System Medical Director for Pre-Surgical Optimization

Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SAAAPM); Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine seeks a physician leader to serve as System Medical Director for Pre‑Surgical Optimization. This full‑time anesthesiologist will provide clinical and administrative leadership for the system‑wide Pre‑Surgical Optimization Clinic, supporting perioperative excellence, patient safety, and operational performance across Northwestern Medicine.

The role involves leading system‑wide optimization efforts, improving clinic utilization and OR efficiency, and collaborating with

Qualifications

• Board-certified physician with demonstrated experience in perioperative medicine, pre-surgical optimization, or a related area.
• Proven leadership in clinical operations, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Academic accomplishment, scholarly productivity, and teaching experience required.
• Strong communication, management, and process improvement skills.
• Prior leadership experience required; academic rank of Assistant Professor or higher required.

Responsibilities

• Lead system-wide pre‑surgical optimization efforts and align clinic operations with perioperative strategy.
• Improve preoperative clinic utilization, reduce elective case cancellations, and enhance operating room efficiency.
• Develop triage policies and clinical criteria to ensure appropriate patient prioritization.
• Collaborate with surgical, anesthesiology, and administrative leaders to resolve clinical and operational issues.
• Support quality improvement, patient safety, and data‑driven process enhancements.
• Provide remote and on‑site clinical support across local preoperative clinics.

Skills

Perioperative medicine

Clinical operations leadership

Quality improvement

Academic teaching

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Assistant Professor or higher

Board-certified physician

Job description

Northwestern Medicine is seeking a physician leader to serve as System Medical Director for Pre‑Surgical Optimization. This full‑time anesthesiologist will provide clinical and administrative leadership for the system‑wide Pre‑Surgical Optimization Clinic, supporting perioperative excellence, patient safety, and operational performance across Northwestern Medicine.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead system-wide pre‑surgical optimization efforts and align clinic operations with perioperative strategy.
• Improve preoperative clinic utilization, reduce elective case cancellations, and enhance operating room efficiency.
• Develop triage policies and clinical criteria to ensure appropriate patient prioritization.
• Collaborate with surgical, anesthesiology, and administrative leaders to resolve clinical and operational issues.
• Support quality improvement, patient safety, and data‑driven process enhancements.
• Provide remote and on‑site clinical support across local preoperative clinics.

Qualifications

• Board‑certified physician with demonstrated experience in perioperative medicine, pre‑surgical optimization, or a related area.
• Proven leadership in clinical operations, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Academic accomplishment, scholarly productivity, and teaching experience required.
• Strong communication, management, and process improvement skills
• Prior leadership experience required; academic rank of Assistant Professor or higher required.

The ideal candidate is a respected clinician‑leader with a strong record of improving systems, advancing perioperative care, and working effectively across multidisciplinary teams.