Division Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery – Professor

The Medical College of Wisconsin•Milwaukee, WI

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. This position is located in Milwaukee, WI at our Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin campus. The Division delivers the full spectrum of adult cardiac, thoracic, and heart and lung transplant surgical care and serves as a premier regional referral center for complex cardiothoracic conditions. The Chief provides overarching leadership for all clinical, academic, research, and operational functions of the Division.

Requirements

Medical degree (MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
Board certification by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
State medical licensure, or eligibility to obtain an unrestricted license, in the State of Wisconsin.
Demonstrated record of clinical excellence, scholarly achievement, and academic administrative leadership commensurate with a senior faculty appointment, including proven leadership experience within a complex, multi-faceted university or academic medical center with demonstrated strategic, implementation, and conflict resolution skills.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build consensus, navigate complexity, and foster collaboration across departments, institutions, and external partners.
Highly credible with the ability to quickly establish trust as a respected leader and consensus builder.
Strategic mindset with the ability to articulate and implement a compelling vision across all mission areas, combined with analytical rigor, decisiveness, results-orientation, and sound judgment.
Strong business acumen and experience overseeing complex clinical operations, including quality, safety, performance improvement, and resource management in a multi-hospital health system.
Entrepreneurial and collaborative approach to financial management and budgeting.
Demonstrated personal and professional alignment with MCW’s core values, with unquestionable integrity, ethics, and professionalism, and a superior track record of cultivating collaborative team cultures and fostering environments of trust, inclusion, and shared purpose.

Nice To Haves

Appointment at the rank of Professor is expected.

Responsibilities

Provide visionary and strategic leadership for all clinical, educational, and research functions of the Division, collaborating across a matrixed academic health system that spans the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert ThedaCare, and Medical College Physicians.
Lead a high-volume program performing nearly 2,000 adult cardiac and thoracic procedures annually, encompassing the full spectrum of coronary, valvular, aortic, structural heart, heart and lung transplant, MCS/ECMO, and thoracic surgery, supported by 24/7 in-house APP and perfusionist coverage at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital.
Recruit, mentor, and support faculty, fellows, and advanced practice providers.
Drive quality improvement and evidence-based protocol development, lead morbidity and mortality conferences, and optimize OR utilization and clinic efficiencies across the Division.
Strengthen community and regional referral partnerships to expand access to advanced cardiothoracic surgical services and position Froedtert/MCW as a leading center for complex surgical care.
Oversee the ACGME-accredited 24-month Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship and support a robust research portfolio spanning clinical outcomes, device development, and translational studies in mechanical support, cardiac preservation, thoracic oncology, and transplantation.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Chair of Surgery or Chair-Designate.