The Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO)

Location: Kokomo, Indiana – Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo. This facility is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and/or Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P).

About Ascension

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture grounded in service, growth, care, and connection. We empower over 97,000 associates to reimagine healthcare together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, Ascension offers an inclusive and supportive environment where contributions matter.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription, and HSA/FSA options
• Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning resources, disability, and life insurance
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development, and online learning
• Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling, peer support, spiritual care, and stress management
• Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance, and family benefits
• Optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings, and more

Responsibilities

• Oversee clinical care and operations, focusing on patient flow, access, and reliable care delivery.
• Manage operational performance metrics: length of stay (LOS), throughput, ED boarding, admission efficiency, discharge planning, and readmissions.
• Drive clinical integration, monitor performance, and champion process variation reduction and high reliability.
• Provide leadership, education, and support to stakeholders; standardize clinical processes.
• Ensure adherence to Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs) for Catholic healthcare services.
• Lead care coordination development and implementation across inpatient, outpatient, and post-acute settings.
• Collaborate to implement standard work, escalation pathways, and real-time decision-making for capacity management.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and accreditation readiness for clinical operations.
• Drive adherence to operational quality and safety initiatives for sustained improvement.
• Lead hospital-based physician services, including hospitalist programs and advanced practice provider (APP) integration.
• Align staffing models with patient demand and operational goals; oversee transfer center operations.
• Promote shared leadership and collaboration between hospital and physician teams.
• Engage and support physician and APP leaders for clinical alignment and accountability.
• Motivate and engage physicians and clinical staff; support talent development and performance management.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to optimize utilization management and eliminate waste.
• Partner with clinical leaders to build effective delivery models and communicate key issues to medical staff.
• Promote Ascension’s core values and translate strategic priorities into operational outcomes.
• Facilitate strategic clinical relationships with physicians and develop growth plans for clinical practice.
• Ensure compliance with governmental and regulatory requirements for clinical programs.
• Implement utilization review, quality improvement systems, and educational programs.
• May provide medical services to patients in an assigned area.
• Prepare annual operating budgets for assigned service areas.
• Consult on new program development and supervise medical/resident programs.

Requirements

• Minimum 2-year commitment to the role.
• Regular and effective communication with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
• Completion of CORE (Communicate Openly, Respond Empathetically) training to become a CORE leader.
• Training on peer review, credentialing, medical staff bylaws, and relevant policies.
• Plan and direct medical policies and programs; define and achieve financial targets.

Qualifications

• Physician MD/DO credentialed from the Indiana Medical Licensing Board, or Podiatrist credentialed from the Indiana Board of Podiatric Medicine (obtained prior to hire).
• Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Doctor of Optometry (OD), or Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) required.

Critical Executive Leadership Competencies

• Models integrity and values: cares for vulnerable, communicates honestly, fosters trust, serves others, promotes growth, and reverence.
• Inspires and engages people: presents a transformational vision and clarifies future state in support of the mission.
• Cultivates partnerships: maintains strategic relationships, considers stakeholder perspectives, and promotes fairness.
• Models closed-loop communication: champions continuous improvement in communication processes for clarity, efficiency, and feedback integration.