Career Center

Chief Quality Officer

Summary:

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is America’s first cancer center focused exclusively on cancer research, founded in 1898 by Dr. Roswell Park. His revolutionary model of a “multidisciplinary approach” to cancer — with scientists and clinicians working in concert and collaboratively — has become the standard by which all modern-day comprehensive cancer centers are measured. Roswell Park was among the first centers to receive National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation in 1974 and is the only upstate New York facility to hold the NCI designation of “comprehensive cancer center.” Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center was a founding member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Many Roswell Park faculty serve on the NCCN panels that developed the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™ – the internationally recognized standards for clinical policy in oncology, and the most comprehensive, most frequently updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. Over its long history, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has made fundamental contributions to reducing the cancer burden and has successfully maintained an exemplary leadership role in setting the national standards for cancer care, research, and education.

The Opportunity:

The Chief Quality Officer (CQO) and Vice President of Quality Initiatives is a key leadership role responsible for enhancing the quality of care within our organization. Reporting directly to the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Quality Officer will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive quality strategy across all departments and facilities. This includes championing continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring exceptional clinical performance, patient safety, and optimal delivery of oncology care services.

This position directly oversees the Vice President of Quality, Director of Clinical Pathways Analytics and Program Initiatives, Director of Clinical Pathways and Implementation Science, and Network Quality Staff. This is a senior leadership role that involves significant interaction with other senior leaders, clinical and scientific leadership and faculty, other executives, directors, administrators, healthcare staff, payors, and community partners.

The Chief Quality Officer is tasked with developing and implementing the organization's quality strategy, ensuring it aligns with both organizational goals and regulatory requirements. This role is crucial in fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement, patient safety, and caregiver/staff satisfaction. Acting as a physician representative, the Chief Quality Officer liaises with leadership on quality matters, supports and enforces behavior standards for medical staff, and leads the quality staff in preparing and reviewing cases for peer review as necessary. Additionally, this position promotes the use of technology to streamline operations, enhance communication, and optimize work processes.

A significant part of the role involves developing and implementing a data-driven Quality Management System that adheres to best practices. The Chief Quality Officer oversees staff management and development, ensuring that objectives related to quality, service, and cost-effectiveness are met. They advocate for and secure necessary resources to support quality initiatives and provide oversight for clinical performance improvement initiatives, particularly focusing on oncology care and addressing disparities through population-based methodologies. This role ensures compliance with JCAHO regulations, maintaining a state of readiness for regulatory reviews, and serves as an internal consultant on TJC, NY State, and Federal requirements.
This position leads the development and execution of comprehensive clinical performance improvement plans, creating an environment where performance improvement staff can lead high-functioning interdisciplinary teams to implement evidence-based, patient-centered improvements. They oversee the Organizational Performance Improvement Department, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, and partner with clinicians and department heads to implement evidence-based practices and optimize clinical workflows. They also will be driving continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making and reporting and develops patient-centered supportive services to enhance patient safety and quality of care.

Collaboration with payors to define and promote value-based care models is another key responsibility, as is partnering with clinical teams to deliver high-quality oncology care and advance research in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. The Chief Quality Officer monitors developments in local, regional, and national policy, assesses implications for Roswell Park, and works closely with the Chief Medical Officer and other senior leadership to plan organizational strategies and responses. They provide education and training on quality and safety initiatives for healthcare professionals and patients, ensure adherence to all relevant healthcare regulations and accreditation standards, oversee risk management programs, and implement strategies to mitigate safety risks. This includes leading internal investigations and corrective action plans in response to adverse events. Lastly, this position demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning through professional organizations and independent study, staying current with advancements in healthcare quality.

About Roswell Park

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center was founded in 1898 and was the first institution in the world dedicated exclusively to cancer research. Today the center is among a select few comprehensive cancer centers in the nation designated by the National Cancer Institute, and focuses on translational research, high-quality patient care, and education. Roswell Park employs over 4,000 people, including 359 faculty, who care for nearly 50,000 patients under active care.

Our Region, Our Town

Roswell Park is in the heart of the thriving medical corridor in Buffalo, NY. Buffalo has undergone a major transformation in the past few years, building on its marvelous waterfront on the shores of Lake Erie, its historic architecture, its affordable, charming, tree-lined neighborhoods, and its diverse downtown cultural district. Known as the city of good neighbors, Buffalo and its neighboring suburbs provide an ideal place for families with many excellent school systems. Buffalo is a short drive to Canada and the Toronto metropolitan area which offers its world-renowned symphony, art gallery, dozens of universities and colleges, and major international airport.

Qualifications:

Candidates for this role should possess an MD license, with board certification in an oncology subspecialty. Additionally, they should demonstrate a strong grasp of regulatory requirements, quality metrics, and value-based care models. Excellent communication, collaboration, and strategic planning skills are essential, along with a proven ability to cultivate collaborative relationships and drive organizational change effectively. A deep-seated commitment to delivering exceptional patient care and advancing quality initiatives is also required.

Critical Abilities for Success:

Successful candidates must exhibit strategic thinking capabilities, adept at analyzing the organization's competitive position by evaluating market trends, industry dynamics, and understanding both internal and external customer needs. They should be skilled in managing performance, taking ownership of personal and team goals, tracking progress, providing constructive feedback, and addressing performance challenges promptly. Moreover, candidates should possess a demonstrated ability and enthusiasm for fostering teamwork, whether as a cooperative team member or an effective team leader, ensuring groups work harmoniously and productively towards common objectives.

Salary range is $500,000 - $800,000 which includes a comprehensive benefits package. This range can vary with experience.