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Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC), a leading academic medical center, and the UMass Chan-Lahey Regional Medical School in Burlington, Massachusetts seeks an accomplished and visionary physician leader to serve as Chair of the Department of Surgery. This is a senior leadership role overseeing clinical, strategic, academic, and operational functions across all surgical services. The Chair will advance excellence in patient care, education, research, and faculty development while fostering innovation and collaboration. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership and interpersonal capabilities, a distinguished academic background, and a sustained commitment to driving quality, innovation and excellence in the field of surgery.
Department Overview
The department spans the full spectrum of surgical specialties at LHMC, including:
• Colon & Rectal Surgery
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• General Surgery
• Gynecology
• Hepatobiliary & Transplant Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Otolaryngology (Audiology, Hearing Aid Center, Speech Therapy)
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Surgical Critical Care
• Urology
• Vascular Surgery
The department of surgery includes a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, advanced practice providers, and specialists dedicated to exceptional patient outcomes. It supports ACGME-accredited residency programs in general surgery, colon and rectal surgery, urology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and transplant and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery, as well as multiple subspecialty fellowship programs. Faculty are appointed to the UMass Chan-Lahey Department of Surgery of the University of Massachusetts T H Chan School of Medicine, enabling robust cross-campus collaboration for teaching, research, and mentorship.

Job Description:

Roles and Responsibilities

As Chair, the successful candidate will:

• Lead Strategic Planning: Shape long-term vision and initiatives aligned with institutional goals.
• Recruit & Develop Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs): Attract top talent and support career growth.
• Lead Innovation, Quality & Safety Initiatives: Collaborate to optimize patient safety and clinical outcomes.
• Drive Performance: Oversee division and departmental performance to ensure access, operating room efficiency, and clinical excellence.
• Optimize Operations: Manage resources, implement process improvements, and maintain high standards of care, safety, and service.
• Foster Collaboration: Work closely with division chairs and APP leaders to align departmental strategy with LHMC and Beth Israel Lahey Health priorities.
• Invigorate Research and Scholarship: Expand the department’s research enterprise in basic, translational, clinical, and health services research by supporting faculty in obtaining extramural funding and collaborating with Lahey’s Institute for Healthcare Delivery Science and the Center for Translational Science.
• Champion UMass-Chan-Lahey’s Teaching and Training Missions: Oversee the development and delivery of innovative educational programs for medical students, residents, and fellows by promoting the highest standard in surgical training and curriculum design.

The Chair will also maintain clinical responsibilities, modeling excellence in patient care while advancing LHMC’s mission in education, research, and innovation.

Key Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Leadership & Vision: Able to set strategic direction, manage change, and advocate for the department within LHMC and on a national level.
• Quality and Safety: Ability to lead in delivery of high-quality, evidence-based surgical care across all divisions.
• Academic Excellence: Significant track record of scholarship, mentorship, and support for clinical and translational research and a strong history of supporting faculty professional development.
• Operational & Financial Acumen: Proficiency in managing budgets, clinical operations, and resource allocation with data-driven decision making.
• Culture & People Leadership: High emotional intelligence, team-building skills, and a strong commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination in employment.
• Collaboration & System Engagement: Ability to foster interdisciplinary partnerships, strengthen community connections, and integrate departmental goals with Beth Israel Lahey Health initiatives.

Candidate Qualifications

• M.D. or D.O. (or international equivalent), board certified in a surgical specialty, and eligible for Massachusetts licensure.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in academic surgery.
• Demonstrated achievement in clinical care, teaching, and research.
• Highly visible national and international reputation with academic credentials meriting appointment as Associate Professor or Professor.
• Formal leadership training and operational management experience preferred.
• Commitment to a culture of belonging, with the ability to champion system-wide initiatives within Beth Israel Lahey Health.

Pay Range:

$600,000.00 USD - $900,000.00 USD

The pay range listed for this position is the annual base salary range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation may be determined based on several factors, that may include education, training, relevant experience, specialty, geography of work location, productivity, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law.  In addition to base compensation, this position may be eligible for performance-based incentive compensation, which may include productivity and quality bonuses. 

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled