The Chief of Staff is an executive leader who will serve as a trusted partner to Dr. L. Ebony Boulware, Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of Advocate Health and Dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM). Partnering with the CAO/Dean and her Cabinet, the Chief of Staff will drive strategy and operations that will transform Advocate Health and WFUSM to be a nation-leading Academic Learning Health System. This individual will partner with other executive and faculty leaders to guide these organizations through unprecedented growth and the expansion of the academic mission across a wide and growing geography. The Chief of Staff role requires a combination of leadership skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex projects, while serving as a strategic partner, team leader, and operational executor. The Chief of Staff will demonstrate exemplary executive presence to ensure optimal representation of WFUSM and Advocate Health at all times, model a high degree of responsibility and accountability internally and externally, and help drive efficiency of the CAO/Dean’s team, while contributing to the overall success of the School and Health System.
In December 2022, Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health announced their formal combination to create Advocate Health. The combined organization will focus on best meeting patients’ needs by redefining how, when, and where care is delivered. Advocate Health is organized into two regions. The Southeast Region, which includes the legacy Wake Forest Baptist and Atrium Health systems (see descriptions below) serves 2.6 million patients in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. The Midwest Region, which includes the legacy Advocate and Aurora systems, serves 2.8 million patients in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Advocate Health is headquartered in Charlotte, NC, while maintaining a strong presence in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas, including a planned, new, Milwaukee-based institute for health equity. The Advocate Health Care, Atrium Health and Aurora Health Care brands will continue to be used in their respective local communities, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the combined entity.
Advocate Health now serves nearly 6 million patients annually and is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the nation. With revenues of more than $32 billion, the newly combined organization comprises more than 1,000 sites of care and 69 hospitals with more than 22,000 physicians and nearly 42,000 nurses. The health system delivers nearly $6 billion in annual community benefit.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) serves as the academic core of Advocate Health. Founded in 1902, Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSOM) is one of the nation’s most selective medical training programs and prepares the next generation of health care leaders through education, research, and innovation. Ranked among the top 50 Best Medical Schools by U.S. News & World Report, WFUSOM is committed to addressing the nation’s most challenging health care needs. The WFUSOM achieved $436 million in total extramural funding in 2023. WFUSOM is ranked among the top 50 research programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Education/Experience Required
- A relevant advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctoral degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, or a related field.
- Candidates’ full background, including education and experience will be considered when assessing qualifications of all candidates.
- Eight or more years of experience in a major leadership role within an academic or healthcare institution, particularly in a medical school setting; multi-year experience working closely with Dean or C suite-level executives, academic or physician leaders, and cross-functional leaders across a highly matrixed organization; proven ability to provide leadership and direction on strategy and tactics; experience in strategic planning, project management, and organizational development.
Applicants should contact the DSG team, reaching out to Abby Walsh at [email protected]. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled.
Candidate nominations can also be directed to [email protected].