DSHS WSH Chief Medical Officer
About The Position
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) serves as the highest-level clinical executive for the Gage Center for Forensic Services (GCFS) at Western State Hospital (WSH). Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CMO is a key member of the Executive Cabinet and Governing Body, responsible for strategic, clinical, and administrative leadership of all medical services across a 458-bed forensic psychiatric hospital. In this role, you will lead multidisciplinary clinical teams, oversee hospital-wide medical operations, and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations including CMS Conditions of Participation, RCW, WAC, HIPAA, and professional standards of practice. You will shape the hospital’s clinical strategy, strengthen workforce stability, and guide GCFS through major organizational transitions, including preparation for the new forensic hospital. This is an opportunity to lead transformational change in one of Washington’s most complex healthcare environments. The successful candidate will improve service delivery, build high-performing clinical teams, and leave a lasting impact on forensic psychiatric care statewide.
Requirements
- Valid license to practice Medicine and Surgery in Washington State.
- Board Certification in General Psychiatry.
- Demonstrated medical leadership experience.
- Experience integrating private-sector management practices into public healthcare systems.
Nice To Haves
- Forensic training and board certification is not required but is highly desirable.
- Five years of medical leadership experience.
- Experience in forensic or carceral psychiatric settings.
- Ability to inspire teams and communicate effectively.
- Model humility, flexibility, and collaborative leadership.
- Strong data analytic skills and experience with budgets, policy development, and personnel management.
- Training or experience in systems management.
- Demonstrated ability to build, support and lead highly effective teams.
- Navigate complex interpersonal and operational challenges.
- Commitment to equity, social justice, and reducing bias in healthcare delivery.
Responsibilities
- Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate all psychiatric and medical services across GCFS, ensuring safe, high-quality, patient-centered care.
- Lead strategic planning and operational execution for medical services, ensuring alignment with GCFS mission, values, and certification requirements.
- Build, mentor, and supervise senior medical leaders including psychiatrists, physicians, ARNPs, psychologists, and clinical administrators.
- Oversee recruitment, retention, credentialing, and privileging of licensed medical staff to ensure 24/7 coverage and compliance with CMS standards.
- Monitor hospital performance across Medical Services, Clinical Laboratory, Radiology, Physical Therapy, and the Medical Clinic.
- Lead development of key performance indicators to improve operational efficiency, staff satisfaction, and patient outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, accrediting bodies, RCW, WAC, HIPAA, and DSHS/BHHA/GCFS policies.
- Oversee treatment planning processes, review complex clinical cases, and guide quality improvement initiatives.
- Coordinate admissions to ensure timelines established by law are met.
- Partner with nursing, rehabilitation, social work, and other disciplines to ensure integrated, person-centered care.
- Prepare GCFS for transition into the new forensic hospital, including operational readiness and clinical process redesign.
- Manage a large operating budget and influence additional financial drivers including staffing, and external medical contracts.
- Provide timely responses to assignments from DSHS, BHHA, and the CEO.
Benefits
- Orca Card for transportation needs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
