiana and Mississippi, the division is renowned for its expertise in a range of conditions including vasculitis, systemic sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, immunotherapy-induced rheumatic disease, juvenile to adult transitions, gout, and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. 

The Rheumatology Department has a strong academic focus and strives to provide patients with cutting-edge care to advance the science of inflammatory and immunology diseases as well as to educate new physicians on these diseases and their treatments. The rheumatology research program includes a full-time clinical study coordinator and opportunities for both sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical trials.

The Chair of Rheumatology will be expected to direct patient care; conduct substantial and meaningful research; teach residents and medical students; and perform public and University service. The candidate will grow and mentor the rheumatology provider team in a patient-centered, collaborative, group practice culture. A passion for excellent teaching is an essential criterion for appointment. An outstanding record in teaching and academic achievements, evidenced by high-impact publication, thematic-based research, and/or grant funding, is highly desirable.

The successful Chair will be expected to deliver high quality patient care to a culturally and socially diverse population of patients. The Chair will be expected to teach medical students, residents, and fellows, and will further the rheumatology clinical research program. Rank and salary will be commensurate with training, qualifications, and experience.

Qualifications

The successful Chair of Rheumatology will deliver top-tier patient care to a diverse patient base, contribute to our teaching initiatives, and advance clinical research efforts in rheumatology. 

Minimum position requirements include:

• MD, MD/PhD, DO, or equivalent terminal medical degree
• Current board certification in Rheumatology
• Eligibility for unrestricted medical licensure in the state of Louisiana
• A significant track record of administrative and academic leadership, along with a strong commitment to education, mentoring, and clinical research

The Organization

Ochsner Health is the foremost nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South, offering expert care through its 46 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. It has clinics and medical centers in Greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Monroe, Lafayette, and other locations across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. For 12 consecutive years Ochsner has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Louisiana.

Ochsner inspires healthier lives and stronger communities through a combination of standard-setting expertise, quality and connection not found anywhere else in the region. In 2023, Ochsner Health cared for more than 1.5 million people from every state in the nation and 65 countries. Ochsner’s workforce includes more than 38,000 dedicated team members and over 4,700 employed and affiliated physicians. Ochsner invests in its people, offering many opportunities for career growth as well as structured leadership development programs.

The Region

New Orleans, commonly known as NOLA or the “Big Easy” among other nicknames, is a consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Serving as a major port with a metro area population of 1.2 million people, New Orleans is considered an economic and commercial hub for the broader Gulf Coast region of the United States.

New Orleans is world-renowned for its distinctive music, historic architecture, Creole cuisine, unique dialects, and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street. The city has been described as the "most unique" in the United States, owing in large part to its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage.

Please direct interest or inquiries to Erika Warren via erika.warren@amnhealthcare.com. To view the complete position specification, request additional information. or to provide recommendations, please contact:        

Erika Warren

Consultant

AMN Leadership Solutions Inc.

214-210-3497

erika.warren@amnhealthcare.com

Kendra Thompson

Vice President, Senior Consultant

AMN Leadership Solutions, Inc. 

469-524-1509

kendra.thompson@amnhealthcare.com