Understanding the Role
Vice Chair of Anesthesiology with direct operational leadership at Level II Trauma Center
Time Allocation:
- ~80% Clinical practice
- ~20% Administrative/operational leadership
- Flexibility based on current departmental priorities
Core Responsibilities
Operational Leadership:
- Run daily OR board and manage case flow
- Direct oversight of 12 ORs (expanding to 14)
- Improve room turnover efficiency and throughput
- Manage block utilization and scheduling
- Primary liaison to surgeons and hospital administration
Faculty & Staff Oversight:
- Supervise faculty anesthesiologists, CRNAs, CAAs, residents
- Handle personnel issues and performance management
- Active participation in faculty recruitment
- Support professional development
Clinical Practice:
- Maintain active anesthesia practice
- Supervise residents (2:1 ratio)
- Take call with faculty rotation
- Provide subspecialty care (cardiac if trained)
Why This Position Exists
Replacing Long-Tenured Leader:
- Dr. Andrew Casa Bianca transitioning after 30+ years as Medical Director
- Need proven operational leader with clinical credibility
- Succession planning for stable leadership transition
Strategic Challenges Requiring Leadership:
- Faculty rebuilding after recent attrition
- Anticipated 2-3 faculty retirements approaching
- Surgical growth exceeding current anesthesia capacity
- Call burden reduction (currently 7-8 per month per physician)
- OR expansion from 12 to 14 rooms
Executive Priority:
- Hospital leadership identifies this as top strategic hire
- Anesthesia operational excellence enables or constrains all surgical services
- Department needs boots-on-the-ground leader who maintains clinical practice
Required Qualifications
| Requirement |
Details |
| Certification |
Board-certified anesthesiologist (active, unrestricted license) |
| Experience |
7-10+ years leadership experience with proven operational results |
| Leadership Background |
Direct OR board management (not just committee participation) |
| Academic Experience |
Teaching and academic background required |
| Cardiac Anesthesia |
Preferred but not mandatory |
| Residency |
Must reside within ~30 minutes for call coverage |
| Career Stage |
Seasoned leader (not early-career developing leadership skills) |
Reporting Structure
- Report to: Dr. Kimberly D. Jenkins, Department Chair
- Leadership Philosophy: Servant leadership (supportive vs. hierarchical)
- Operational Autonomy: Independent day-to-day decisions with accountability for results
- Partnership Model: Aligned vision and clear communication with Chair
Compensation Overview
| Component |
Non-Cardiac |
Cardiac |
| Base Salary |
$550,000 |
$550,000 |
| Academic Stipend |
$22,000 |
$22,000 |
| Leadership Stipend |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
| Cardiac Differential |
— |
$80,000 |
| Total |
$652,000 |
$732,000 |
Typical Range: $600,000 - $700,000
Service Area & Impact
- Only anesthesia residency program in Northwest Ohio
- Serves Toledo and surrounding communities
- Your operational decisions affect regional healthcare capacity
- Leadership shapes training environment for future anesthesiologists
Call Expectations
- Participate in faculty call rotation (currently 7-8 per month)
- In-house coverage required (no exemptions for leadership)
- Demonstrates shared burden and maintains clinical skills
- Call participation creates credibility with faculty
The Strategic Opportunity
What You'll Accomplish:
- Replace 30-year Medical Director with proven operational systems
- Lead OR expansion from 12 to 14 rooms
- Stabilize department recovering from faculty attrition
- Rebuild anesthesia capacity matching surgical growth
- Improve efficiency metrics (turnover, utilization, first-case starts)
- Recruit and develop faculty for long-term departmental strength
What You'll Receive:
- $652K-$732K compensation in Midwest academic setting
- Dual employer-funded pensions (zero employee contributions)
- Tuition waivers for dependents (potentially $300K+ value)
- Social Security tax exemption ($10K+ annual savings)
- Autonomy to implement operational improvements
- Leadership role training next generation of anesthesiologists
Key Differentiators
vs. Private Practice Leadership:
- Academic mission vs. profit-driven management
- Dual pensions create retirement security
- Stable government-state ownership
- Teaching integrated into work
vs. Other Academic Vice Chair Roles:
- Direct operational authority (not ceremonial)
- Boots-on-the-ground leadership (not office-based)
- 80% clinical maintains credibility
- Rebuilding opportunity (not maintenance of stable systems)
What Makes This Challenging
- High call burden until recruitment succeeds (7-8 per month)
- Surgeons will pressure for faster turnover and more access
- Administrators will demand better metrics
- Faculty need support while carrying excessive workload
- Multiple stakeholders with competing demands
- Accountability for measurable performance improvement
What Makes This Rewarding
- Immediate operational authority to drive change
- Visible impact on departmental performance
- Lead rebuilding effort with executive support
- Train future anesthesiologists for entire region
- Earn competitive compensation with exceptional benefits
- Build leadership legacy at stable academic institution