Chief Medical Officer

Upstate Veterinary Specialties•Town of Colonie, NY

6d•Onsite

About The Position

As our Chief Medical Officer, you will serve as the senior clinical executive responsible for defining and advancing the medical vision, strategy, and standards of care across the organization. Partnering closely with Ownership and Executive Leadership, you’ll guide strategic growth, support innovation, and ensure the highest standards of patient care across our specialty and emergency services. This role operates at a systems level, supporting and developing medical leaders while driving long-term clinical excellence, quality, and organizational impact.

Requirements

DVM, VMD (or equivalent international degree); MD/DO considered
Advanced training and board certification strongly preferred
10+ years in a 24-hour emergency/specialty referral setting
5+ years in senior clinical leadership with multi-service or hospital-wide oversight
Demonstrated success leading through influence and driving organizational change
Exceptional strategic and systems-level thinking
Strong executive presence and stakeholder alignment skills
Deep commitment to medical excellence, ethics, and innovation
A passion for developing people and advancing the profession
A growth mindset grounded in compassion, dedication, and knowledge

Responsibilities

Set and champion the hospital’s long-term medical vision and clinical strategy
Define and uphold hospital-wide standards of care, quality, and patient safety
Evaluate and develop new specialty services, clinical programs, and growth opportunities
Lead strategic oversight of medical quality metrics, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives
Mentor and support Medical Directors and Chiefs of Service
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and clinical excellence
Guide high-level review of medical trends, significant events, and systems-level opportunities
Serve as the senior clinical voice within the executive leadership team
Shape service line growth, recruitment priorities, and specialty expansion strategies
Partner cross-functionally with HR and Finance on compensation philosophy and medical staff strategy
Evaluate emerging technologies, clinical programs, and care models
Strengthen referral partnerships and support access, affordability, and consistency in care delivery
Represent UVS within professional organizations and industry forums
Support medical governance, regulatory compliance, and best practices
Provide executive oversight of patient safety and clinical learning initiatives