Description

The Heart and Vascular Institute

UVA’s newly formed Heart and Vascular institute will deliver nationally recognized, high-quality, patient-centered, and coordinated care for adult patients with cardiovascular disease. The Institute will provide patients with timely, well-coordinated access to comprehensive services and opportunities to participate in innovative clinical research for advanced diagnosis and treatment.

The Institute includes 60 faculty, 70 advanced practice providers and more than 800 team members delivering care across cardiology, adult cardiac surgery and vascular surgery in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

During the fiscal year 2025, the Institute boasted:

• 3,700 Inpatients/96 Inpatient Beds
• 75,000 Ambulatory Visits
• 37,000 Diagnostics
• 9,000 Interventions/OR Procedures
• 3 Sites of Care

The Institute’s current clinical footprint spans the Commonwealth of Virginia. The main location in Charlottesville is comprised of University Medical Center, Fontaine and the Primary Care Center, supporting care delivery across inpatient, ambulatory, diagnostic, interventional and operative settings. There are 96 inpatient beds located on the 4th Floor of University Medical Center (34 ICU and 68 acute care beds), 47 clinic rooms across three ambulatory locations and 30 diagnostic rooms in three locations. Interventional sites include 10 dedicated rooms, including five electrophysiology labs and five cardiac catheterization labs, eight hybrid capable rooms and 15 pre/post procedure beds. Operative locations include five cardiovascular operating rooms and two additional CV operating rooms equipped with specialty imaging technology. 

The Executive Chair of the Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI) is a key leadership role, providing leadership and  direction within a newly formed institute model for UVA Health. The Executive Chair will have oversight of the Institute with responsibility for program development, growth and optimization of cardiovascular clinical services across UVA Health. The Chair will work in a dyad partnership with the HVI Associate Chief to lead the design, development and execution of a comprehensive three-to-five-year strategic plan. This plan will define the long-term vision and trajectory of the Institute, drive sustained growth, expand regional service offerings and align clinical, operational, and financial strategies to achieve organizational success. To maintain connection to patients, Institute leadership responsibilities will be balanced with 25-40 percent of time dedicated to clinical service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As Executive Chair, the successful candidate will work in partnership with the HVI Associate Chief to lead high-impact strategic initiatives that elevate program quality, outcomes and reputation while positioning UVA as a premier destination for advanced cardiovascular care. These leaders will drive market differentiation through innovation, program development and physician alignment resulting in increased regional reach, enhanced patient access and growth in complex case referrals.

Strategic Planning 

• Lead the development of a system-wide vision for Heart & Vascular services across UVA Health, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy and clinical priorities.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive recruitment strategy in collaboration with departmental, institute and physician leadership.
• Establish and monitor balanced scorecard metrics to assess performance across quality, access, growth, financial and operational domains.
• Identify and assign physician and administrative champions to advance key strategic priorities and initiatives.
• Oversee business planning for major strategic investments, ensuring alignment with system goals and long-term objectives.
• Determine the distribution strategy and geographic footprint for services across UVA Health and affiliated markets.
• Support strategic alliances and partnerships with external providers to enhance growth, access and regional collaboration.
• Develop and oversee appropriate care models and service distribution strategies across the network. 
• Establish system-wide guidelines for external messaging and communications related to institutional services in coordination with UVA Health leadership.

Clinical Operations  

• Oversee operations for specialty ambulatory clinics, inpatient hospital-based services and community-based clinics ensuring integrated, efficient and high-quality care delivery.
• Develop clinical care models, pathways and protocols to promote standardized, evidence-based care.
• Lead internal process improvement initiatives across Heart & Vascular services to enhance quality, efficiency, safety and patient experience.
• Establish performance metrics and assess effort and performance for physicians, non-physician staff and key support functions critical to Heart & Vascular services.
• Participate in hiring and termination decisions for physician providers and non-physician staff in collaboration with appropriate departmental, clinical and administrative leadership.
• Determine appropriate movement and transfer of patients across the system. 
• Establish standards and criteria for the allocation of clinical and operational space to support service delivery and growth.

Financial 

• Allocate financial resources across the clinical mission to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Develop compensation and incentive structures for physician providers that align with institutional goals, quality outcomes, productivity expectations and market competitiveness.
• Support institutional financial targets. 
• Develop and oversee clinical operating and capital budgets.
• Lead the development of a philanthropic and fundraising strategy in support of Heart & Vascular services, in collaboration with UVA Health Foundation and institutional leadership.

Leading and Managing 

• Participate in and support regular forums and meetings with division chiefs, medical directors and physicians to promote alignment, shared understanding and coordinated decision-making.
• Maintain collaborative reporting relationships with medical directors and nurse managers to encourage engagement in operational initiatives, daily huddles and real-time problem-solving related to safety events and concerns.
• Mentor and develop future physician leaders.
• Partner with academic and clinical leadership to ensure institute operations actively support clinical research, aligned with priority research themes.

Requirements

The Executive Chair of the Heart & Vascular Institute will be a visionary leader able to provide focused leadership to deliver innovative clinical program development, support a growing enterprise and advance patient-centered, cost-effective, high-quality care. In collaboration with clinical chairs, division chiefs, faculty, staff and leadership, the Executive Chair will drive to the highest levels of achievement and operational effectiveness. This position affords a results-oriented and dynamic leader the opportunity to join a health care enterprise characterized by a shared sense of purpose, commited leadership and the delivery of safe, high-quality and cost-effective care through accountability and collaboration.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE 

Heart & Vascular Leadership 

A record of outstanding personal academic and/or clinical accomplishments and credentials within cardiology, cardiac surgery or vascular surgery. 

Progressive Leadership Experience 

Successful administrative leadership experience within an institute, service line, academic medical center, large teaching hospital or integrated health system (IHS) in a physician leadership role, including managing finances and aligning resources with strategic priorities; experience across academic and community-based care models is additive.

Program Development and Growth 

Track record of heart and vascular program, institute or service line development and growth including the ability to advance clinical programs, expand services and enhance regional or national prominence.

Physician Recruitment and Development

Demonstrated excellence in attracting, recruiting and developing scientific and clinical leaders. 

Degrees and Other Qualifications

MD/DO degree from an accredited institution and board certification in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery,

Vascular Surgery or other related specialty. Must be licensed or eligible for licensure in Virginia and qualified for 

clinical privileges at UVA Health.  Additional degrees and/or qualifications are highly desirable.