Division Director, Cardiology

Responsibilities

Thomas Jefferson University seeks a visionary and collaborative academic physician leader to serve as the next Division Director of Cardiology within the Department of Medicine at Sidney Kimmel Medical College and to take a major role in developing and overseeing cardiology clinical activities in an integrated model for the Jefferson Enterprise.

As Division Director, the successful candidate will report to the Chair of the Department of Medicine and will provide direct oversight of the division's 49 full time physicians and contracted private practice physicians along with it's clinical portfolio, ensuring that state-of-the-art clinical care is provided. The Division Director will also support the growth and development of the Division’s faculty, and the continued development of the department’s robust clinical research portfolio. They will ensure an outstanding clinical educational experience for the department’s medical students, residents and fellows assuring that the department is able to attract top talent in recruitment of faculty and trainees. 

The Division Director will also serve as Deputy Director of the newly created Jefferson Cardiovascular Institute working closely with the Institute Director, the renowned surgeon Dr. Joseph Bavaria. As Deputy Director of the Institute, they will serve as the strategic lead in determining how cardiology care is delivered across Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and practice sites and will be critical in driving transformational change and growth of cardiology services at Jefferson Health by guiding strategy, overseeing implementation, and monitoring performance.

Clinical and Academic Leadership:

Provide oversight of the Division’s clinical portfolio, directing provider assignments for 49 faculty (JUP)and staff physicians to ensure the coverage of clinical needs at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. They will initiate and recognize effective communication and participation between the hospital, faculty, and referring physicians.

Work with the Department Chairs and Division Directors in a professional, collegial, and collaborative manner to create a college-wide culture of shared priorities and accountability that fosters the development of inter-departmental activities and programs for patient care, research, and teaching.

Identify, monitor, and improve the quality of patient care, including a focus on patient satisfaction.

Conduct Division meetings that address quality, risk management, and other related issues.

Promote the function of the Division as part of an integrated, multi-specialty group practice, including engaging in and requiring faculty to pursue collaboration in care delivery and strategic planning.

Conduct all necessary and appropriate administrative activities with respect to the Division at TJUH in connection with the clinical activities of the Department and the education of TJUH residents.

Work with the department chair to develop a comprehensive departmental and divisional strategic plan with clearly defined priorities aligned with SKMC's overall goals. It should include action plans to drive implementation, as well as an accountability framework with clearly communicated roles and responsibilities, timelines, and performance measures to track progress and maintain focus.

Guide the integration of teaching, research, scholarship, and service with community partners.

Drive community engagement through outreach to community groups with the goal of understanding and responding to the health needs of the community through education, advocacy, partnership, and program development.

Recruitment, Workforce Planning, and Development:

Create a supportive and unified environment through increased divisional engagement. Continuously communicate direction and generate support during times of change.

Advance cultural diversity, gender equity, and inclusiveness through the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of faculty and academic staff from diverse backgrounds.

Ensure equity in the promotion and award of faculty and staff salaries and total compensation.

Ensure that recruitment practices attract the best candidates, selection processes comply with University policies, and that hires are made in a timely manner and within budget.

Oversee workforce planning that strategically aligns head count and talent management with growth objectives. Maintain sufficient awareness of future workforce gaps and develop talent pipelines to address them.

Support the continued development of faculty and staff. Oversee the Division’s CME activities. Establish and communicate expectations and goals. Provide regular feedback to faculty/staff including recognition, coaching, and counseling. Conduct annual performance reviews and evaluations. 

Research:

Promote faculty mentorship in research, encourage interdisciplinary research collaboration and shared resources, and promote integrative approaches to scholarly endeavors that involve partnering with the community to address the evolving needs of patients through discovery and applying research into meaningful clinical practice.

Establish and maintain a Divisional infrastructure that supports extramural grant activity. Provide resources to facilitate the acquisition of new external funding from grants and contracts by faculty.

Provide oversight of the Division’s research portfolio. Identify, monitor, and report the quality of the Division’s research. Maintain records of accomplishments. 

