Chief Medical Officer

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Westfield, MA

19h

About The Position

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is seeking a Chief Medical Officer at Western Massachusetts Hospital. The CMO serves as both an attending physician and senior clinical leader, providing strategic direction for medical services and guiding physicians and Nurse Practitioners. The position partners with hospital leadership to ensure patients receive appropriate, high-quality care at the right level, while advancing clinical excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, accountability, and continuous quality improvement.

The CMO is a visible leader among the Medical Staff, chairs and participates in hospital committees, and collaborates with quality, risk, utilization review, nursing, and administrative leaders. The role has broad oversight of clinical standards, physician performance, credentialing, infection prevention and control, employee health, regulatory readiness, and compliance with applicable state and federal requirements and accrediting standards, including CMS and The Joint Commission. The incumbent functions as Chief of Service and is excluded from Bargaining Unit 7 under the MNA collective bargaining agreement; most benefits are governed by the Commonwealth's Red Book.

Western Massachusetts Hospital is the only public hospital operating in western Massachusetts. It provides acute and chronic hospital care as a medical safety net for uninsured and under-insured residents, including patients with chronic diseases and complicated medical conditions. The job schedule is Monday through Friday, with flexibility to adjust as needed to meet operational requirements.

Requirements

• Current Massachusetts physician licensure through the Board of Registration in Medicine.
• At least five years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional experience as a registered physician, including three years in a specialized field such as pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, endocrinology, neurology, or infectious disease.
• Certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties in the area of specialization.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing a complex medical staff and leading physicians, advanced practitioners, and other clinical professionals in a hospital environment.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills to build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams, executive leadership, nursing, Medical Staff, and external stakeholders.
• Comprehensive knowledge of hospital-based clinical practice and the delivery, coordination, and oversight of high-quality, safe, efficient, patient-centered care.
• Expertise in quality assurance, performance improvement, patient safety, and risk management, including the ability to identify improvement opportunities and implement sustainable clinical initiatives.
• Knowledge of healthcare accreditation, certification, and regulatory processes, including The Joint Commission, CMS certification, Health Care Quality reviews, MassPRO, and other applicable hospital practice review requirements.
• Working knowledge of Medical Staff governance and oversight, including credentialing, privileging, delineation of clinical privileges, peer review, and professional practice evaluation.
• Strong administrative and financial management capabilities, including experience overseeing budgets, managing contracts, interpreting financial reports, and understanding hospital administrative and financial systems.
• Ability to develop and advance clinical programs aligned with the hospital's mission, strategic priorities, community needs, and evolving healthcare requirements.
• Understanding of federal regulations governing hospital clinical staff and human research activities, including National Practitioner Data Bank requirements.
• Sound knowledge of healthcare legal and ethical principles, including medico-legal considerations, medical ethics, regulatory compliance, and professional accountability.
• Ability to apply legal and ethical principles to clinical decision-making and Medical Staff leadership.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a state government healthcare environment and familiarity with administrative, budgetary, procurement, and operational processes.
• Knowledge of Commonwealth of Massachusetts policies, regulations, and administrative requirements applicable to hospital operations and clinical services.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage effective inter-agency relationships with state agencies, healthcare organizations, regulatory bodies, and community partners.
• Experience collaborating with government agencies and external oversight organizations to support coordinated patient care, regulatory compliance, and organizational priorities.
• Strong understanding of healthcare regulatory and accreditation standards, including requirements established by The Joint Commission, CMS, the Department of Public Health, and other oversight entities.
• Experience preparing for and navigating regulatory surveys, accreditation reviews, audits, and external oversight processes.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex regulations and translate requirements into effective clinical and operational practices.
• Experience developing and maintaining strategic partnerships across agencies and organizations to advance clinical programs and hospital initiatives.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and organizational skills, including the ability to evaluate regulatory, financial, and operational considerations and translate them into sound recommendations.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives in a highly regulated healthcare environment while balancing patient care, compliance, operational priorities, and the hospital's mission.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive and clinical leadership for Medical Services and Clinical Service Departments, setting performance objectives and aligning services with the hospital's mission, strategic priorities, clinical needs, education programs, business requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Partner with the Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership on strategic planning, policy development, organizational decisions, budget and financial management, special initiatives, clinical programming, service needs, and operational priorities.
• Direct specialized medical care programs and establish and maintain clinical policies, procedures, standards, and evidence-based practices.
• Serve as a primary care physician for assigned patients and provide medical coverage, emergency support, and on-call services as required.
• Oversee patient admissions, utilization, and hospital-level care, including reviewing patient abstracts, participating in medical screening, and ensuring care meets CMS, managed care, and hospital-level-of-care criteria.
• Lead medical quality, patient safety, and performance improvement initiatives; monitor clinical care, documentation, and provider performance; implement evidence-based initiatives and National Patient Safety Goals; and ensure corrective action and continuous improvement.
• Ensure regulatory, accreditation, and Medical Staff compliance with requirements of The Joint Commission, CMS, the Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, and other applicable bodies.
• Oversee the development, annual review, implementation, and enforcement of Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Lead Medical Staff governance by chairing designated committees, participating as an ex-officio member of committees, reviewing committee activities and minutes, addressing concerns, and following through on corrective actions and organizational priorities.
• Oversee credentialing, privileging, professional performance, and workforce development; evaluate professional practice and competencies; recommend appointments and privileges to the Governing Body; support recruitment; and address performance or disciplinary matters when appropriate.
• Collaborate with nursing and clinical leadership to address care-delivery gaps, coordinate medical education, support employee health initiatives, and serve as a senior clinical liaison to state agencies, healthcare organizations, referral sources, and external providers.
• Oversee operational, contractual, and financial aspects of medical services, including compliance with Commonwealth purchasing, ethical, and contractual requirements; provider contracts; clinical service and off-site care needs; recruitment and retention; and recommendations for strategic clinical programs and resources.

Benefits

• Comprehensive employee benefits and rewards offered by the Commonwealth.
• Most benefits are governed by the Commonwealth's Red Book; dental and vision benefits are through the Group Insurance Commission.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed