Physician Executive for the Cardiovascular Service Line

About the Organization

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated academic health system delivering exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts and the surrounding states. The health system is the principal teaching affiliate for Tufts University School of Medicine. Tufts Medicine comprises the following clinical entities: Tufts Medicine Professional Group (TMPG), Tufts Medicine Integrated Network (TMIN), Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Hospital, and Tufts Care at Home.

About the Role

The Physician Executive of the Cardiovascular Service Line (CVSL PE) provides clear vision and leadership in promoting the strategic direction and integration of the Cardiovascular Service Line across Tufts Medicine. The incumbent leads all activities related to the Cardiovascular patient care enterprise while supporting the strategic imperatives of the academic mission, including graduate medical education and research. The leader collaborates with Lowell General Hospital and MelroseWakefield Hospital Presidents and Chief Medical Officers to oversee CVSL services and the provision of cardiovascular care by employed and independent cardiologists across these facilities.

The CVSL PE works collaboratively with an administrative executive dyad, the Vice President of the Cardiovascular Service Line, to develop and achieve strategies and initiatives prioritized for the CVSL. The role drives continuous quality improvement at the individual Cardiovascular division level and across each entity to meet or exceed outcomes applicable to the service line.

The Cardiovascular Service Line Physician Executive reports directly to the TM Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and has a dotted line reporting to the President of the Physician Organization.

Major Clinical Programs

The role encompasses leadership of the CardioVascular Center (CVC) at Tufts Medical Center, an integrated care delivery and research entity comprising the Division of Cardiology, the Division of Cardiac Surgery, and the Division of Vascular Surgery. The CVC operates the largest advanced heart failure program in New England and has performed more heart transplants than any other hospital in the region over the last five years, ranking 13th nationally. The CVC provides care across the full spectrum of cardiac and vascular services, with over 3,000 inpatient discharges and a robust ambulatory presence of over 7,000 new and 50,000 existing patient visits annually.

Programmatic offerings include:

• Advanced Heart Failure/Cardiac Transplant and MCS programs
• General and Specialized Cardiology programs
• Cardiac Amyloid/Sarcoid
• Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging
• Cardio-Oncology
• Adult Congenital Heart Disease
• Cardiac Imaging
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Cardio-Obstetrics
• Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart
• Electrophysiology
• Cardiac Surgery
• Vascular Surgery

The CVSL also includes four community-based practices: Heart Center MetroWest (Framingham, MA), Merrimack Valley Cardiology (Lowell, MA), and two practices in the Melrose community. Clinical offerings at MelroseWakefield and Lowell General Hospital include general cardiology, primary PCI, elective PCI, community-based EP programs, and vascular surgery.

Training Programs

The CardioVascular Center at Tufts Medical Center provides trainees with skills to become exceptional specialists in:

• General Cardiology (16 fellows)
• Interventional Cardiology (2 fellows)
• Electrophysiology (3 fellows)
• Advanced Heart Failure Transplant Cardiology (3 fellows)
• Advanced Cardiac Imaging (1 fellow)
• Cardiac Surgery (2 fellows)
• Vascular Surgery (2 fellows)

Fellows are encouraged to pursue research opportunities in basic and translational science at the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute and specialized research training in the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy. The Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Programs expose trainees to an excellent case mix and provide instruction through didactic sessions, interactive conferences, and self-study.

Research Programs

The cardiovascular clinical and translational research mission is housed within the CardioVascular Center for Research & Innovation (CVCRI), dedicated to fostering new approaches to clinical research, innovation, education, and patient outcomes. The CVCRI currently manages 58 clinical studies (48 active and 10 in start-up). The Cardiogenic Shock Working Group (CSWG) at Tufts Medical Center aims to improve clinical outcomes for cardiogenic shock and includes over 10,000 patients in 50+ participating medical centers worldwide.

The Molecular Cardiology Research Institute (MCRI), founded in 1998, comprises three research centers and five core labs: the Cardiac Biology Research Center (CBRC), the Vascular Biology Research Center (VBRC), the Center for Translational Pharmacology and Genomics (CTPG), the Vascular Function Lab, Mouse Physiology Lab, MCRI Biobank, Cell Culture Core Lab, and the MCRI Large Animal Interventional Research Lab. Over the past 26 years, MCRI investigators have published 1,000 manuscripts, secured over $173 million in external funding, and resulted in 22 patents and 6 start-up companies while training over 150 cardiovascular scientists.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Finance

• Develop and implement the cardiovascular network strategy, growth, financial profitability, and system integration across the Tufts Medicine enterprise in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with CVSL physician leaders, the VP of CVSL, Directors, and administrative managers to monitor and improve utilization and cost efficiency.
• Lead the development and accountability for the annual budget in partnership with the VP of CVSL.
• Develop and implement benchmarked compensation and productivity plans for all CVSL physicians.
• Ensure Tufts Medicine stays at the forefront of alternative payment models and maintains value-added relationships with industry and payor partners.
• Lead the service line in developing strategies focused on continuous quality improvement, efficient clinical delivery, and maximizing patient value.

Clinical Operations and Quality

• Collaborate across Tufts Medicine to ensure consistency in quality, patient safety, and evaluation of clinical service protocols.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external regulatory and safety requirements, including Joint Commission and other accrediting agencies.
• Promote continuity of care across the full continuum of care using an interdisciplinary approach.
• Model exemplar leadership for Cardiovascular Services to ensure consistency and implementation of best practice programs, clinical standardization, and development of endorsed protocols.
• Promote health equity across the service line and establish strategies for equitable access to cardiovascular services.
• Participate in process improvement activities and ensure high staff and physician satisfaction and engagement.
• Act as a liaison between physicians, staff, and Tufts Medicine to achieve quality care using accepted guidelines and measurable outcomes.
• Participate in community health programs and serve on community boards related to the service line discipline, if appropriate.

Leadership in Research and Education

• Accountable to the Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Tufts University School of Medicine for all academic programs and processes, including academic appointments and promotions.
• Lead efforts to support new approaches to clinical research, innovation, education, and patient outcomes through the Cardiovascular Center for Research & Innovation (CVCRI) and the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute (MCRI).
• Partner with TUSM Chairs of Medicine and Surgery to support all CVSL ACGME and non-ACGME accredited training programs and meet ACGME and LCME requirements.
• Lead CVSL MD recruitment efforts at Tufts Medical Center and collaborate with employed cardiology practice leaders for recruitment in the community.
• Facilitate physician and APP retention, engagement, and alignment across the TMIN network.
• Update the TM CVSL Executive Committee on current and potential partnership activities, including increased local care capabilities and coordination of patient care activities.

Requirements

• Greater than 5 years’ experience as a physician leader, division chief, or other leadership position.
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a physician in the state of Massachusetts.
• Board Certified in at least one cardiovascular disease specialty.
• Eligible for an academic appointment at the Professor level.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $865,000.00 to $993,000.00 annually.