Chief, Spine Division

About the Role

Duke Health seeks an accomplished academic spine surgeon to serve as Chief of the Spine Division and the System Medical Director, Spine Services. This integrated program brings together Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery to create a national model for comprehensive spine care. The Chief will lead the clinical, academic, research, and operational missions of the Division while serving as the System Medical Director for Spine in the new Neuroscience & Spine Service Line.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across Duke's spine platform, unifying Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, and multidisciplinary partners.
• Lead a nationally recognized spine enterprise, aligning departments around a shared vision for spine care.
• Advance Duke's integrated spine program across clinical, academic, research, and operational domains.
• Oversee spine services, including orthopaedic spine surgery, neurosurgery, and multidisciplinary care.
• Allocate up to 30% of time to strategy, operations, academic development, and culture-building.
• Lead a multidisciplinary "one-stop" model spanning surgical and nonoperative care, including physiatry, pain management, and rehabilitation.
• Manage a team of approximately 34 clinicians, including 15 surgeons and 11 advanced practice providers.
• Prioritize building trust, aligning compensation models, strengthening quality metrics, and standardizing patient access in the first 12–18 months.
• Expand research programs in outcomes, safety, and clinical innovation through mentorship and investment.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or equivalent degree.
• Board-certified in Orthopaedic Surgery or Neurosurgery.
• Eligible for medical licensure in North Carolina.
• Qualified for appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level.
• Established national reputation for academic achievement and scholarly contribution.
• Proven success leading within complex, matrixed health care organizations.
• Strong business, operational, and culture-building leadership capabilities.
• Ability to build consensus and foster collaboration across departments and stakeholders.

Opportunity Highlights

• Shape the future of spine services in a leading academic health system.
• Collaborate with departmental and health system leaders to drive innovation and growth.
• Lead a high-volume platform with 46,000 annual patient visits and 4,000 surgical cases.
• Work in the vibrant Research Triangle, a hub for academic medicine, life sciences, and technology.
• Enjoy Durham's high livability scores, diverse culture, and easy national access via Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Community Information

Durham, North Carolina, sits in the Research Triangle, offering a strong platform for professional impact and a balanced lifestyle. Niche rates Durham highly for diversity and livability, and AreaVibes assigns it an "Exceptional" score for amenities and commute factors.

Key features:

• Research Triangle momentum: A dense innovation ecosystem anchored by Duke and regional partners.
• Livability: Scores 81 on AreaVibes, with A+ marks in amenities and commute.
• Accessibility: Raleigh-Durham International Airport serves 15.5 million passengers annually with expanding nonstop options.