Sr. Medical Director

Nationwide•Grandview Heights, OH

3d•Remote

About The Position

Are you passionate about being part of a team at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales that delivers extraordinary care to help individuals and businesses prepare for and protect their future? If so, then Nationwide Financial could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers and partners are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care. Medical Director, Life Underwriting Location: Remote (U.S.) Job Type: Full-time, Exempt Are you ready to apply your expert knowledge of medical science and its impact on health and mortality in a key leadership role, by developing and evolving Nationwide's medical underwriting guidelines and approaches? If so, we want to know more about you! As a Medical Director, you'll provide medical skills to accurately adjudicate health and disability claims in associate, individual, group and workers' compensations claims activities. We'll count on you to provide written medical risk assessments and advise underwriters on referred cases. You'll have opportunities to provide medical training and coaching and to review and improve the medical training curriculum. In addition, you also may provide medical care and direction for Associate Health Services and direct patient care at select Nationwide events.

Requirements

Medical degree (MD or DO, or equivalent) required.
Licensed to practice medicine in at least one U.S. state (or ability to obtain licensure in a reasonable timeframe).
Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience post‑training; additional experience is welcomed.
Demonstrated experience interpreting complex clinical information and making balanced, well‑reasoned decisions.
Comfort reviewing and synthesizing medical records, EHR printouts, lab results, imaging reports, and specialist consultations.
Familiarity with common medical coding and documentation conventions (e.g., ICD and CPT codes).
Willingness to work with underwriting systems, digital evidence sources, and rule-based tools (training provided as needed).
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to translate complex medical concepts into clear guidance for underwriters and business partners.
Strong analytical and diagnostic skills; able to synthesize clinical data into concise, well‑supported recommendations.
Collaborative, low‑ego approach; proven ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
Demonstrated aptitude for teaching, mentoring, and building capabilities in others.
High integrity and commitment to ethical medical and underwriting practices.
Comfort operating in a changing environment, with openness to experimentation and continuous improvement.
Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree received from a medical school program accredited by the Liaison Committee of Medical Education.
Licensed to practice medicine in at least one state.
Completion of fully accredited residency in a medical specialty and five years of post-residency experience in the practice of medicine.
Clinical medical and insurance medicine.
Four years of insurance medical experience.
Knowledge of medicine, insurance, and underwriting practices.
Sophisticated verbal and written communication skills.
Command of skills to interact with all levels of associates.
Ability to analyze complex medical problems/situations with regard to mortality.
Ability to teach and explain medical material to key populations.
Ability to treat complex medical conditions should they arise.
Ability to maintain a license through continuing medical education requirements.

Nice To Haves

Board certification in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine preferred (not required).
Board certification or eligibility in Insurance Medicine is highly desirable but not required.
Prior experience in life insurance, risk assessment, or managed care is a plus but not strictly required.

Responsibilities

Medical Risk Assessment Review life insurance applications referred for medical review and provide written risk assessments, including recommendations on ratings, postponements, declines, and exclusions.
Interpret complex medical histories, medical records, lab data, and diagnostic testing (including ECGs) to assess mortality and morbidity risk.
Serve as a medical resource for underwriters on complex, impaired-risk, older-age, and high–face-amount cases.
Underwriting Support, Automation & Digital Data Provide day‑to‑day consultation to underwriters and leadership on medical issues impacting risk selection.
Collaborate with underwriting and underwriting innovation team to: Refine medical aspects of underwriting rules and requirements.
Support the effective use of digital medical evidence sources (e.g., EHR-derived summaries, lab data, APS, pharmacy data) in risk assessment.
Contribute medical input to automation and accelerated underwriting initiatives so they maintain appropriate protective value.
Help identify trends in impairments, testing, and outcomes that can inform underwriting strategy and process improvements.
Guidelines, Policy & Innovation Contribute to the development and ongoing refinement of evidence‑based medical underwriting guidelines, manuals, and rules.
Assist in evaluating new lab tests, diagnostics, therapies, and clinical practices for their impact on mortality/morbidity and underwriting requirements.
Ensure medical guidelines and practices align with regulatory requirements, reinsurance treaties, and internal risk appetite.
Training, Education & Collaboration Develop and deliver training for underwriters and junior team members on disease states, test interpretation, and emerging medical trends.
Provide feedback and coaching through case referrals to help underwriters build stronger medical judgment.
Work closely with cross-functional partners (underwriting, claims, product, actuarial, legal/compliance, operations, reinsurance) to align medical perspectives with business strategy.
Industry & Thought Leadership Stay current with advancements in medicine, insurance medicine, and underwriting practices; communicate key developments and implications to stakeholders.
Participate in relevant professional organizations, conferences, and industry workgroups as appropriate.
Represent the company externally as a medical underwriting expert when engaging with reinsurers, distribution partners, and industry bodies.
Interprets insurability and rating of life insurance applicants.
Provides written medical risk assessments and case consultations to Life Underwriters.
Provides morbidity risk assessments as needed for riders such as waiver of premium and Long Term Care (LTC).
Interpret EKGs, stress tests and provides appropriate risk assessments.
Provides medical skills to properly adjudicate LTC, disability and life insurance claims for Nationwide.
Provides formal and informal medical training and coaching to underwriters.
Develops new content and/or updates curriculum for medical instruction for Underwriting and others as appropriate.
Identifies need and helps develop medical underwriting guidelines.
Drives assessment of new laboratory tests and other medical technology from mortality prediction and cost benefit perspectives.
Establishes Medical Department policies strategies.
Provides medical skills to properly adjudicate claims in employee, individual, group and workers’ compensations.
Provides physician counseling and advice in corporate health promotions.
Promotes advancement of insurance medicine with industry organizations.
Represent Nationwide and Nationwide Financial at Insurance Industry events, including industry meetings and committees such as the American Council of Life Insurance, The American Academy of Insurance Medicine, the Medical Information Bureau and the Board of Insurance Medicine.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision
life insurance
short and long term disability coverage
paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
company-paid pension plan
business casual attire