Associate Head (Vice Chief) for Clinical Affairs, Division of Cardiology

Job Summary:

The Associate Head for Clinical Affairs in Cardiology (Vice Chief) is the physician leader for clinical practice across the Division of Cardiology at CU Anschutz, Colorado's only allopathic medical school and a nationally recognized academic health center. As the Division's 'second in command,' the Vice Chief helps oversee 45 cardiologists, 34 APPs, and 32 fellows, while advising administrative and clinical research staff. Working closely with the School of Medicine and UCHealth partners, the Vice Chief builds and optimizes clinical programs; ensures quality, safety, and protocol alignment; and advances divisional strategy. Core duties include program development, operational harmonization across sites, integrated care delivery, and alignment of clinical, educational, and research missions. The role oversees clinical Section Heads (General, Electrophysiology [EP], Advanced Heart Failure / Transplant [AHFTX], Interventional, Imaging, Advanced Practice Providers [APPs]) and Medical Directorships while fostering collaboration with other Divisions/Departments, UCHealth sites, and community/affiliate partners. The Vice Chief role includes 30% protected time paid at median benchmarks, with opportunity for additional protected time based on assumption versus delegation of overlapping medical directorships. To learn more about CU Anschutz, see: https://www.cuanschutz.edu/about

Key Responsibilities:

1. Clinical Operations, Access & Experience

* Serve as primary liaison between Cardiology and UCHealth operations, quality, safety, nursing; partner closely with Medical Directors and hospital Clinical Directors. Provide leadership for the UCHealth Cardiovascular Outcomes Governance Group (system service line CV COGG).

* Establish a Division "operations playbook"

o Access/Scheduling: Optimize template design, room utilization, referral standards, subspecialty triage, new/return ratios, cancellation/no-show reduction, overbook/backfill protocols, wait-list management, PTO coverage.

o Throughput/Flow: Enhance ED-to-unit flow, CCU and step-down utilization, discharge timing, readmission pathways, and navigator support.

o Procedural Operations: Address on-time starts, turnaround times, add-on/urgent prioritization, device clinic throughput, remote-monitoring standards, and supply chain processes.

o Community/Affiliate Sites: Standardize workflows, order sets, and diagnostic pathways.

o Divisional programming: Evolve practices for ACS, shock and AHFTX, structural heart evaluation, EP/device, syncope, cardio-oncology, cardio-obstetrics, lipid/cardiometabolic, genetics, etc.

* Champion patient, staff, and provider experience and a just-culture; implement feedback loops and rapid-cycle improvement.

2. Quality, Safety & Outcomes

* Oversee Quality Director roles that report to the Division of Cardiology.

* Co-develop and track annual Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) aligned with UCHealth priorities (mortality, complications/HAIs, readmissions, PROs, CG-CAHPS).

* Sponsor QI projects and registry participation (e.g., NCDR, GWTG, TVT/STS), ensuring reliable data capture and learning.

* Lead/participate in M&M, safety reviews, and CCR/peer review; drive timely corrective actions and dissemination.

* Advance equity in outcomes and access; include equity metrics in dashboards.

* Partner on documentation integrity, value-based care readiness, prior authorization optimization, and accreditation/regulatory standards.

3. Workforce Development & Professionalism

* Partner with the Division Head and Section Heads, and UCHealth leadership to set and achieve strategic recruitment goals (physicians and APPs) across campus and affiliates.

* Standardize onboarding for new faculty (competencies, supervised starts, EHR/operational essentials, procedural credentialing, mentorship).

* Develop a clinician growth curriculum (operations literacy, billing/coding, documentation, patient experience, QI methods, leadership).

* Provide mentorship/coaching using dashboards for feedback on access, productivity, quality, and experience; implement remediation when needed.

* Optimize APP integration (co-management models, independent visit types, shared-visit standards, staffing ratios, role clarity) and promote career development.

* Cascade policy updates and ensure compliance; promote professionalism, psychological safety, and effective conflict resolution in collaboration with medical staff and HR.

