Chief Medical Officer Texas Behavioral Health Center

UT Southwestern Medical Center•Dallas, TX

21d

About The Position

Texas Behavioral Health Center Join our team and help launch the first state psychiatric hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth, where innovative caregivers will make a lasting impact on behavioral health in Texas. The Texas Behavioral Health Center is a newly completed state-funded psychiatric hospital opening in Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District that is owned by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and operated by UT Southwestern Medical Center. When fully operational, the 505,000-square-foot facility will house 292 beds – 200 for adult patients and 92 for children and adolescents. As DFW’s first state-funded behavioral health hospital, it is designed to deliver state-of-the-art, patient-centered care in a modern and healing environment. The center provides comprehensive behavioral health treatment and features private patient rooms, abundant access to natural light and nature, and thoughtfully designed spaces that promote recovery. The hospital will also provide training to all behavioral health disciplines. As employees of UT Southwestern, team members will join a world-class academic medical center committed to patient-centered care, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparing patients for successful reintegration into their families and communities. With competitive benefits and a mission-driven culture, Texas Behavioral Health Center offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a lasting impact on mental health care in North Texas. Learn more about Texas Behavioral Health Center here! WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN? With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career! JOB SUMMARY The Associate Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the Texas Behavioral Health Center (THBC) serves as the senior physician executive responsible for providing strategic, clinical, and administrative leadership across the full continuum of psychiatric and medical services. TBHC is a state-funded psychiatric hospital in Dallas with approximately 296 beds, offering comprehensive inpatient psychiatric care for adults and children, and serves as a cornerstone in expanding Texas's mental health infrastructure. The TBHC CMO ensures that TBHC delivers safe, high-quality, recovery-oriented behavioral health care in alignment with state requirements, evidence-based practice, in alignment with the mission of UT Southwestern Medical Center. The TBHC CMO will report directly to the TBHC Chief Executive Officer with with a dotted-line/matrix reporting structure to the UT Southwestern Health System Chief Medical Officer.

Requirements

Must have M.D. or D.O. from an accredited institution, must have completed an ACGME-accredited psychiatry residency, be board-eligible/board-certified as a psychiatrist, and be eligible for Texas medical licensure.
Strong clinical background. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will continue to engage in clinical service and be seen by the physicians as knowledgeable and empathic to their needs.
A track record of effecting major changes in a complex, matrixed environment.
Work requires consensus building.
Work requires effective communicator.
Work requires excellent interpersonal skills.
Work requires experience and understanding of the interrelationship among components of an Academic Medical Center.
Work requires formal business management education or comparable, substantial experience.
Work requires management experience in complex, matrixed organizations.
Work requires reflecting strong and positive leadership, even under pressure.
Work requires strong business acumen.
Work requires strong negotiation skills.
Work requires unimpeachable professional and personal morals and ethics.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in business, healthcare administration, or a related field
Experience in an academic medical center as a clinical service leader, division chief, quality officer, or a similar leadership background.
Accustomed to partnering with both academic and community-based physicians and understands the importance of the physician's satisfaction to the overall success of a complex, multi-specialty academic practice.
Work requires experience and understanding of the interrelationship among components of an Academic Medical Center.

Responsibilities

Provides physician executive leadership for TBHC, guiding the development of a high-quality, patient-centered behavioral health system and fostering a culture of clinical excellence and accountability.
Maintains strong working relationships with psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice providers, hospitalists, nursing leadership, social work, and administrative leaders, ensuring alignment across all clinical programs.
Collaborates closely with the TBHC CEO, CFO, COO, CNO, and program directors to support financial stewardship, operational efficiency, and effective resource allocation, including development and monitoring of the medical staff budget.
Works in partnership with TBHC and Health System quality, safety, and nursing leadership to advance evidence-based practices, improve patient outcomes, strengthen patient experience, and enhance access to care.
Plays a key role within the hospital committee structure and as the champion for the medical executive governance committees.
Provides medical perspectives on clinical policy development, telehealth, health information technology, and innovations that support behavioral health delivery.
Works with administrative leadership to plan, develop, and evaluate clinical programs, ensuring alignment with state priorities, emerging behavioral health needs, and long-term strategic plans.
Plays a role from a clinical and patient safety perspective in facility planning, renovation, environmental safety design, and capital equipment needs, ensuring psychiatric safety standards and clinical requirements are incorporated.
Collaborates with IT and clinical informatics leadership to guide improvements to the electronic medical record (EMR) and clinical workflows.
Serves on relevant TBHC and state committees, working closely with committee chairs and administrative staff to support data-driven clinical decision-making.
Contributes to physician recruitment, onboarding, retention, and workforce development, ensuring the medical staff is qualified, supported, and aligned with TBHC standards.
In partnership with the Health System CMO, oversees medical staff credentialing and privileging within TBHC, ensuring full compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Supports alignment with academic, training, or research partners (as applicable) to promote high-quality clinical training and ethical research activities within TBHC.
Works with Human Resources, Academic Affairs, and other leaders to develop physician leadership training, mentoring, and professional development programs.
Ensures that patient safety and high-quality behavioral health care remain at the forefront of all clinical operations within TBHC.
Serves as the primary medical staff liaison for TBHC, strengthening communication, collaboration, and shared accountability across the care team.
Partners with faculty and clinicians to develop, implement, measure, and evaluate clinical policies, pathways, and programs designed to improve safety, consistency, and effectiveness of psychiatric care.
Collaborates with medical staff leadership on professional conduct issues, peer review, and physician disciplinary matters, ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
Leads physician teams in resource management, outcomes analysis, care pathway development, disease management initiatives, and continuous performance improvement.
Oversees physician engagement in patient satisfaction improvements, using data and feedback to guide performance expectations and communication standards.
Works closely with clinical leaders to strengthen safety and quality management programs, including suicide prevention protocols, restraint and seclusion reduction strategies, and care practices.
Collaborates closely with the Department of Psychiatry Chair and other relevant department chairs to ensure alignment of TBHC clinical programs with the academic mission and departmental strategic plans.
Leads medical staff responsibilities related to accreditation, survey readiness, and regulatory compliance within TBHC (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, Texas state agencies).
Provides executive oversight for management of patient complaints, grievances, and rights violations, ensuring appropriate and timely responses and regulatory compliance.
Serves as a senior communicator and clinical integrator, collaborating with service chiefs to resolve care coordination issues and ensure continuity of patient care.
Oversees medical director activities across TBHC programs, including coordinating annual performance evaluations and accountability to hospital policies.
Serves as an ex officio member of relevant credentialing committees, ensuring appropriate oversight of medical staff qualifications and practice standards.
Supports coordination of clinical faculty training on regulatory, compliance, safety, and quality requirements.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
100%25 coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
Paid Time Off, available day one
Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
Paid Parental Leave Benefit
Wellness programs
Tuition Reimbursement
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer

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