Executive Medical Director of Pediatric Surgical Services (Surgeon in Chief)
Executive Medical Director of Pediatric Surgical Services (Surgeon in Chief)
Description
Overview
The Executive Medical Director of Pediatric Surgical Services (Surgeon in Chief) serves as the primary medical and administrative leader for pediatric surgical and proceduralist services, including pediatric surgical specialties and procedural programs, such as gastroenterology and dentistry. The role bridges high-level hospital administration, pediatric network, and direct clinical care, providing strategic, clinical, academic, and operational leadership across the perioperative continuum. Oversight includes but not exclusive to Pediatric Outpatient Procedures & Sedation (POPS), Pediatric Infusion Center (PIC), Pediatric Surgical Center (PSC), Post Acute Care Unit (PACU), Rapid In and Out (RIO), inpatient/ambulatory post-op.
This physician leader is accountable for excellence in patient care, surgical quality and safety, patient & family experience, education and scholarly activity, operational efficiency, fiscal stewardship, and program growth—all aligned with AdventHealth for Children's mission, vision, values, and long-term strategy. The role maintains an active clinical practice, focuses on case management, and serves as the senior physician liaison to administration, anesthesia, nursing, and multidisciplinary teams.
Qualifications Required:
MD or DO; board certification in pediatric surgical specialty
Clinically active with a minimum of 0.25 FTE (0.5 FTE preferred)
Active, unrestricted medical license in the state of Florida (or ability to obtain)
Pediatric surgical experience
10+ years leadership experience
Excellent communication, collaboration, and transition management skills
Demonstrates the ability to develop and mentor others to their optimum levels of skill and professionalism
Demonstrates experience in financial management, service line growth, and strategic development
Preferred:
Prior medical director or Surgeon-in-Chief experience
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams
Scholarly activity, research experience
Expertise in quality & process improvements and healthcare operations
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Advise senior leadership on the operation, optimization, and allocation of pediatric surgical/procedural resources
Establish and enforce clinical practice guidelines, policies, evidence-based standards, and safety regulations
Participate in key hospital and network performance, quality, and operational governance committees
Recruit, hire, and evaluate surgeons and staff; oversee credentialing and privileging
Drive development of high need pediatric surgical subspecialties
Financial Stewardship & Growth Strategy
Accountable for financial performance of pediatric surgical service lines in partnership with finance and administrative leadership
Participate in annual budget development, capital planning
Evaluate business cases for new programs, technology, and service expansion
Lead strategic roles and initiatives to drive referral base and market presence
Core Competencies
Strategic thinking - ability to influence organizational culture
Expertise in evidence-based practice
Data-driven decision-making and analytical proficiency
Commitment to patient-centered care and safety
Expertise in quality/process improvement and healthcare operations
Executive communication and enterprise alignment
Experience with organizational change management
Ability to lead in matrix system
Job Requirements
Key Responsibilities Continued...
Quality Improvement & Patient Safety
Oversee designated hospital and network pediatric surgical specialty programs
Lead quality improvement initiatives, Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) reviews, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) processes
Monitor patient outcomes and champion evidence-based changes where needed
Serve as the physician leader responsible for the accuracy and integrity of submitted surgical data
Ensure clinical databases are maintained and utilized to identify trends, gaps, and variation in care
Ensure compliance with DNV Accreditation and American College of Surgeons standards
Resolve patient care issues with risk management and legal
Accountable for achieving & sustaining defined quality, safety, and performance benchmarks
Patient Experience
Set and champion a clear vision for patient-centered, compassionate, and equitable surgical care across all services
Model and enforce high standards for communication, shared decision-making, professionalism, and respect with patients and families
Ensures a consistent, safe, and high-quality experience across the full surgical journey through collaboration, standardization, and data-driven improvement
Lead accountability for patient-experience outcomes by reviewing feedback, addressing concerns, and driving continuous improvement
Build a culture that prioritizes trust, teamwork, and empathy by developing surgeons and teams to deliver exceptional patient experiences
Operational Coordination & Efficiency
Provide executive oversight of operational performance across pediatric surgical services including access, capacity management, throughput, and efficiency
Serve on the Operating Room Block Committee
Improve throughput across all perioperative phases
Partner with anesthesia for appropriate pediatric coverage
Academic & Educational Leadership
Promote excellence in teaching and mentorship
Lead continuing education and collaborate with system pediatric surgery chair
Promote clinical research and scholarly activity
Advance academic reputation and external visibility at regional and national levels
Physician & Team Development
Mentor surgical leaders (Medical Directors, Program Leaders, Advanced Practice Providers (APP) leads, etc.)
Promote diversity, inclusion, and physician well being
Develop future physician leaders and implement succession planning for key surgical roles
Complete requested performance reviews and provide timely feedback to support personal and professional development of leaders and team members
Collaboration, Advocacy & Community
Serve as senior physician liaison to perioperative services, anesthesia, nursing, and hospital administration
Strengthen partnerships across care teams
Advocate for patients at local, regional, and national levels
Engage in community outreach and philanthropy
Represent AHFC effectively within nationally recognized forums for quality and patient care (SPS, CHA, etc) when requested
Maintain professional proficiency by participating in continuing education and appropriate learning experiences, both internal and external. Attend pertinent conferences and seminars regarding clinical care, business, or management
Community Description
AdventHealth is conveniently close to many gorgeous homes, downtown urban living, shopping, and great schools. As one of the most visited American cities, Orlando has world-class attractions including Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, and easy access to both coasts for numerous world renown beaches. Orlando is home to major league soccer (Orlando City Lions), NBA basketball (Orlando Magic) as well as University of Central Florida sports. The city also has many public and private universities and colleges. The Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts hosts variety of musical and theatrical performances throughout the year.
The word "Advent" stays true to our Adventist heritage and signals the arrival of something of great significance. Our new name is intended to herald the dawn of a whole-person health care philosophy that encompasses body, mind and spirit. When consumers see the name "AdventHealth," we want them to understand: "this is a place for wellness for all stages of life and health." It's a name that reflects our deeply rooted mission and bold vision.
Established in 1973, AdventHealth (formerly Adventist Health System) includes ne...