Chief, Division of Rheumatology

Permanent Position

SUMMARY

Connecticut Children’s and the Connecticut Children’s Specialty Group are seeking a Chief of the Division of Rheumatology. The retiring Chief has established a highly respected clinical program and team to care for pediatric patients in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Connecticut Children’s Hospital is forging ahead with plans for the development of an integrated pediatric health care system. The Chief will lead the clinical operations, develop an academic and research program, and strategic alliances for the Division. Connecticut Children’s strategy for expansion and innovation includes innovative programs in all specialties to support community based primary care pediatricians and the expansion of its state-wide network of integrated pediatric care at the Hospital and its affiliates. Rheumatology is poised to recruit a new Chief of the Division of Rheumatology with a vision to increase the size and scale of the Department regarding the academic focus and distribution of services beyond Hartford.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an opportunity for a clinically superb pediatric rheumatologist, who is a dynamic, sophisticated, and collaborative leader to join Connecticut Children’s at a time of expansion and transformation. The Hospital’s leadership is dedicated to enhancing the considerable strengths of Connecticut Children’s, advancing centers of excellence ,and  building a culture of transparency. The new Chief of the Division of Rheumatology will shape the future of operational and academic initiatives in pediatric rheumatology in tandem with the system’s strategic plan.  S/he will strengthen relationships across divisions of the Hospital, with members of the integrated network, and will develop and strengthen connections to partners across the State of Connecticut to fulfill the mission of improving the physical and emotional health of children through family centered care, research, education and advocacy.   Reporting to Juan Salazar, MD, MPH, Chair of Pediatrics and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs at University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Medicine (SOM) and Physician in Chief at Connecticut Children’s, the Chief of the Division will collaborate with colleagues at the SOM and across the enterprise. S/he will recruit additional faculty to enhance the breadth of special expertise in rheumatology. S/he will advance the strong multidisciplinary programs and collaboration, including the signature Lyme Disease Center of Excellence for pediatric patients.  The Chief’s strategy for advancing the rheumatology program and faculty recruitment may include the foundation for a robust clinical trials program, a clinical research core, and the development of a fellowship program, to provide for a regional network of the best pediatric rheumatology care.   Connecticut Children’s seeks a talented and energetic leader, who will be drawn to the opportunity to build on the strengths of a talented and engaged multidisciplinary team, and who will embrace the challenge of extending access to the skill and expertise of Connecticut Children’s rheumatology program by deepening and expanding relationships with partners across the region.  The Chief of Rheumatology will join innovative and accomplished colleagues. S/he may expand the program in an approach, similar to the neonatology department which has a presence in the Hospital’s affiliates, Specialty Care Centers in Farmington, Glastonbury, Hartford, and Shelton, and other practice locations.   The faculty comment on the quality of professional life they enjoy, which differentiates the Connecticut Children’s environment from that of many academic medical centers. They explain that the quality of professional life accounts for the tenure and optimism expressed by long time faculty and their recent successes in recruiting outstanding division chiefs.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Chair of Pediatrics and Physician in Chief, the Chief of the Division of Rheumatology is the clinical, academic, and strategic leader of the Division.  There is a high priority to expand the Rheumatology program beyond Hartford in a distributed model of satellites throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts and to integrate it into the Connecticut Children’s system and its integrated network of pediatric care. It is also expected that the Chief will build a program that expands the strengths of clinical care into an academic department with faculty who are actively engaged in clinical research, publication, and represent Rheumatology nationally in various professional organizations and journals, such as CARRA, and the Infectious Disease Society of America, and other clinical and research alliances.   The Chief of the Division is expected to encourage and promote a culture of innovation in care delivery to meet the demands of our patients, families, and payers for better, appropriate, and less costly care. This role entails collaboration with Connecticut Children’s Chief Clinical Transformation Officer and the Office of Innovation in Clinical Care Delivery which directly supports and drives activities in the clinical transformation space.   Areas of focus include the following-  planning,  implementation, and evaluation of unique interdisciplinary clinical care teams;  delegating faculty to serve as content experts for the expansion  or enhancement of  existing Co-Management technology and tools  aimed  at preserving the capacity of subspecialists for those problems that truly warrant their level of care; involvement in the launch of relevant use cases for telehealth; and ensuring faculty subject matter experts for the  development of Registries within Epic which utilize population health tools to better manage defined population cohorts and demonstrate improved outcomes.  Faculty participation in these initiatives is increasingly providing opportunities for academic advancement through quality and health service delivery research.   The Chief of the Division of Rheumatology will:

• Work with faculty, senior physician leadership and the executive team on the development and measurement of a vision, strategy and goals for Rheumatology.
  • Lead the clinical team and staff to maintain the culture of clinical and operational excellence and collaboration.
  • Have an intentional focus on mentoring faculty and working to assist their professional development.
• Assess and improve the quality of care and services on a regular basis.
  • Be an advocate for Connecticut Children’s and the external face of the Division - representing the Rheumatology to community-based pediatricians, affiliates, professional associations and organizations, and the School of Medicine.
  • Build on the existing reputation of excellence, establish a presence and identification for the Department at the national level through publications, research, and participation at professional meetings.
  • Seek new financial resources with Federal grant applications, philanthropy, and industry to establish a foundation of research programs in the Department.
  • Recruit new faculty and staff, who are excited by the opportunities presented by Connecticut Children’s vision of the future.
  • Focus on maintaining and improving patient satisfaction and physician engagement at the highest levels.
  • Participate actively in the development and strategic planning goals of the Hospital and the CCSG.
  • Explore opportunities to use the resources of the Connecticut Children’s Center for Innovation to promote new programs and ideas, and services.
  • Continue to build on collaborative interdepartmental relationships in the Hospital.
  • Identify new opportunities for growth in service and trends in community needs.
  • Develop, monitor and update operational policies and procedures in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements and the direction of the Board.