Division Chief of Emergency Medicine at St. Louis University Hospital

Organization: SLUCare Physician Group, SSM Health

Location: Saint Louis University (SLU) Hospital

Position: Division Chief, Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine

Job Summary

SLUCare Physician Group, a member of SSM Health, seeks a dynamic leader for the role of Division Chief in the Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine (EM) at SLU Hospital. Following SLUCare’s 2022 integration with SSM Health, the Division is primed for expansion across its core missions of patient care, education, and research.

SLU Hospital is a prominent academic center and tertiary referral hospital in SSM Health’s network, serving as the primary teaching hospital for SLU School of Medicine. As a Level 1 Trauma and STEMI Center and Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, the hospital’s 43-bed Emergency Department (ED) provides high-acuity care, serving approximately 44,000 patients per year. The Division is supported by 17 EM faculty, 24 EM residents, and 4 advanced practice providers.

The Division Chief will report to the Chair of the Department of Surgery and will have opportunities to drive the Division’s growth in several high-impact areas:

• Meeting regional SSM Key Performance Indicators for EM care quality and outcomes
• Supporting and enhancing graduate and undergraduate medical education, including a longstanding EM residency program established in 2008 and a core medical student clerkship.
• Building a robust infrastructure for research and other scholarly activity
• Leading critical interdisciplinary collaborations with nursing, care coordination, critical care, hospital medicine, trauma, stroke, and other key stakeholders
• Developing a regional strategy for EM across SSM St. Louis, including attainment of departmental status and expansion to other ministries

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Provide visionary leadership to the Division of Emergency Medicine, fostering a culture of excellence in clinical care, education, and research.
• Cultivate a diverse and collaborative working environment between EM faculty, emergency department (ED) staff, hospital administration, and interdisciplinary stakeholders from other departments.
• Develop and execute strategic initiatives to advance the Division’s clinical and academic priorities, in alignment with institutional goals and objectives.
• Lead recruitment and retention efforts for faculty and staff according to Division priorities
• Manage the Division’s budget and other financial resources effectively and sustainably.

Clinical Oversight

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care in the ED in collaboration with EM faculty and other institutional stakeholders.
• Meeting regional SSM Key Performance Indicators for EM care quality and outcomes
• Oversee staffing levels, workflows, and clinical activity to ensure safe, appropriate, and timely patient care at adequate volumes for revenue production.
• Implement evidence-based practices and quality improvement initiatives to measure and enhance patient safety, throughput, and outcomes.
• Strengthen collaborations with transfer networks within the SSM Health system.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.

Academic Mission

• Oversee the academic activities of the Division, including clinical and translational research, educational programs, and interdepartmental collaborations.
• Monitor EM faculty members’ scholarship activity, providing feedback and guidance as necessary.
• Foster avenues for professional development, career advancement, research, and mentorship for EM faculty and residents
• Build a robust infrastructure for research and other scholarly activity.
• Support, strengthen, and grow the educational activities of the Division, including the residency program and medical student educational experience.
• Participate in resident and medical student education, acting as a role model of effective teaching.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Licensure

• MD/DO or equivalent with current Board certification in Emergency Medicine.
• Eligibility for an unrestricted Missouri state medical license.

Experience and Competencies

• Credentials that merit appointment in the School of Medicine at the minimum rank of Assistant Professor but preferably Associate or Full Professor
• Proven leadership skills in an academic environment, with prior experience demonstrating excellence in teaching, clinical practice, program development, program administration, and/or research administration.
• Effective and strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Capacity to lead and role model a culture of engagement, accountability, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
• Track record of cooperative working relationships, demonstrating an ability to understand and synthesize stakeholder concerns to set and achieve strategic goals that are beneficial to all groups.
• Commitment to faculty and leadership development programs
• Willingness to implement the requirements and policies of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), SSM Health, and Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of Emergency Medicine across the SLU and SSM Health network, advancing both academic and clinical missions. The candidate will receive a 0.2 FTE of protected time for administrative duties.

About SSM Health

SSM Health is a Catholic not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system. SSM Health’s heritage of healing began over 150 years ago in 1872, when five Franciscan Sisters of Mary arrived on the riverbanks of St. Louis. Fueled by unwavering faith and determination, these pioneering women cared for the sick and dedicated their lives to ensuring all people receive high-quality compassionate care, regardless of their ability to pay.  

Headquartered in St. Louis, SSM Health has care delivery sites in Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. The health system includes 24 hospitals, more than 300 physician offices and other outpatient care sites, 10 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, an insurance company, a technology company and an Accountable Care Organization. There are 8 system hospitals located in the St. Louis metro area.

Compensation & Benefits

SSM Health provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy benefits plans tailored to meet the healthcare needs of you and your family. The package also offers pre-tax savings incentives, a wellness program, and retirement plans such as 403(b) and 457(b). Moreover, SSM Health provides generous PTO that encourages a healthy work/life balance, as well as personal and professional growth and development opportunities.

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, a LEVEL 1 Time Critical Diagnosis hospital in Stroke, Trauma and STEMI, is at the forefront of ground-breaking medical treatments, procedures, clinical trials and comprehensive patient care. Our commitment to research and innovation allows us to treat you and your family with the care you deserve. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital has been an academic hospital in the St. Louis community for more than 80 years.

We serve as the medical teaching hospital for Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and exclusively staffed by the SLUCare Physician Group. This relationship between SSM Health, SLUCare and Saint Louis University School of Medicine provides advanced health care solutions that benefit our community.

Home to the famed Gateway Arch, St. Louis is one of the most livable cities in the country. This sprawling metropolitan mecca features a large variety of neighborhoods and communities spanning six counties. With an affordable housing market, trendy neighborhoods like Cherokee Street and Delmar Loop, and the booming economic landscape of the city make this one of the most attractive cities for young professionals. There is more to do per square mile in St. Louis than in any other city in the state. With restaurants, parks, recreation, cultural activities and sporting events, there’s always something to do or see here.

SSM Health is committed to equal employment opportunity based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, and all other statuses protected by law. To view all of our current provider career opportunities, visit joinssmhealth.com.