Division Chief of Palliative Care, Aging, and Geriatric Medicine; Department of Medicine

Mass General Brigham•Somerville, MA

5d•$92,000 - $117,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Academic Medical Center (AMC) Division Chief in the Massachusetts General Brigham (MGB) Department of Medicine (DOM) is a critical member of the leadership team and serves as the leader of the division. Under the general direction of the Chair, they are responsible for setting and implementing goals and objectives within the clinical, research, and education domains of the division and facilitating opportunities for program development, faculty recruitment, retention and academic promotion, and resource allocation. They work with other Division Chiefs to foster inter-divisional and/or multi-site programs that benefit its internal and external stakeholders. The Division Chief partners with the division administrative staff to execute on its strategic priorities. The Division of Palliative Care, Aging, and Geriatric Medicine (PCAGM) provides comprehensive services for older adults and patients living with serious illness, including geriatric co‑management, memory care, and specialty palliative programs. The division has built nationally recognized programs that advance clinical care, research, and education such as the Mind and Memory Care program, the Continuum Project, the Center for Aging and Serious Illness, the Center for Older Adult Health to coordinate care for patients 65 and older, and the West Health Accelerator, a multi-year initiative designed to transform healthcare for older adults regionally and nationwide. A particular strength of this division is its partnership with colleagues at the Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in the Million Veteran Program, which aims to understand how genes, lifestyle, military experiences, and exposures affect health and wellness in Veterans. The division’s faculty lead pioneering research in frailty, dementia, cardiovascular disease, genetics, serious illness communication, and innovative therapies, with publications in high‑impact journals. The division trains Harvard medical students, residents, fellows, and practicing providers through signature programs such as the Harvard Interprofessional Palliative Care Fellowship, the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Center for Palliative Care, geriatric rotations, and communication skills training. The combined Division of Palliative Care, Aging, and Geriatric Medicine is expected to have at least 75 faculty members, 9 postdoctoral fellows, and 185 employed staff. A primary responsibility of the new Division Chief will be to create and build a new Palliative Care clinical service (for both oncology and non-oncology patients) at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) location, and to collaborate with the MGB Cancer Institute on designing an enterprise-wide strategy. The Division Chief will spend time at both AMC locations. This position is for a five-year term, potentially renewable for a second.

Requirements

M.D./D. O. degree; board certification in Palliative Care and/or Geriatric Medicine
Demonstrated clinical, research, and leadership accomplishments and a strong reputation in the fields of palliative medicine and/or geriatric medicine
Minimum of five years of clinical practice in Medicine
Eligible for Massachusetts licensure, HMS appointment, and clinical appointment at BWH or Mass General Hospital
Achieved academic rank of Professor and above
Effective organizational and communication skills
Exemplary ability to mentor and develop others to support faculty and staff retention
Strong work ethic and program development or business-oriented perspective
A demonstrated ability to interact with all members of the organization in ways that enhance understanding, respect, cooperation, and problem solving is essential.
Results-driven approach with experience/ability to achieve results in a metrics based analytical environment.
Outstanding organizational skills are necessary to manage many competing timetables and responsibilities and deadline pressures.
Able to work effectively within a matrixed organizational structure. Collaboration with administrative staff will be essential.
Excellent interpersonal, presentation and organizational skills and professional demeanor. Demonstrated sensitivity, discretion, and judgment regarding confidential matters are essential.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are necessary to communicate effectively with a large and diverse constituency, including the chair/chiefs, senior departmental leaders, research faculty at all levels, research trainees and staff, potential donors, representatives, and vendors.
Demonstrated judgement in managing sensitive issues and when to escalate problems.
Takes personal responsibility in developing teams and is passionate about a happy, highly functioning team with the highest level of talent and performance for the responsibilities of the Department.
Excellent interpersonal, oral communication skills. Possess a leadership style that is open and transparent and has an exceptional capacity to build strong relationships. Manages conflict and achieves resolution effectively.
Exceptional organizational skills and ability to prioritize effectively. Flexibility to work independently and to handle multiple tasks with project deadlines. A tenacious, can-do personality that works to correct mistakes and get things done as efficiently as possible, often utilizing resources across services.
Competency in the latest digital capability to support decision support tools and environments (e.g., command center).
Embraces values to govern decisions, actions and behaviors. These values guide how we get our work done: Patients, Affordability, Accountability & Service Commitment, Decisiveness, Innovation & Thoughtful Risk; and how we treat each other: Diversity & Inclusion, Integrity & Respect, Learning, Continuous Improvement & Personal Growth, Teamwork & Collaboration.
Work within legal, regulatory, compliance, accreditation, and ethical practice standards relevant to the position and as established by MGB.
Comply with appropriate MGB policies and procedures.
Bring potential matters of non-compliance to the attention of the supervisor or other appropriate staff.
As with all DOM leadership positions, appointment to this role is contingent upon the person’s good standing as a member of the medical staff, steadfast demonstration of the highest level of professionalism, and timely completion of any employment or other requirements (e.g., HealthStream, vaccination attestation, annual career review, compliance with notes completion policy).

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Chair, Vice Chairs, and Vice President, participate in setting the vision and priorities for the division across its clinical, research, and education missions.
Determine/maintain division leadership and oversight structure.
Bring recommendations to the Chair and Vice President as needed.
As requested, act as an interface between the division, BWH/MGH, and BWPO/MGPO on appropriate matters related to patient care, research, or teaching initiatives.
Work with DOM administrative leadership to ensure operating and capital requests are planned for and submitted in the financial planning cycles.
Maintain fiscal accountability and lead division faculty in sustainability measures.
Facilitate planning and engagement related to investment proposals.
Accountable for the division’s ambulatory and inpatient care programs including access, care plan management, and patient/referring provider experience/satisfaction.
Responsible for establishing a clinical Palliative Care service at the BWH location for both oncology and non-oncology patients.
Working closely with the Division Quality Director, and DOM Vice Chair for Quality, actively leads in the achievement of QA/QI goals including the conduct of regularly scheduled quality assurance checks of the division, the development of standardized “Best Practice” protocols, and participation in hospital initiatives for performance improvement, quality assurance and patient safety.
Accountable for the division’s and faculty’s financial performance in terms of clinic/procedural sessions, clinical template utilization, exam room utilization, revenue cycle activities (coding/billing, documentation, closing encounters), physician and staff compensation plans, and resource management.
Support the growth and advancement of DOM’s and division’s research program, including but not limited to grant proposals, clinical trials, publication reviews, and ongoing mentorship of junior principal investigators.
Collaborate with AMCs on research endeavors involving the division, including application for, pursuit of, and administration of research grants to support such endeavors in an ethical and compliant fashion.
Collaborate with administrative team regarding allocation and oversight of research space.
Responsible for the overall teaching mission of the division, including when relevant medical student, resident, and fellow training, and CME programs.
Ensures the ongoing desirability of the Harvard-MGB Fellowships and other postdoctoral training programs.
Participate in the direct and formal teaching efforts of the division’s training; lead/attend conferences, division meetings, and other educational forums (Grand Rounds) to offer high-quality teaching experiences.
Responsible for the mentorship of faculty and staff within the division to support their professional career development and academic promotion.
Lead the recruitment, orientation, supervision, evaluation, and development of the division’s professional and non-professional staff including physicians, trainees, advanced care practitioners, nurses, and staff.
Lead the development of plans for investment in new programs and recruitments.
Work in collaboration with DOM leadership to execute on such investments.
Work in consultation with the Department Chair and Vice Chairs to establish standards of qualification criteria for physicians and clinicians practicing in the division, including working with the Department Chair to establish, enforce, and periodically review the medical staff credentialing process and procedures at the hospital.
Complete Annual Career Conference documentation for all assigned faculty members.
Participate in coaching and career discussions as requested.
Ensure that the division’s clinicians and staff at all times render professional services to the Hospital in a competent, professional, and ethical manner, in accordance with standards of medical practice, and in material compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations, rules, orders, and directives of any applicable governmental and regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over the hospital or the physician.
Ensure that, in connection with the provision of professional services to patients of the Hospital, each physician clinician uses the equipment, instruments, pharmaceuticals, and supplies furnished by the hospital for the purposes for which they are customarily used and, in a manner, consistent with sound medical practice and clinical standards.
Responsible for the division’s on-call schedule for physicians and clinicians as needed carry forward the needs of patient care, research, and teaching.
Serve as the division representative on hospital activity matters relating to regulatory compliance (e.g., mandatory training, flu vaccine, conflict of interest, and others).
Support and communicate policies and procedures that promote adherence to compliance guidelines.
Inform the vision of the division, consistent with the needs of the community, mission of the division, and with the vision of MGB.
Maintain a clinical practice in the division and a presence on both AMC campuses (BWH and MGH).
Participate on committees and/or attend meetings of BWH/MGH, BWPO/MGPO, HMS, and others that involve the activities of the division.
Develop and provide recommendations to the Chair and Vice President for required resources to successfully administer the role and/or division.
Perform other reasonably related duties assigned by the Department Chair as needed for the appropriate administration of the role.
Attend regularly scheduled meetings in the Department and at the hospital to facilitate and promote the division and its programs.
Attend all scheduled Division Chiefs/Council meetings as assigned.
Perform other reasonably related administrative duties as are from time to time assigned by the hospital, which are required for the proper functioning of the division.