Advocate Health

The Medical Director of Inpatient Cardiology provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for the congenital heart inpatient service line, encompassing both medical and surgical pediatric cardiology patients. This role ensures high‑quality, family‑centered care; leads multidisciplinary collaboration; drives performance improvement; and advances clinical excellence within the Congenital Heart Center. The Medical Director works closely with nursing, advanced practice providers, cardiothoracic surgery, intensivists, administrative leadership, and hospital partners to optimize patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

If it’s possible, you’ll find it at Atrium Health Levine Children's, the leading community-focused academic healthcare system serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. We invite passionate physicians to explore what’s possible where healing hearts, inquisitive minds, and visionary leaders come together.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Clinical Leadership

• Provide oversight for all inpatient cardiology services, including acute care, step-down, and transitional care for congenital and acquired pediatric heart conditions.
• Partner with cardiothoracic surgery, CICU/PICU leadership, and hospitalist teams to ensure seamless care across the continuum for surgical and medical patients.
• Establish, implement, and monitor evidence‑based clinical pathways, standards of care, and quality metrics.
• Serve as attending physician on the inpatient cardiology service, maintaining clinical excellence and modeling best practices.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations of the inpatient cardiology units, ensuring appropriate staffing, patient flow, and resource utilization.
• Collaborate with nursing leadership, APP leadership, and administrative partners to support scheduling, coverage models, and service expansion.
• Lead efforts to optimize length of stay, throughput, and coordination of care from admission through discharge.

Quality, Safety & Performance Improvement

• Develop and monitor quality and safety initiatives, including morbidity and mortality review, adverse event reduction, and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Utilize data to identify trends, implement improvement strategies, and drive sustainable clinical transformation.
• Champion a safety-focused culture emphasizing transparency, communication, and continuous improvement.

Education & Professional Development

• Support education of pediatric cardiology fellows, residents, APPs, nurses, and other learners on the inpatient service.
• Foster a culture of mentorship, growth, and lifelong learning.
• Collaborate with academic partners to ensure alignment with teaching missions.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

• Facilitate strong working relationships across cardiology subspecialties, cardiac surgery, critical care, anesthesia, nursing, social work, nutrition, and other essential stakeholders.
• Lead regular interdisciplinary rounds and participate in leadership committees relevant to the congenital heart program.

Strategic Leadership

• Contribute to the development of the Congenital Heart Center’s long-term strategic plan, with focus on inpatient services.
• Participate in program development initiatives, including new clinical programs, care models, and service expansions.
• Represent inpatient cardiology in internal and external forums, including institutional committees and regional/national collaborations.

Qualifications

• MD/DO with board certification in Pediatric Cardiology.
• Eligibility for medical licensure.
• Minimum 5–7 years of clinical experience in pediatric cardiology, including inpatient care of congenital and acquired heart disease.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a pediatric cardiology or congenital heart program preferred.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and team‑building skills.
• Commitment to quality improvement, patient safety, and family‑centered care.

Competencies

• Strategic and operational leadership
• High reliability and systems-level thinking
• Data-driven decision making
• Ability to foster multidisciplinary collaboration
• Clinical excellence and professionalism
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and patient/family advocacy

• Paid Time Off programs available for eligible positions
• Comprehensive health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k) options with employer contributions and access to financial wellness resources
• Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family support benefits, which may include parental leave, adoption assistance, and surrogacy support
• Educational assistance and professional development programs
• Paid medical liability insurance 
• Continuing Medical Education (CME) allowances
• Relocation assistance