Vice President, Health Equity Accelerator

Boston Medical Center Health System (BMCHS) is a leading academic health care system with a deep commitment to health equity and a proud history of serving all who come to us for care. BMCHS spans multiple hospitals as well as WellSense Health Plan, an accountable care organization (ACO), and a network of community health centers. As a core member of the Boston Medical Center Health System, BMC provides high-quality healthcare and support, extending beyond our physical campus into our vibrant and diverse communities, and is advancing medicine and training the next generation of healthcare providers and researchers.

Boston Medical Center Health System's Health Equity Accelerator was created in 2021 to pioneer a new approach for advancing health equity, addressing limitations in traditional methodologies. To better understand and mitigate drivers of racial inequities, the Accelerator challenges conventional thinking by re-evaluating conclusions derived from standard statistical analyses and incorporating insights from data subjects and community partners to provide context and clarity.

With focused, multidisciplinary teams, the Accelerator is designed to be dynamic, innovative, and action-oriented, breaking from convention to drive meaningful change. It is guided by principles of transformation, accountability, and outcomes, emphasizing a bias toward swift action and results.

Aligned with Boston Medical Center Health System's (BMCHS) corporate goals, the Accelerator's primary focus is to address and close disparity gaps and inequities across BMCHS. By functioning as a hub-and-spoke model, it centralizes innovation and information-sharing and provides leadership while also leaning on clinical and hospital system leaders to identify effective and practical actions. The key pillars of the Accelerator's work are to (1) transform - scale infrastructure to enable equity-focused programming and partnerships; (2) deliver - continue to scale equity-focused clinical programs such as cancer screenings, outcome improvement programs for perinatal patients, and Achieving Equity in Diabetes (AcED); and (3) elevate - scale our national impact (e.g., through expanding BMC's health equity research portfolio, securing new external funding, etc.).

BMCHS is seeking a strategic, collaborative and equity-driven Vice President to lead the Health Equity Accelerator. The Vice President will bring a rare combination of clinical training, business sophistication, community insights, and leadership experience, and apply these skills toward advancing the Accelerator mission. This role will be responsible for:

(1) Catalyzing how we transform BMCHS as both a clinical care provider and a payer in order to address health equity gaps.
(2) Partnering with all Accelerator workgroups to support the development and execution of their annual goals, with a keen focus on sustainability and scalability of initiatives.
(3) Progressing the health equity centered hospital incentive work to ensure capture of full annual amount.
(4) Collaborating with senior leadership to advance the impact of the Health Equity Accelerator and share best practices for advancing health equity across the system.
(5) Building health equity champions throughout the system as a health equity leader and thought partner.
(6) Innovating 'status quo' practices and programs to advance racial health equity and eliminate gaps in life expectancy and quality of life among different races and ethnicities.
(7) Elevating equity work across the system and externally by developing and delivering a crisp narrative around the work and vision of the Accelerator; leveraging this narrative for fundraising.
(8) Developing, applying and socializing the business investment framework for new initiatives.

To be a successful in this role, a candidate should possess a blend of leadership qualities, relevant clinical and professional experiences, and personal attributes that enable them to effectively lead an organization to address disparities in healthcare and promote inclusive practices.

* Strategic Leadership
o Meaningfully engage BMCHS leadership and inspire teams across the system to collaborate with the Accelerator to advance racial health equity.
o Coordinate cross-functional teams spanning BMCHS to identify and capture operational synergies, standardize processes, optimize workflows, and implement best practices across the healthcare delivery system.
o Create and communicate a clear vision for health equity programs and initiatives.
o Lead change, inspire and guide complex teams, delegating effectively to maximize productivity and morale.
o Develop capacity and long-term strategies aligned with corporate goals. Align health equity initiatives with the broader strategic objectives of the organization, contributing to overall growth and development.
o Serve as a key advisor to the executive team on health equity matters, offering strategic insights and recommendations.
o Drive innovation and challenge the status quo through a creative "first-mover" mindset.
o Utilize a creative approach to identify challenges, develop solutions, and make informed decisions.

* Supervisory Role
o Manage and foster a positive, inclusive work culture that motivates and develops team members in a highly matrixed environment.
o Mentor and support the growth of health equity champions and internal partners.
o Guide and support individuals accepted into hospital-oriented career development programs, such as the clinical and administrative health equity fellowship, the Pathways program, and more.

* Program Development, Implementation and Performance Measurement
o Partner with department leaders to co-design programs aimed at reducing health disparities and improving access to care for underrepresented communities.
o Partner with the research enterprise and department leaders to design strategies to evaluate Accelerator programs.
o Engage in dissemination activities including publications and presentations, partnering with the research enterprise around data representation.
o Participate as a thought leader in BMCs Health Equity's Research Center of Emphasis.
o Be accountable for the implementation of Accelerator-sponsored health equity programs and services.
o Establish key performance indicators, metrics, and reporting mechanisms to evaluate the progress, impact, and outcomes of growth efforts, identifying areas for improvement and driving continuous performance improvement initiatives.
o Keep up with new research, trends, and best practices in health equity and strategy development.
o Adapt and refine strategies as needed based on feedback, research, and the evolving healthcare landscape.

* Financial Management and Fundraising
o Oversee financial operations, including budget management, ensuring financial sustainability and longevity to support equity programming (e.g. securing grants, partnering with contractors, etc.).
o Develop business framework for resource allocation and assessment of return on investment of new initiatives. Ensure that resources are directed toward the most impactful programs and initiatives.
o Lead fundraising narrative and efforts to secure new sources of support to sustain and scale the impact of the Accelerator.

* Stakeholder Engagement / Cultural Integration
o Collaborate with internal departments (e.g. Development, Communications, Research, Community Engagement), including executive leadership, department heads, physicians, and strategic partners.
o Engage with community partners, government officials, and other externals partners to build support and drive collaboration.
o Represent the organization at conferences, panels, and community events to promote its health equity mission and achievements. Articulate the organization's vision, objectives, and progress to internal and external audiences through speeches, publications, and other media.
o Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders and effectively represent BMCHS. Facilitate effective communication and build consensus.
o Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and accountability among employees from diverse backgrounds, organizational cultures, and clinical specialties to promote teamwork and unity across BMCHS.

Qualifications

* Medical degree strongly preferred; otherwise, Master's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field required.
* Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience. Experience in healthcare administration, strategic planning, health equity-informed programming, and/or organizational development is beneficial.
* Strong business acumen, financial management skills, and experience managing budgets, contracts, and grants.
* Demonstrated experience in creating, launching, and managing health equity programs or community health initiatives. Proficiency in assessing program effectiveness and using data to refine strategies.
* Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
* Ability to navigate complex, changing environments and respond proactively to challenges or barriers to progress. Adapting to new strategies, tools, or methods that support health equity.
* Proven leadership abilities, including the ability to inspire, support, and motivate teams, drive change, foster innovation, and achieve results in a dynamic and challenging environment.
* Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with a deep understanding of the social determinants of health and a passion for advancing health equity and eliminating healthcare disparities.
* Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft Teams / Sharepoint, and other relevant software applications.
* Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
* Strong collaborative skills, with the ability to foster teamwork and build partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
* Unwavering commitment to ethical practices, transparency, and integrity.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans