Chief Medical Officer, Specialty Care (CMO-SC)

Chief Medical Officer, Specialty Care (CMO-SC)

UTHealth Houston - Practice Plan

Position Summary :

The Chief Medical Officer, Specialty Care (CMO-SC) of the Practice Plan, in a leadership partnership with the Chief Medical Officer, Primary Care (CMO-PC) and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Practice Plan, will provide the strategic, clinical, and operational leadership of UTHealth Houston's Practice Plan, UT Physicians. CMO-SC will have oversight of all matters related to provider performance and will enhance a culture that promotes specialty care service excellence and continuous improvement, creating a highly attractive practice environment for specialty care physicians / providers. The CMO-SC will also serve in their respective specialty care department as a faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor at a .40-.20 FTE and serve as CCO, at a 0.60-0.80 FTE.

The CMO-SC will provide strategic and visionary input to transform the specialty care delivery model, creating a standardized, evidence-based approach to patient care and a more consistent patient experience through the enhancement of clinical integration and care coordination across all specialty care clinical sites. This individual will be an experienced specialty care physician leader with clinical credibility and a distinct vision for the Practice Plan. This individual is a leader who can clearly and comfortably communicate and collaborate with specialty care physicians of various backgrounds, and administrators at various levels, while formulating an approach to infrastructure and systems to support a high-performing Practice Plan.

The CMO-SC will direct, administer, and coordinate the specialty care activities of the Practice Plan in support of policies, goals, and objectives established by the university President and the Practice Plan Board of Directors. The CMO-SC reports to senior leadership (EVP, Health Affairs) and collaborates to drive performance, foster physician engagement, and deliver high-quality patient care.

Qualifications :

The selected candidate for the position must have a Texas Medical License or be eligible for a Texas Faculty Temporary License.

Qualified applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and service. They should show clear potential for distinction in their field and a shared dedication to advancing the mission of UT Physicians and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. The ideal candidate will exemplify outstanding personal and leadership qualities, with a proven ability to lead transformative clinical operations that improve patient care. They will also actively contribute to the institution's educational mission by supporting faculty development, fostering mentorship, and promoting innovative research across the organization.

Position Key Accountabilities :

• Developing and sustaining an environment in the patient care units that support excellence and innovation in clinical practice and patient care through assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and standards that support positive patient care outcomes to include excellent risk-adjusted outcomes.
• Performing a variety of staff management functions including the interviewing, hiring, evaluating, counseling, and terminating of assigned management, clinical, and support staff.
• Facilitating, reviewing, and approving the budget for UTHealth Houston and Surgery Services, including estimates of future personnel and equipment needs; ensuring that hospital resources are optimally utilized through participation in strategic planning and financial budgeting processes, and development of practices that achieve specific objectives and resolution of unfavorable performance variances; providing leadership and implementing strategies to provide cost-effective quality care.
• Providing coaching, mentoring, support, and consultation to clinical managers, attending physicians, research personnel, colleagues, and clinical staff.
• Serving as role model in professional behavior and leadership skills, problem-solving ability, and interpersonal skills
• Delegating authority and accountability to clinical & nursing staff for clinical practice and patient care decisions that are consistent with professional standards, regulatory agencies, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Identifying patient and family needs of the populations served; recommending and / or developing new programs and services to meet those needs; assuring that age-specific equipment, supplies, and educational resources are available for assigned units / services
• Collaborating with UTHealth Houston and hospital administration and physicians to identify future opportunities, and define the direction of department services; developing, and implementing plans to achieve identified goals, including OR efficiency, productivity, and patient throughput targets across the care continuum
• Maintaining an ongoing departmental Quality Improvement Plan and process consistent with the organizational Quality Management Plan; developing and implementing unit-specific standards, policies, and procedures that guide and support the provision of care and services; continuously assessing and improving assigned departments' performance while enhancing service
• Reviewing appropriate financial reports and making appropriate modifications in UTHealth Houston and MHH to reduce costs associated with supplies, staffing, and service agreements and / or identify sound alternatives for purchasing equipment and supplies
• Participating in and / or chairing committees, work groups, and meetings at as appropriate
• Assuring interdisciplinary performance improvement programs are active, maintained, and ongoing. Following up to ensure that complaints have been satisfactorily handled. Collaborating to maintain a focus on providing excellent clinical services

Education :

Work Experience :

Minimum Qualifications :