Chief Medical Officer
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Seattle, WA, 98101
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : 168.94-236.51 HOUR
Date Posted : 8 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health seeks a dynamic physician executive to provide leadership and direction to medical staff at an assigned VMFH medical center or hospital, driving our commitment to high-quality, safe, and cost-effective healthcare consistent with organizational objectives and community needs. This pivotal role involves direct oversight and engagement in activities enhancing clinical performance, patient safety, and operational efficiencies, including timely conversion to evidence-based medicine and ensuring compliance with corporate policies and regulatory requirements. The incumbent directly oversees hospital-based medical directors, serves as a crucial liaison between physicians, hospital management, and community organizations, and collaborates closely with VMFH counterparts on medical affairs strategic planning and system-wide initiatives, while fostering a professional and mutually beneficial relationship between medical staff and hospital administration. This position includes oversight as the CMO for Virgina Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA, and St. Anne Hospital in Burien, WA.
Job Requirements
- Elevate Clinical Standards: Engage medical staff and department chairs to optimize documentation, coding, clinical practice, and the external reporting of quality indicators.
- Strengthen Medical Staff Governance: Fulfill critical duties as delegated by the CMO, including managing privileges, appointments, reappointments, collegial interventions, and disciplinary actions, while supporting the implementation of medical staff bylaws, credentials manual, rules, regulations, and policies.
- Drive Quality & Safety: Collaborate with the Market CMO to advance VMFH's unwavering commitment to high quality and safety, reinforcing the concepts of a high reliability organization.
- Lead & Collaborate: Chair or co-chair key committees such as Credentials, Peer Review, Operational, and Utilization Review. Partner with clinical staff to develop, implement, and champion performance improvement processes.
- Cultivate Strong Relationships: Build trusted and collaborative relationships with all stakeholders across the hospital/medical center and the Northwest Region, fostering a supportive environment and integrating seamlessly into our culture and team.
- Champion Medical Staff Well-being: Communicate priorities and lead initiatives to enhance medical staff wellness and satisfaction.
- Strategic Initiatives: Partner closely with peers on the CMO's Clinical and Medical Affairs teams to advance key initiatives across the Office of the SVP/CMO.
- Recruitment Support: Facilitate faculty recruitment efforts between Academic Affairs and the medical staff office.
Minimum Qualifications and Experience:
- Requires MD or DO degree with Board Certification in a medical or surgical specialty (does not need to be current).
- MBA, MHA or equivalent degree in a related field preferred.
- Five (5) years of experience as CMO / ACMO / CQO / Medical Director or equivalent.
- A record of 10 years of successful clinical practice augmented by five (5) years of leadership experience in a hospital system.
- Employed physician group experience preferred.
- Sufficient academic achievement to qualify for appointment on medical staff.
- Extensive experience managing medical staff action plans from regulatory bodies.
- Knowledge of performance improvement methodologies such as VMPS, Lean or Six Sigma, including experience in measuring, assessing and improving the performance of services and processes in a medical center.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891. Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved over the years through strategic partnerships and integrations to expand our reach and services across the Puget Sound area.
Today, as Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve. This commitment is strengthened by the diverse expertise and shared values brought together through our growth.
Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education. Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care.
We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence. When you join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you become part of a team that delivers top-quality, professional healthcare in modern, well-equipped facilities, and contributes to a legacy of service built on collaboration and shared purpose.
#LI-CSH
Related Jobs
Top trending job titles hiring now
Popular Searches for Chief Medical Officer
Frequently asked questions
Seattle's healthcare environment emphasizes collaborative leadership and innovation within integrated systems like Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. A Chief Medical Officer here often navigates regional public health priorities, cutting-edge clinical practices, and extensive stakeholder engagement, differentiating it from other markets with varied regulatory and community health dynamics.
Locally, credentials such as board certification in a medical specialty combined with advanced degrees like MBA or MHA are highly regarded. Additionally, expertise in quality improvement methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma aligns well with Seattle’s healthcare culture that prioritizes patient safety and operational excellence.
Strong decision-making skills, the ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic vision for clinical quality and safety are critical. Effective communication and experience managing medical staff governance also stand out as indispensable traits for senior medical executives.
They spearhead initiatives that translate evidence-based medicine into practice, oversee peer review and credentialing processes, and lead quality improvement projects. Their role ensures that clinical protocols meet regulatory standards while optimizing patient outcomes.
Progression often includes advancing to executive roles such as Chief Executive Officer or health system President. Some may transition into academic leadership or healthcare consulting, leveraging their clinical and operational expertise to influence broader health policy and organizational strategy.
This role allows direct impact on system-wide clinical strategies across multiple hospitals, fostering innovative care models grounded in community needs. The CMO also collaborates with a diverse network of providers, enhancing both medical staff well-being and organizational culture.
They provide access to leadership development programs, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and encourage involvement in strategic planning initiatives. This environment nurtures continuous learning and impactful contributions to healthcare delivery excellence.
Chief Medical Officers in Seattle typically earn between $280,000 and $400,000 annually, influenced by experience, credentials, and organizational size. Positions at established systems like Virginia Mason Franciscan Health often offer competitive compensation packages including bonuses and benefits.
Seattle's healthcare sector is robust with growing demand for experienced CMOs due to its concentration of large integrated health systems. While competition is significant, candidates with combined clinical leadership and operational expertise find ample opportunities.
Navigating complex regulatory requirements, aligning diverse medical staff priorities, and implementing system-wide quality initiatives pose ongoing challenges. Success depends on strategic collaboration and fostering a culture that values both patient safety and cost-effectiveness.