Medical Director - Cardiology Services/Mechanical Circulatory Support

The Rane Center; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute seeks an experienced cardiology physician leader to serve as Medical Director of the Mechanical Circulatory Support and ECMO programs at Hartford Hospital. This role provides clinical leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for a growing ECMO service for cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and advanced heart failure.

The ideal candidate has deep ECMO expertise, board certification in cardiology, CT licensure eligibility, and a track record in

Qualifications

• MD or DO with board-certified cardiology.
• Demonstrated hands-on ECMO experience and leadership.
• Eligibility for medical licensure in Connecticut.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in high-acuity environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead ECMO and Mechanical Circulatory Support program as physician leader.
• Oversee patient selection, cannulation strategies, management protocols, and decannulation processes.
• Develop and refine ECMO clinical pathways in line with ELSO standards and best practices.
• Monitor outcomes, safety, and regulatory compliance in ECMO/MCS care.

Skills

Leadership

ECMO experience

Program development

Quality improvement

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

MD/DO with cardiology board certification

Job description

Medical Director – Cardiology Services/Mechanical Circulatory Support Hartford, Connecticut

Location Detail:

85 Seymour Street – Hartford Hospital Medical Office Building

Cardiologist Opening in Connecticut for Physician Leader, Mechanical Circulatory Support

The Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute is seeking an experienced cardiology physician leader to serve as Medical Director of our Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) program with primary oversight of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) services. This physician will provide clinical leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for a growing, multidisciplinary ECMO program supporting cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, advanced heart failure, and complex critical care patients.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a physician with deep ECMO expertise and a passion for program development, quality improvement, and team-based care to shape the future of advanced cardiac support at a tertiary/quaternary care center.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Program Development:

• Serve as the physician leader and clinical authority for the ECMO and Mechanical Circulatory Support program.
• Oversee patient selection, cannulation strategies, management protocols, and decannulation processes.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of ECMO clinical pathways, policies, and protocols aligned with ELSO and national best practices.
• Provide direct clinical care consistent with specialty training (cardiology subspecialty practice).

Quality, Safety, and Outcomes:

• Monitor and improve ECMO clinical outcomes, patient safety metrics, and resource utilization.
• Lead morbidity and mortality reviews and quality improvement initiatives related to ECMO and MCS care.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and reporting requirements (e.g., ELSO).

Multidisciplinary Team Leadership:

• Collaborate closely with cardiothoracic surgery, critical care, emergency medicine, perfusion services, nursing, respiratory therapy, and hospital leadership.
• Support recruitment, education, and ongoing competency of ECMO team members.
• Foster a culture of high reliability, accountability, and continuous learning.

Education and Academic Engagement (if applicable):

• Provide teaching and mentorship for fellows, residents, advanced practice providers, and nursing staff.
• Support simulation, training, and continuing education related to ECMO and cardiogenic shock.
• Participate in research, registry participation, and scholarly activity as aligned with institutional goals.

Strategic Growth:

• Partner with Heart & Vascular Institute leadership to expand ECMO services, referral networks, and regional impact.
• Support development of advanced shock teams, mobile ECMO capabilities, or heart failure/MCS expansion as appropriate.

Qualifications

Required:

• MD or DO with board certification in cardiology (interventional cardiology, advanced heart failure/transplant, or critical care cardiology preferred).
• Demonstrated hands-on ECMO experience, including leadership in ECMO management for cardiac indications.
• Eligibility for medical licensure in the state of Connecticut.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in high-acuity environments.

Preferred:

• Experience as an ECMO director, associate director, or physician champion.
• Familiarity with ELSO standards, registry participation, and quality benchmarks.
• Strong interest in program building, innovation, and system-level improvement.
• Academic appointment and scholarly activity (if applicable).

About Hartford HealthCare (HHC):

A nationally recognized, integrated system with 2,800+ providers across 500+ locations, including eight hospitals and one of the Northeast’s largest academic centers. The Heart & Vascular Institute offers a highly collaborative, forward-thinking environment where physicians lead, innovate, and grow.

Salary Range:

minimum $216.35, maximum $374.52

This is a salaried position. While compensation is presented as an hourly rate for consistency across our postings, this position is paid on a salary basis. The hiring range reflects a good faith estimate of pay for this position as of the posting date. Actual pay will be determined based on qualifications, location, internal equity, and other factors that may include hire bonuses, incentive pay plans, loan repayment, administrative stipends, or relocation.

Interested in exploring opportunities?

Contact Pam Lasser, Physician Recruiter at email: [e-mail], or call or text 860-306-8009.

Learn more about the Heart & Vascular Institute:

https://hartfordhealthcare.org/services/heart-vascular