Cardiac Rehab Medical Director | Department of Internal Medicine | F73430 (SOM)

Mission or Goal of Unit: This position will work to launch a preventative cardiovascular medicine program within a new VCU health cardiopulmonary rehab location endeavoring to improve patient care, scientific discovery, diversity and collaboration through the implementation of innovative cardiovascular care.

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health seek to recruit a director of preventative cardiovascular medicine and rehabilitation. The incumbent will serve to coordinate the clinical education, research, and community outreach activities of the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center as they pertain to preventative cardiovascular medicine and rehabilitation. This position will require expertise in exercise prescription, counseling and training, risk factor modification, psychosocial and outcomes assessment, creation, implementation, and evaluation of activity-based interventions. In addition, the Director would develop primary and secondary prevention strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk, maximize quality of life, and improve cardiorespiratory fitness.

The program will interdigitate with advanced extramurally funded research, initiatives involving diagnostic testing and therapeutic interventions designed to improve overall cardiovascular health. This will include development of evidence-based policies and procedures that meet regulatory and certification standards that allow program accreditation. This position will coordinate the activities of exercise physiologists, behavioral scientists, dieticians, nursing team members, pulmonary function specialists, advanced practice providers, and other early, mid-career, and senior faculty with interest in improving Cardiovascular Health through the implementation of primary and secondary prevention that may utilize cardiovascular rehabilitation involving activity, diet, and medical theory interventions.

Resources available to this position will include state-of-the-art cardiovascular medicine facilities and equipment, and research program oversight/infrastructure. Advanced cardiovascular testing, including cardiopulmonary exercise testing, stress and rest echocardiography, stress and rest cardiovascular magnetic resonance, and computed tomography methodologies and techniques. Advanced laboratory specimen assessments and artificial intelligence techniques.

Position Responsibilities:

Teaching: To support teaching directly via interactions with Fellows, Housestaff and non-physician professionals. Periodically will be expected to present appropriate reviews in patient management discussions at Cardiology and Department of Internal Medicine conferences. In addition, will be expected to participate in University Continuing Medical Education programs for practicing physicians.

Research: Development of an institutional registry to track rehabilitation program outcomes assessment. Active collaboration with research faculty in projects related to components of primary and secondary prevention programs. Support related clinical research protocols as needed.

Service: Will be expected to participate in quality, safety, and efficiency initiatives. The director of the cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) program will provide program oversight including staying abreast of new local, state, federal regulatory developments and requirements, development of CR policies and procedures, supervise qualified, multidisciplinary CR staff to deliver high-quality care, ensure appropriate referral and enrollment of eligible patients, oversight of patients individual treatment plans (ITP), and development/oversight of systems to track CR program outcomes assessment. Attainment of CR program accreditation.

Clinical: Will primarily be dedicated to the cardiovascular medicine and rehabilitation services. Coordinate and/or provide physician supervision of CR program and stress testing services. Direct progress of individual CR program patients and coordinate oversight of the ITP process. Provide interpretation of cardiovascular testing including rest and stress echocardiography, ECG stress testing, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing services.

Other (for instance administrative duties, etc.): Submit clinical billing and documentation as required by the organization. Abide by all medical staff requirements. Promote primary and secondary prevention services to patients, referring providers, and the community.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a board-certified cardiologist
• Eligible for medical licensure in the state of Virginia
• Certification by American Heart Association in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support
• Experience in cardiovascular medicine, implementation of rehabilitation programs and supervision and reporting of cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and with accreditation by international/national/professional society bodies such as the American College of Sports Medicine or similar
• Must be clinically oriented and possess sufficient research and teaching experience to be eligible for an academic appointment
• Must be able to communicate effectively and work with a large multi-disciplinary program
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

• Established extramurally funded research initiatives involving preventative cardiovascular medicine and/or cardiovascular medicine rehabilitation