VA Section Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin

Position Description:

VA Section Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin

The VA Section Chief in the Division of General Internal Medicine (GIM) will lead the GIM Section at Zablocki VA Medical Center, including GIM Faculty Primary Care Clinics, Internal Medicine Residents’ Clinics, and Inpatient Medicine Wards Teams. The Section Chief will also maintain a strong and collaborative relationship with the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Department of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). This leader will play a key role in the development, organization, and success of the program and provide oversight of daily operations at the Zablocki VA. The VA Section Chief will drive the program’s growth across all missions of VA. The Section Chief must be an excellent clinician who possesses strong leadership and organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex environment while maintaining collaboration with an academic health system. The VA Section Chief will have an MD or DO degree with prior leadership experience in an academic medical center internal medicine program and an established career in clinical operations. The VA Section Chief will be defined as faculty member in the General Internal Medicine Division of the Department of Medicine and must be ABIM certified in Internal Medicine and be eligible for faculty appointment at MCW. Faculty rank would be determined based on experience and accomplishments.

Reporting Relationships and Key Linkages:

• As Section Chief in GIM, reports directly to the Division Chief of GIM at MCW.
• As VA Section Chief, reports directly to the Division Manager, Medicine, Zablocki VA Medical Center.
• Direct reports include all Zablocki VA GIM physicians, nurse practitioners, and select staff.
  
  

Administration:

• Maintains an open, collaborative atmosphere that empowers both faculty and staff to perform at their best and strongly encourages innovation, accountability, and honest feedback at all levels.
• Balance the missions of clinical practice, research, and education, and work diligently to allocate resources to each activity to ensure the success of the GIM Section and Medicine Division in each area.
• In collaboration with the Division and facility leadership, responsible for efficient resource utilization, and for establishing workforce plans for growth of the program, considering the balance of VA missions of clinical practice, education, and research.
• Develops a sustainable, efficient, effective, and accountable staffing model that recognizes new care delivery models and has the flexibility to meet the needs of both patients and the system.
• Continuously improving the efficiency of the clinical practice while enhancing the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the patient experience. Works with Division leadership to review quality standards and metrics and to work with faculty and administrative team to improve clinical efficiencies and enhance productivity.
• Collaborates with the MCW Department of Medicine and the Medicine Division Manager to recruit faculty and staff of high quality and excellent potential for contribution to the Zablocki VA and MCW.
• Responsible for keeping faculty, providers, and staff accountable for their clinical performance and adherence to VA policies. Ongoing Professional Performance Evaluations (OPPE) will be conducted for all physician and NP providers on a regular scheduled basis. Conduct an annual performance review of all GIM faculty members as per VA and MCW requirements.
• Meets regularly with all members of GIM Section. Encourages Section members to attend regularly scheduled Division and facility meetings.
• Represents the Zablocki VA and the Medical College of Wisconsin in regional and national organizations and societies and participates in internal medicine meetings, societies and associations at a national level.
  
  

Clinical:

• The Section Chief must lead by example and be a clinician of the highest quality.
• Responsible for the oversight and direction of the GIM providers, in both Primary Care and inpatient settings.
• Develops and oversees quality improvement efforts including clinical outcomes, specific treatment outcomes, timeliness outcomes and patient quality of life.
• Implements best practice models of care to maximize clinical standardization and efficiency.
• Models exceptional clinical care of all patients.
  
  

Teaching/Academic Research:

• Serves as a role model for faculty and trainees. In partnership with the Division Manager, oversees the research productivity of the faculty and trainees in the section and establishes a culture of inquisitiveness, collaboration, participation, fiscal responsibility, and multidisciplinary approaches. Promotes faculty and trainees in regional and national specialty organizations.
• Responsible for encouraging faculty in the Section to participate in the undergraduate and graduate medical education programs at MCW as well as CME programs and graduate school programs as appropriate.
• Works collaboratively with academic partners to promote the education and research missions of VA and MCW.
• Supports and promotes a robust research environment.
• Promotes interdepartmental collaborations and encourages cross-discipline improvements in the delivery of patient care.
• Facilitates publication productivity in internal medicine journals and presentations at national meetings by all key faculty members.
  
