Description
Position Summary:
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) serves as the senior physician executive at McLaren subsidiary hospital(s). This critical physician leadership role is responsible for leading efforts to advance clinical excellence, patient safety, physician engagement, and organizational performance in alignment with McLaren Health Care’s strategic objectives. Reporting directly to the system’s Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, with a dotted line to the subsidiary CEO, the CMO bridges system-wide strategy with local implementation. The role is accountable for quality outcomes, credentialing/privileging, provider professionalism, performance improvement, support of value-based care initiatives, and growth of key clinical programs. Additionally, the CMO supports institutional performance on reputational metrics such as Leapfrog Safety Grades, CMS Star Ratings, and the Top 100 program. Where applicable, the CMO supports clinical research activities, graduate medical education, and employee health at the local level. The CMO actively represents the subsidiary on the Senior Clinical Leadership Council, collaborating with peers, nursing leaders, quality, patient safety, regulatory and compliance teams across the McLaren system. In addition, subsidiary CMOs serve on system quality, safety, service line, and operational committees, as needed.
At the subsidiary level, the CMO works closely with the Chief of Staff and medical staff leaders to assist with hospital bylaws, peer review, and medical executive committee functions. The CMO supports all applicable local, state and federal regulations.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Assures implementation of McLaren Health Care’s mission to be the best value in health care as defined by quality outcomes and cost.
With inter-professional colleagues (including the Chief Nursing Officer), works to lead site focus on driving results in high performance in safety, quality, and service.
Clinical Excellence & Patient Safety
Leads and sustains a culture of safety, high reliability, and continuous quality improvement.
Ensures that the Patient Safety Dashboard goals and High Reliability Dashboard goals are achieved.
Oversees medical staff performance and clinical effectiveness through rigorous application of evidence-based practice.
Supports and leads initiatives to reduce harm events, improve mortality, readmissions, and other core quality indicators.
Ensures compliance with accreditation standards, regulatory and organizational requirements.
Provides recommendations for Compliance focused audits and education for medical staff.
Medical Staff Leadership & Professionalism
Serves as the principal liaison between the medical staff and executive leadership.
Promotes a culture of medical professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
Leads medical staff development, leadership training, and succession planning.
With local medical staff officers, oversees peer review, credentialing, privileging, and clinical governance.
Performance Improvement & Operational Efficiency
Leads performance improvement efforts aimed at optimizing outcomes, reducing variation, and improving efficiency.
Analyzes clinical and operational data to inform decision-making and prioritize initiatives.
Partners with quality and operations teams to align clinical care with institutional goals.
Reputational Metrics & Public Rankings
Drives organizational performance related to key reputational indicators, including: Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, CMS Star Ratings, and the Top 100 Program.
Leads improvement strategies to enhance transparency, public reporting, and overall performance in quality domains that influence external ratings.
Collaborates with marketing, communications, and strategy teams to highlight clinical excellence and public accountability.
Value-Based Care & Population Health
Supports care models that align with value-based purchasing, alternative payment models, and population health goals.
Partners with care coordination, health plan, and payer strategy teams to improve cost, quality, and patient outcomes under value-based contracts.
Clinical Program Growth & Service Line Development
Facilitates the growth and enhancement of key clinical service lines in partnership with system leaders.
Supports physician alignment, recruitment, and onboarding strategies that expand access and market presence.
Monitors service line performance metrics and drive initiatives for improvement and expansion.
Collaborates actively with the McLaren Medical Group to support and promote employed physicians.
Commented [DG1]: From a compliance perspective, this addition covers organizational requirements (i.e. COI annual disclosure, NPP education, open payments, etc.) 2nd addition related to compliance needs/participation.
Actively partners with independent physicians associated with McLaren Health Care. This includes supporting population health programs.
System Collaboration & Leadership
Serves as a key member of the Senior Clinical Leadership Council, working closely with the Chief Nursing Officer, quality leaders, and other clinical executives across McLaren Health Care.
Aligns local subsidiary priorities with system-wide clinical goals and initiatives.
Support of Research Activities
Encourages and support physician participation in clinical trials and investigator-initiated research.
Partners with system and local research leaders to foster a culture of clinical inquiry, innovation, and evidence generation.
Ensures integration of research with clinical care to support academic and translational goals.
Critical Competencies:
Clinical Strategic and Quality Leadership: The successful candidate will have the ability to provide strategic leadership and direction in a matrix organization to achieve outstanding clinical quality goals and to create a care environment where patient satisfaction measures exceed industry norms. He/she will demonstrate this by having:
Strategically advised and influenced senior leadership on clinical matters in the past
Worked directly with physicians to develop standards of care that have improved outcomes.
Commanded the respect of fellow physicians to drive consensus on critical issues that impact the delivery of quality of care as well as on other complicated matters.
Knowledge Expert: The successful candidate will be a recognized knowledge leader in all aspects of quality, clinical best practices and evidence-based medicine to advance the strategic directives.
Results Oriented: The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to meet results in a timely, cost-effective manner as well as the ability to course-correct when necessary. They will do this by:
Working collaboratively with the operational leadership of the organization on all initiatives
Possessing strong communication skills, including both listening skills as well as presentation skills
Setting goals and holding him/herself to achieving these goals.
Being a hands-on, self-directed leader.
*On call will function on an as needed basis
Requirements
Qualifications:
Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), with board certification in specialty.
Eligible for or holding a current medical license in the state of Michigan.
Advanced training or degree in business, public health, or healthcare administration (e.g., MBA, MPH, MHA) preferred.
At least 7–10 years of clinical experience with 5+ years in physician leadership or administrative roles.
Proven track record of quality improvement, physician engagement, and strategic leadership.
Understanding of value-based care, population health management, and healthcare finance.
Experience with public reporting, clinical research, and regulatory oversight strongly preferred
