Description

Physiatrist-in-Chief (Chair, Department of Physiatry)
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)
New York, NY

Position Summary
The Physiatrist-in-Chief at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) serves as the senior leader of the Department of Physiatry (“the Department”) and reports directly to the Surgeon-in Chief and Medical Director, with close day-to-day collaboration with the Physician-in-Chief. In close partnership with institutional leadership, this role is responsible for unlocking the full potential of the Department to establish HSS as the undisputed global leader in non-operative musculoskeletal care, research, education, and innovation.

The Physiatrist-in-Chief provides strategic, clinical, academic, and operational leadership for the Department, aligning its mission with HSS’s broader institutional priorities. As a member of the senior medical leadership team, the Chief plays a central role in sustaining and advancing HSS’s reputation as the world’s pre-eminent institution in orthopedics and musculoskeletal (“MSK”) medicine.

Core Responsibilities 

1. Strategic Leadership & Institutional Alignment 
   • Define and execute a department-wide strategy aligned with HSS’s institutional vision
   • Align individual faculty goals with departmental priorities and departmental strategy with enterprise-wide objectives
   • Serve as a key member of the medical leadership team, contributing to institutional strategy and decision-making
   • Advance physiatry as a foundational pillar of musculoskeletal care, particularly in non-operative and preventative models
2. Leadership & Organizational Development
   • Design and oversee the organizational structure of the Department to ensure engagement, accountability, and performance
   • Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing, diverse faculty, ensuring alignment with institutional growth plans and regional expansion
   • Mentor faculty and support career development across clinical, academic, and leadership tracks
   • Develop and execute a departmental succession plan to ensure a robust talent pool and consistent oversight across education, research, and operations and other core areas of focus for the Department 
3. Clinical Excellence & Integration
   • Maintain accountability for the quality and safety of patient care across the Department
   • Leading by example, establish and monitor clinical standards, productivity metrics, and access targets
   • Promote a non-operative, wellness-oriented model of care integrated across the continuum
   • Serve as liaison to hospital Committees related to patient care, quality, and safety
   • Drive meaningful clinical integration and collaboration with Orthopedic Service Lines, with a focus on Spine and Sports Medicine
   • Embed physiatrists within surgical practices to: o
     • Enhance patient triage and care optimization
     • Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration 
     • Improve patient outcomes and experience
4. Research & Academic Advancement
   • Develop and execute a comprehensive research strategy for the Department
   • Partner with institutional leadership to secure resources for academic programs and research infrastructure
     • Advance research in non-operative MSK care, rehabilitation science, outcomes and value-based care
     • Advance ongoing collaboration with PM&R leadership at NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center around shared opportunities around clinical care, research, and education 
     • Support and expand fellow-led and faculty-led research initiatives 
5. Education & Training
   • Oversee and continuously improve the physiatry fellowship program
   • Ensure a high-quality educational environment for trainees and faculty, supporting rotations from outside organizations to ensure a meaningful educational experience
   • Promote interdisciplinary education across specialties
   • Position HSS as the premier destination for physiatry training in MSK medicine 
6. Access, Awareness & Community Engagement
   • Expand access to HSS services through advanced practice providers (NPs, PAs), physical therapy integration, and MSK triage programs
   • Increase public and professional awareness of physiatry services
   • Develop and scale non-operative clinical programs and service offerings
   • Partner with institutional teams to enhance visibility and community engagement
   • Establish and monitor annual productivity and access metrics to ensure timely, high-quality care
7. Regional Market Development
   • Play a central leadership role in expanding HSS’s regional care delivery system
   • Align recruitment and staffing strategies with regional growth priorities
   • Identify and mentor departmental leaders for roles across regional sites
   • Serve on regional growth governance forums, including but not limited to the Regional Medical Director Council
8. Strategic Partnerships & Value-Based Care
   • Lead physiatry’s role in employer, payor, and strategic partnerships
   • Develop and oversee non-operative care offerings for third-party stakeholders
   • Ensure clinical excellence and consistency across partnership programs
   • Contribute to and shape the strategy of a portfolio of core clinical programs for which physiatry is a clinical enabler, including but not limited to HSS Orthopedics Now (“OrthoNow”), Osteoarthritis program, Spine Program and other nonsurgical initiatives
   • Expand strategic partnerships through innovative care models and service offerings
   • Provide clinical oversight for key employer partnerships (e.g., large employers), including clinical program design, stakeholder relationship development, staffing and operational oversight
9. Financial Stewardship & Resource Management
   • Exercise authority over departmental academic and research funds in accordance with HSS policies
   • Collaborate with Service Lines administration on budgeting, resource allocation, and financial planning
   • Align departmental investments with strategic growth and impact
10. Philanthropy & Development
    • Lead and support fundraising initiatives for the Department and institution
    • Support flagship philanthropic programs such as Bike HSS and other philanthropic efforts
    • Partner with Development teams to grow research funding and programmatic support for the Department 

Regulatory & Governance Responsibilities

• Fulfill all responsibilities required of a Department Chief under federal, state, and local laws and regulatory bodies, and The Joint Commission (TJC)
• Assist with enforcement of the Hospital Bylaws, of the Hospital’s policies, of the Medical Board’s policies, and of the Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules and Regulations within the Service. 

Other

• You will perform all such other duties and responsibilities in support of the Hospital’s mission as are set out in the Medical Staff Bylaws, and as otherwise assigned to you by either the Surgeon-in-Chief & Medical Director and the Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer or his/her designee
• You will establish clinical practice / continue to be 60% clinical 

Qualifications

Required

• MD or DO; Board Certification in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• National or international recognition in musculoskeletal medicine
• Demonstrated leadership experience in an academic medical center or large clinical enterprise Proven excellence in clinical care, research, and education 

Preferred

• Advanced degree
• (MPH, MBA, or equivalent) Experience with regional expansion, digital health, or value-based care models
• Track record of successful program building and multidisciplinary collaboration

Candidates interested in applying are asked to submit the following materials to Martha Bailey ([email protected]), Search Committee Admin Lead:

• An updated CV
• A cover letter outlining your interest in the position and relevant leadership experience