4. Education & Training

* Support UME/GME/APP education with ACGME-compliant learning environments; integrate simulation, procedural milestones, and just-in-time training for new technologies.

* Align clinic and rotation templates with educational objectives; promote fellow participation in QI/registries with scholarly output.

5. Research, Trials & Innovation

* Serve as bridge between operations and research (trial feasibility/start-up, coverage analysis, SOPs, data capture, pragmatic/implementation studies) to shorten start-up timelines and expand enrollment.

* Evaluate and deploy innovations (digital/hybrid care, RPM, AI-assisted triage, virtual second opinions) with measured effects on outcomes, access, equity, and cost.

6. Finance, Strategy & Growth

* With the administrative system dyad, lead business planning for new programs and sites; monitor RVUs, room/slot utilization, cost stewardship, supply chain, and implant costs.

* Coordinate community and affiliate services to ensure consistent standards, efficient referral loops, and growth aligned with the UCHealth Cardiovascular Service Line.

7. Governance, Committees & Communications

* Serve on division/department/hospital/service-line committees and initiatives as requested by the Division Head.

* Maintain a clear communication cascade (Department Division Sections Clinics/Teams); lead multidisciplinary administrative meetings with transparent updates.

* Uphold UCHealth Code of Conduct and CU Faculty Professionalism standards.

8. Performance Management, Milestones & Evaluation

* Set quarterly goals with the Division Head and administrative dyad; review OKRs/metrics quarterly and iterate via PDSA.

* Define and track metrics for access, experience, quality/safety (e.g., median new-patient wait days, on-time starts, LOS, readmissions, CG-CAHPS, PROs, equity gaps).

* Synthesize feedback from faculty, APPs, staff, patients, and referring providers into continuous improvement plans; participate in annual performance evaluation (with ACMO input) shared with UCHA leadership

Work Location:

Onsite - this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO.

Why Join Us:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals - UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado - that treat more than two million adult and pediatric patients each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by over $705 million in research grants. For more information, visit www.cuanschutz.edu .

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

• MD, DO, MD-PhD, or DO-PhD degree

• Currently appointed or able to be appointed to the University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty
• Completion of a recognized ACGME-accredited fellowship in a Cardiovascular specialty
• Currently licensed to practice medicine in the State of Colorado or eligible to be licensed in the State of Colorado
• Ability to obtain prescriptive authority (DEA License)
• Minimum of five years' experience, including leadership and operations
• Board-certified/eligible in Cardiovascular Medicine by the ABIM.

Associate Professor:

• 3-6 years of experience.

Professor:

• 7+ years of experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master Clinician skills

• A publication record in some field of Cardiology

Key Relationships:

• Division Leadership: Division Head/Chief; Divisional Administrative Director.

• Department of Medicine: Executive Vice Chair - Clinical Affairs

• Section & Program Leaders: AHFTx, Interventional/Structural, EP, Imaging, Prevention/Lipid, Vascular Medicine, Cardio-Oncology, Cardio-Obstetrics, Sports Cardiology, HCM/Inherited CM, Genetics, APPs.

• Hospital & Service Line Leadership: UCHA CMO, ACMOs, CQO, COO; CT Surgery; Anesthesia; Radiology; ED; Hospital Medicine; Pulmonary and ICUs; Pharmacy; Nursing; UCHealth Cardiovascular Service Line.

• Community & Affiliate Partners: UCHA practice sites and affiliated clinics; UCHealth Medical Group.

• Education & Research: Fellowship/Residency/GME leadership; Office of Faculty Affairs; clinical research operations and investigational teams.

• External Stakeholders: Referring providers, registry collaboratives (NCDR, STS/TVT, UNOS/ISHLT), payers/regulators where appropriate.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: Larry Allen, larry.allen@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, please apply by January 1, 2026

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:

Associate Professor: $475,000 to $550,000

Professor: $550,000 to $600,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.