Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director, Heart & Vascular Care Line
Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director, Heart & Vascular Care Line
Description
The CMO and Executive Director, Heart and Vascular Care Line (MD), is the senior physician executive responsible for advancing and integrating cardiovascular care delivery across University of Utah Health and partner organizations. This role ensures alignment between care line strategy and physician practice, clinical standards, and academic priorities, and champions high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered cardiovascular care across the inpatient, outpatient, procedural, perioperative, and rehabilitative continuum. This leader provides physician vision and oversight across the full scope of cardiovascular services, including:
Cardiac Surgery (cardiac, non-oncologic thoracic, aortic, valve, mechanical circulatory support)
Vascular Surgery (open and endovascular, aortic, peripheral arterial and venous, cerebrovascular)
Cardiovascular support services (cardiac catheterization and EP labs, CVICU, cardiovascular acute care, cardiac rehabilitation, advanced heart failure clinics, anticoagulation services)As a partner on the three-person Care Line Executive Leadership Team (ELT)—with the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Nursing Director—this leader serves as the clinical and strategic physician executive coordinating cardiovascular services across inpatient, outpatient, perioperative, procedural, and rehabilitative settings. The role provides physician leadership for care model design and clinical integration, supports high-value care delivery, and drives sustainable growth and clinical excellence across the cardiovascular enterprise. The role reports to the Care Line Clinical Board (with functional reporting to the System Associate Chief Clinical Officer) and co-leads the Care Line Executive Operations Committee (CLEOC) to achieve care line goals and outcomes.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Growth
Lead Care Line strategic growth planning and monitor execution across University of Utah Health and partner organizations.
Serve as the physician executive lead for Care Line strategy and business development in partnership with the administrative and nursing executive leaders.
Coordinate strategic planning with cardiovascular division chiefs, department chairs, practice management, and external partners to align clinical, academic, and operational priorities.
Identify and advance growth opportunities (regional access expansion, new programs, technology adoption, and population health/prevention initiatives).
Guide the design and operationalization of cardiovascular sublines and scalable care models, aligning capacity, workforce, and capital with strategic priorities across inpatient, ambulatory, procedural, virtual, and post-acute settings.
Strategic-Operational Integration
Provide senior physician leadership for evidence-based, person-centered clinical integration and care coordination across the full cardiovascular continuum.
Align physician practice patterns, care models, education, and research with Care Line strategy, operational capabilities, and patient-centered design.
Optimize patient access and flow across clinics, procedural areas, and inpatient units (wait times, referrals/leakage, capacity, transfers, and regional coordination).
Champion evidence-based, standardized clinical pathways and protocols across the network, aligned with national standards.
Quality, Safety and Performance Improvement
Partner with nursing, quality, and operational leaders to embed high reliability, safety, continuous improvement, transparency, and continuous learning across cardiovascular services.
Lead performance improvement using outcomes, safety, and experience metrics (e.g., mortality/complications, readmissions/LOS, timeliness, procedural outcomes, CAHPS/PROMs/NPS).
Embed consistency in program design, access strategies, and care delivery, and ensure alignment with national standards/registries (ACC/AHA, STS, SVS, NCDR, VQI).
Oversee peer review, variation analysis, benchmarking, and physician accountability; sponsor clinical innovation and improvement initiatives with measurable impact.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
Partner with other members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to align Care Line priorities with system strategy and operational execution, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration, timely escalation, decision support, and transparent progress updates.
Co-develop enterprise-ready business cases (growth, capital, workforce, technology) with finance, operations, nursing, and practice leadership, translating clinical need into clear outcomes, ROI, and implementation plans.
Convene and align key stakeholders (department chairs, division chiefs, quality/safety, ambulatory/inpatient leaders, and external partners) to standardize pathways, resolve cross-site barriers, and drive accountable execution.
Leadership and Workforce Development
Partner with nursing and administrative leaders to align staffing models with care delivery, access goals, and capacity needs.
Collaborate with faculty leadership on workforce engagement, well-being, and retention among cardiovascular faculty and advanced practice clinicians, reinforcing a respectful, compassionate, high-performing culture.
Mentor physician leaders and emerging talent, reinforcing accountability, professionalism, and continuous development.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Lead heart and vascular care line strategy and clinical integration across specialties, sites, and the full care continuum.
Drive growth through program development, market/access expansion, regional network development, and adoption of new care models and technologies.
Partner effectively in shared leadership with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), advancing results through influence, alignment, and disciplined execution.
Demonstrate financial and value-based care acumen, including margin awareness, capital/ROI prioritization, and risk-based model strategy.
Champion quality, safety, fairness, and high reliability—using data, benchmarking, and peer review to drive measurable improvement and accountability.
Integrate the academic mission (education and research) into operations and build partnerships with departments, institutes, societies, and industry.
Demonstrated track record of strategic planning and cardiovascular program growth, leading quality improvement with measurable outcomes, managing complex budgets/financial operations, and guiding multidisciplinary teams with effective stakeholder engagement.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.
This is a sedentary position that may exert up to 10 pounds and may lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. This position involves sitting most of the time and is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Physical Requirements
Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking
Multi-lingual Candidates Welcomed
Overview
As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA
The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.
EEO Statement
University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patient populations.
All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources office at 801-581-6500. If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/ Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu/
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at (801) 581-6500 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
Requisition Number 82204 Reg/Temp Regular Employment Type Part-Time Shift Day Work Schedule M-F Clinical/Non-Clinical Status Non-Clinical Location Name University of Utah Hospital Workplace Set Up On-site City SALT LAKE CITY State UT Department UUH CST 03A EXEC DIR ADMIN Category Executives Workplace Set Up On-site
Board certification?in Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, or related cardiovascular specialty.
Active, unrestricted medical license?in Utah or eligible for Utah medical licensure.
Ten plus years of progressive clinical experience?in cardiovascular medicine, cardiac surgery, or vascular surgery within an academic medical center or complex health system.
Five plus years of administrative and leadership experience?in cardiovascular service line management, program development, quality improvement, or healthcare operations leadership.
Qualifications (Preferred)
Preferred
Fellowship training in a cardiovascular subspecialty strongly preferred.
