"Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs"

Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs

University of Colorado Anschutz
Department: School of Medicine, Office of the Dean
Job Title: Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs
Position #: 00845383 - Requisition #: 39076

Job Summary:

The University of Colorado School of Medicine (SOM) seeks an accomplished physician leader to serve as Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs (SADCA) and Chief Medical Officer of CU Medicine. This is a premier executive leadership role responsible for shaping the clinical strategy, quality, access, growth, and integration of the School of Medicine's extensive clinical enterprise.

The SADCA serves as the senior physician executive responsible for aligning the SOM's academic mission with high-value, patient-centered, financially sustainable clinical care across all SOM clinical platforms. This leader works in close partnership with SOM department chairs, CU Medicine leadership, University of Colorado Hospital Authority (UCHA), Children's Hospital Colorado (CHCO), and key regional affiliates to advance excellence in patient care, education, and research.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Strategy, Growth & Market Positioning

• Lead the development and execution of a unified, multi-year clinical enterprise strategy aligned with the SOM strategic plan
• Identify and advance opportunities for:
  • Programmatic growth
  • New market development
  • Service line expansion
• Oversee strategic growth of clinical programs beyond the University of Colorado Hospital campus
• Guide integration of acquired practices and new clinical partnerships

Quality, Safety & Regulatory Oversight

• Serve as the senior physician executive accountable for patient safety and clinical quality
  • Oversee:
    • Clinical compliance with state and federal regulations
    • CU Medicine Board policies
    • Peer review and credentialing processes
  • Partner with legal, compliance, and risk leadership on sentinel events and performance improvement

Data, Performance & Outcomes Management

• Establish a culture of transparent, actionable performance reporting
  • Oversee:
    • Productivity metrics
    • Ambulatory operations
    • Benchmarking and institutional outcomes
  • Monitor referral patterns and guide access optimization strategies
  • Align performance management with quality, growth, and sustainability goals

Faculty Practice & Clinical Operations

• Provide executive oversight of:
  • Faculty practice management
  • Access and capacity planning
  • Clinic operations and patient experience
  • Align physician compensation models with quality, access, growth, and academic priorities

Education, Training & Learner Integration

• Ensure seamless integration of medical students, residents, and fellows into clinical operations
• Guarantee that clinical growth strategies enhance-rather than compromise-the educational mission

Affiliate, Health System & External Relations

• Serve as the senior physician liaison to:
  • UCHA
  • Children's Hospital Colorado
  • Denver Health
  • VA Medical Center
  • National Jewish Health
• Mediate interdepartmental and intersystem clinical service issues
• Serve as physician ambassador to payers, community partners, and affiliated systems

Innovation & Digital Health

• Lead adoption of:
  • Telemedicine
  • Digital health platforms
  • AI-enabled clinical workflows
  • Remote monitoring and access optimization tools
• Support pilot programs and scale successful innovations system-wide

Committee Service & Executive Participation

The Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs serves on:

• Senior Associate Deans Council
• CU Medicine Board of Directors (ex officio, non-voting)
• CU Medicine Executive Committee (ex officio, non-voting)
• School of Medicine Executive Committee
• Clinical Chairs Council
• CU/UCHA Quality Committee
• Board of Directors of the Self-Insurance Trust (as applicable)

Regular meetings include:

• Executive Vice Dean
• CU Medicine Executive Director and senior staff
• UCHA and CHCO executive leadership
• SOM department chairs and associate deans
• Affiliate health system leaders

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

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• MD or DO degree with active board certification
• Active clinical practice in specialty
• Academic appointment at the Associate Professor or Professor level
• Minimum of 10 years of senior medical leadership experience
• Experience leading complex, multi-site, multi-specialty clinical enterprises

Preferred Qualifications:

• Deep expertise in:
  • Faculty practice models and physician compensation
  • Healthcare finance and market dynamics
  • Value-based care and payer strategy
• Record of academic achievement in clinical program development

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated success as a champion of:
  • Patient safety
  • High-quality, equitable care
  • Operational excellence
  • Clinical growth and access
• Proven ability as a:
  • Strategic negotiator
  • Enterprise communicator
  • Change leader
• Strong emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and ability to lead through influence
• Commitment to excellence in education and research

How to Apply:

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

1. A letter of interest including
   1. Summary of qualifications
   2. Leadership vision for the SOM clinical enterprise
   3. Key programmatic priorities
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: Makeedra Hayes at Makeedra.Hayes@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:
Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by March 6, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:
The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE: $175,000