Chief Medical Officer

About the role

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the Value-Based Services Organization (VBSO) serves as a senior clinical leader supporting the advancement of value-based care across the health system. The role focuses on improving quality, clinical outcomes, patient experience, and total cost of care across defined populations, with a primary focus on the USC employee health plans member population.

Responsibilities

• Deliver sustained improvement in quality and clinical outcomes, patient experience, utilization, and total cost of care across value-based programs and attributed populations, with primary accountability for the USC employee health population.
• Achieve and maintain strong performance on quality metrics, including HEDIS measures, PPO benchmarks, and other value-based performance programs.
• Strengthen collaboration with the USC health plan and critical stakeholders to align care models, performance goals, and member experience, contributing to improved plan performance and outcomes.
• Drive enterprise-wide physician alignment, resulting in improved adherence to evidence-based care, reduced clinical variation, and consistent high-value referral patterns.
• Partner closely with physician and operational leaders to improve access, strengthen care coordination, and advance efficient, team-based care delivery models.
• Improve utilization and referral management to support Tier One network strategy and reduce out-of-system care.
• Ensure effective performance of population health, disease management and care management programs, with measurable impact on high-risk and high-cost populations.
• Establish clear performance expectations, monitor key metrics, and take timely, data-informed action to address gaps and improve results.
• Support the continued expansion of value-based care initiatives, including employer partnerships and attributed populations, in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Support the implementation and scaling of care models that improve access, coordination, and outcomes, including team-based and technology-enabled approaches.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with physicians, health system leadership, the Keck School of Medicine, university leadership, and affiliated health plan executives.
• Maintain clinical credibility and engagement through active practice and visible leadership within the organization.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team including RN Case Managers, Care Coordinators, Program Manager, and a Clinical Director.

Qualifications

• Req MD Medical degree (M.D. or D.O.) from an accredited school
• Req 10 years Progressive leadership experience in clinical operations, population health, or value-based care, including experience leading large, complex physician organizations or health systems within matrixed environments and in collaboration with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Req 10 years In leadership experience in large, organized, and/or clinically integrated delivery systems (preferably within an Academic Medical Center), with a track record of partnering effectively with physician, operational, and executive stakeholders.
• Req 5 years Experience in value-based care, population health management, or risk-based contracting, with demonstrated accountability for clinical and financial outcomes.
• Req 5 years of active clinical practice
• Req Demonstrated ability to influence and align physicians and clinical leaders in a matrixed environment, promoting evidence-based care, reducing variation, and optimizing referral patterns.
• Req Proven ability to lead in complex, matrixed organizations, quickly assess performance, and drive measurable improvement in outcomes, execution, and results.
• Req Expertise in developing and executing clinical and population health strategies across health systems, medical groups, and academic environments, with accountability for quality, utilization, cost, and overall performance.
• Req Strong understanding of value-based care and managed care models, including risk-based contracts, total cost of care management, and payer dynamics across commercial, employer, and government programs.
• Req Experience partnering with health plans to align clinical strategy, performance goals, and member experience, including benefit design, network strategy, and in-network utilization management.
• Req Data-driven decision-making capability, including experience using analytics and risk stratification to manage population health and drive measurable improvement.
• Req Knowledge of value-based quality programs and performance metrics, including HEDIS, MIPS, PPO benchmarks, and other payer-specific measures.
• Req Collaborative leadership style, with the ability to build trust, foster alignment, and drive behavior change across physician, operational, and executive stakeholders.
• Req Execution-oriented mindset, with the ability to prioritize initiatives and deliver results in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Req Executive communication and leadership presence, with the ability to clearly articulate strategy, align diverse stakeholders, and drive accountability across clinical, operational, and health plan partners.