  

Medical College of Wisconsin:

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is a private, academic institution dedicated to leadership and excellence. In 2017, MCW had approximately 850 students in Medical School, nearly 400 graduate students and 160 postdoctoral fellows in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. There are more than 670 physicians in residency training and 180 physicians in fellowship training. MCW is the largest research institution in eastern Wisconsin with $154 million in grant awards for research, teaching, training and related purposes in FY2013-2014, of which $138 million was for researching, including funding from the National Institute of Health and other sponsors. Through its clinical operations, MCW providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and psychologists care for more than 500,000 patients in 2015 representing more than 2.2 million patient visits.

MCW Department of Medicine:

The Department of Medicine at MCW is comprised of 10 divisions, and is led by Acting Chairman, Dr. Kevin Regner. The Department has a large clinical presence on the campus of the academic medical center and the Zablocki VA Medical Center, along with a significant number of regional affiliations and practice locations outside of the metro Milwaukee area. There are approximately 360 faculty, 130 advanced practice providers and 200 residents and fellows. The Department’s annual budget is in excess of $180 million with a research budget of approximately $38 million.

Center for Advancing Population Science (CAPS):

The mission of the Center for Advancing Population Sciences (CAPS) is to develop, test, and implement innovative strategies for transforming healthcare that optimizes quality, value, and cost. As an interdisciplinary group of health services researchers collaborating in a diverse array of subject areas, CAPS conducts research on health care services and related health outcomes, facilitates a supportive environment for MCW investigators developing externally funded research programs, determines the need for and recruits new faculty in targeted methodologic areas, and provides a seminar series to enhance collaboration. In bringing together a diverse group of investigators, the Center fosters the creation of innovative ideas regarding how to evaluate and improve population health across diverse populations and geographic regions. Research focus areas include health systems, population health research, health disparities/health equity, and implementation science. In addition, efforts have focused on building international collaborations to support innovative research, analysis, implementation and impact at a global level.

We are dedicated to the principles of equity and diversity and particularly encourage those of diverse backgrounds to apply.

Position Requirements:

The position requires a Board Certified/Eligible radiologist, who has completed a Musculoskeletal Fellowship program, is eligible for medical licensure in Wisconsin, and has at least 5 years’ experience as an MSK radiologist. The individual should demonstrate strong clinical, operational, and people leadership experience including excellent communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills. This leadership role requires regular and consistent onsite presence.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:

• Makes appropriate decisions based on education, analysis, wisdom, experience and judgments.
• Uses methods that effectively solve difficult problems and explore available resources for answers.
• Is approachable and listens well. Displays sensitivity, patience, diplomacy and tact in relationships. Builds rapport.
• Relates appropriately to a variety of people in all positions and disciplines. Creates effective team relationships. Diffuses high stress situations.
• Communicates effectively, both verbally and in writing, in a variety of communication settings and situations.
• Identifies personal strengths and areas for improvement. Seeks feedback and is receptive to discussing areas for improvement.
• Fosters a positive morale. Encourages collegiality and civility. Inspires confidence and provides mentorship to others.
• Is an excellent steward of organizational resources.
• Adheres to ethical principles. Is widely trusted, direct, and truthful.
• Maintains confidentiality, keeps confidences, and owns mistakes.
• Forward thinking and creative. Encourages themselves and others to achieve their best practice and beyond.
  
  

Procedure for Candidacy

For the full position profile, to learn more, and/or to apply, please contact:David Dunn

Physician Recruiter

[email protected]

Applications should include a current CV and a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications. References will be required at an appropriate time in the process. All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant.

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.