Education & Training:

Work with the Department Chair and other Division Leaders to provide the necessary tools and resources to allow the highest level of education and training.

Oversee the Division’s participation in the undergraduate medical education program of SKMC.

Support Program Directors in the potential expansion of residency partner sites and slots.

Support existing ACGME-approved Cardiology fellowship program and the development of the subspecialty fellowships programs

Provide resources that support and stimulate faculty productivity in educational and research activities.

Ensure that all Divisional educational activities are student-centered.

Oversee student recruitment and training, including resident and fellow selection. Seek innovative methods in helping trainees to learn.

Oversee faculty teaching assignments.

Ensure accreditation activities, program reviews, and other education-related evaluations occur appropriately. Ensure compliance with LCME and ACGME accreditation requirements.

Financial Operations

Review the overall divisional budgets andactively participate in the annual budget process.

Exercise financial responsibility in managing the Division’s revenue-generating activities to ensure the Division remains financially supported.

Develop financial priorities consistent with the Department’s strategic plan.

Ensure allowable expenditures for Divisional resources and equipment are within budget and appropriately allocated.

Establish and maintain sound management and business discipline in the Department, with accountability for performance in line with SKMC’s move towards mission-based budgeting and management.

Jefferson Enterprise Role:

As Deputy Director of the Cardiovascular Institute, work collaboratively with Dr. Joseph Bavaria in furthering the development and execution of the Institute, centered at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital but spanning all service line activities across the Jefferson Enterprise including clinical activities, research, and education. The Institute will cover all Heart and Vascular services across Jefferson Health’s 17 hospitals and practice sites.

Conduct a top-to-bottom review of enterprise-wide cardiology clinical activities, staffing, and workflow across the Jefferson Enterprise with an eye toward creating an Enterprise-wide model of cardiac care that integrates with cardiovascular surgery, intensive care, heart and lung transplant, and diagnostic services.

Serve as the key operations leader of the Cardiovascular Institute to drive recruitment, standardization of care, integration, and clinical research.

Work collaboratively with private cardiology practices providing inpatient and outpatient services at Jefferson Health System hospitals and practice sites.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

An MD/DO or equivalent international degree, current board certification in Cardiology, and be eligible for or licensed to practice in the state of Pennsylvania. Nationally and/or internationally recognized physician in the field of Cardiology At least 5 years of leadership experience in clinical operations, ideally gained through a combination of both academic and private practices. An academic career trajectory, with increasing levels of administrative responsibilities that has (ideally) culminated in serving as a Vice Chair, Associate Chair, Division Chief, Section Head or another relevant role of a reputable Division of Cardiology. Academic accomplishments which merit appointment at the rank of full professor at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. A strong record of teaching and supporting academic programs for medical students, residents, and fellows, as well as experience with cultivating academic-clinical partnerships and training programs. Experience facilitating and promoting clinical research with a working understanding of the supporting infrastructure and nuances of clinical research, e.g. the clinical trial process and phases. Demonstrated commitment to championing excellence in clinical quality, supported by patient satisfaction scores expected of a high-performing clinician at a leading academic center. Track record of faculty development and mentorship Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to health equity. Track record of building trusted relationships outside of Cardiology with key departments and institutional leaders

Procedure for Candidacy:

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Closing Statement

Jefferson includes Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, a dynamic university and health system with broad reach across the Delaware Valley. Jefferson is the second largest employer in Philadelphia and the largest health system in Philadelphia based on total licensed beds.

Jefferson’s mission, vision and values create an organization that attracts the best and the brightest students, faculty, staff, and healthcare professionals, as well as the most visionary leaders to drive exceptional results.

OUR MISSION: We improve lives. OUR VISION: Reimagining health, education and discovery to create unparalleled value OUR VALUES: Put People First, Be Bold & Think Differently and Do the Right Thing

As an employer, Jefferson maintains a commitment to provide equal access to employment. Jefferson values diversity and encourages applications from women, members of minority groups, LGBTQ individuals, disabled individuals, and veterans.

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