Cardiology - Physician - Academics

Company: Rush University Medical Center
Location: Schiller Park
Posted on: January 23, 2026

Job Description:

Cardiology - Physician - Academics at Rush University Medical Center summary: The Cardiology Co-Director at Rush University System for Health provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership over the Heart & Vascular Service Line, driving program growth, quality, and innovation in cardiovascular care. This leadership role includes co-chairing executive committees, overseeing clinical and administrative functions, and advancing research and education initiatives. The position requires board certification in cardiology, extensive leadership experience, and a commitment to integrating clinical excellence with academic and community health goals. Rush University System for Health , based in Chicago, invites applications for the position of Cardiology Co-Director of the Heart & Vascular Service Line . This is an exceptional leadership opportunity within an elite medical community recognized yearly for excellence in patient care, medical discovery and clinical expertise. The Heart & Vascular Service Line Cardiology Co-Director will provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across Rush University System for Health. Working in close partnership with the Surgical Co-Director and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), this leader guides program growth, clinical excellence, and patient care delivery across the continuum. The Co-Director will co-chair the Heart & Vascular Executive Steering Committee, ensuring system-wide alignment of strategy, quality, and clinical innovation consistent with Rush’s enterprise goals. This position includes both administrative and clinical responsibilities. Key Responsibilities: Strategic & Operational Leadership Provide shared oversight of all Heart & Vascular service line operations in collaboration with the Surgical Co-Director and CAO. Develop, implement, and monitor the service line’s clinical vision, strategy, and goals in alignment with Rush’s mission and enterprise objectives. Lead system-wide program planning, growth initiatives, and performance improvement efforts across inpatient and outpatient settings. Oversee the development and execution of policies, procedures, and pathways that ensure consistent, high-quality cardiovascular care. Maintain shared accountability for the development, management, and adherence of the service line’s budget and financial performance. Clinical & Program Oversight Direct, plan, and coordinate cardiology-related clinical activities and programs in partnership with the Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Cardiology. Provide oversight for medical and program directors (e.g., Cath Lab, Women’s Heart Program) and ensure operational excellence in clinical services. Lead development of innovative clinical programs and technologies to enhance patient access and outcomes. Oversee ambulatory and inpatient operations, including APP management, quality improvement, and patient safety. Maintain a part-time clinical practice within the Division of Cardiology. This role will include 0.50 FTE administrative effort and 0.50 FTE clinical effort. Quality, Research & Innovation Advance system-wide quality and safety initiatives by monitoring outcomes, registries, and national benchmarks in cardiovascular care. Provide administrative oversight for the clinical trial infrastructure to expand access and strengthen Rush’s reputation in cardiovascular research. Foster integration of clinical research, education, and innovation into patient care. Partner with clinical and academic leaders to develop and promote new educational offerings and clinical pathways. Leadership & Collaboration Partner with the Division Chief of Cardiology to align faculty performance, recruitment, and development with service line goals. Collaborate closely with the Surgical Co-Director, Department Chair, and senior leadership to ensure unified strategic and operational alignment. Serve as a senior clinical leader across the system, supporting credentialing, professional development, and performance review processes. Exemplify and promote Rush’s ICARE values— Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Goals & Objectives In collaboration with the Surgical Co-Director and Cardiology Division Chief, the Co-Director will: Develop a clear and compelling service line strategy positioning Rush Heart & Vascular as a regional and national destination program. Advance quality and safety outcomes, achieving nationally recognized benchmarks in cardiovascular care. Strengthen recruitment and retention of physicians and advanced practice providers across subspecialties. Expand clinical research and innovation through growth of clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies. Optimize clinical operations across inpatient and ambulatory settings to enhance efficiency, access, and patient experience. Promote system integration to ensure consistent standards and coordinated patient care across all Rush entities. Elevate Rush’s visibility and reputation through clinical excellence, program development, and community engagement. Required Qualifications: Board certified in Cardiology, with an MD, DO, MD/PhD, DO/PhD, or equivalent. Academic credentials meriting appointment as Professor. Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in an academic medical center or integrated health system. Minimum 2 years of people management experience with proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams. Demonstrated experience with strategic planning, program development, and clinical operations across inpatient and outpatient settings. Strong business acumen, analytical skills, and marketing capability to drive growth and innovation. Proven record of collaboration, mentorship, and fostering a culture of clinical and academic excellence. About the Service Line: The Heart & Vascular Service Line is a key component of the Rush System. This service line delivers comprehensive, compassionate care for cardiovascular conditions, leveraging cutting-edge research, advanced technologies, and a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and other specialists. Rush offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for virtually every type of adult heart and vascular condition. Services include general and preventive cardiology, advanced cardiovascular surgery, complex interventional services, electrophysiology, and advanced heart failure management. Specialized programs include The Rush Heart Center for Women, cardio-oncology, sports cardiology, cardio-genetics, and cardiometabolic care including The Rush Cardiometabolic Health Initiative. Patients also benefit from access to leading-edge diagnostics and participation in clinical research evaluating new treatments, devices, and procedures. It focuses on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for heart and vascular diseases, serving patients across Chicago, its western suburbs, Northwest Indiana, and the Aurora/Fox Valley region. Why Rush? Rush is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the nation, known for its leadership in patient care, medical education, research, and health equity. With a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, Rush offers outstanding resources and institutional support for leaders committed to driving excellence in academic medicine. Rush University System for Health (Rush) is an academic health system whose mission is to improve the health of the individuals and the diverse communities it serves through the integration of outstanding patient care, education, research and community partnerships. Rush includes Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital, as well as numerous regional outpatient care facilities. Rush University, with more than 2,500 students, is a health sciences university that comprises Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, and the College of Health Sciences. Rush is an elite medical community recognized yearly for excellence in patient care, medical discovery and clinical expertise. We are committed to fostering and sustaining a climate and culture wherein all staff, faculty, patients, and students thrive. Our continued pursuits have earned Rush University Medical Center the distinction of being on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll for 2024-2025. This places the Medical Center amongst the top 50 of the more than 5,000 hospitals evaluated. U.S. News & World Report has also recognized eleven Rush programs amongst the nation’s best, including top ten national rankings for neurology and neurosurgery and orthopedics. Rush University Medical Center has received Vizient's Quality Leadership Award, ranking second among 99 academic medical centers across the country. All three Rush hospitals have earned the LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader designation in the Healthcare Equality Index. Additionally, Rush has been named as one of the nation’s "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" for the past six consecutive years. Our physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses and staff are the heartbeat of our health system’s ongoing success. We know how important it is to recruit and retain exceptional staff and faculty to execute our mission. We’re passionate about health equity: for the communities we serve, for our patients and for our employees. We know that the South and West Sides of Chicago have historically been underserved. As a result, there is a 16-year gap in the life expectancy of someone in Chicago’s Loop versus someone in Chicago’s West Side. As the largest employer on Chicago’s West Side, we take it seriously that our institution can change this. As part of our Anchor Mission strategy, we hire, invest, buy and source, and volunteer locally. We’ve invested more than $6 million on the West Side since 2018, and that number continues to grow every year. And, of course, we continue to provide excellent patient care for everyone who comes to Rush. Rush offers competitive total compensation that includes base pay, benefits, and other incentive programs for our employees. The total pay range shown reflects the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, knowledge and skills; relevant experience and training; education, certifications, and licensure; primary work location; and other business and organizational factors. This total pay range is for a full-time, 1.0 FTE employee, and includes any incentive payments that may be applicable to this role, as well as additional compensation such as sign-on and retention bonuses and relocation allowances. Opportunities for increased compensation based on exceeding productivity targets. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package. Total Compensation Pay Range: $610,000 - $900,000 Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits, learn more at our Rush benefits page . Join Rush and become part of one of the nation’s best healthcare systems. Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. Keywords: cardiology leadership, heart and vascular service, cardiovascular care, clinical operations, academic cardiologist, cardiology research, medical director cardiology, patient care management, cardiology program development, healthcare leadership

Keywords: Rush University Medical Center, Elgin , Cardiology - Physician - Academics, Healthcare , Schiller Park, Illinois