The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for CommUnityCare (CUC) serves as a senior executive leader responsible for the clinical direction and performance of all CUC Health Centers and additional Central Health ambulatory care sites and services as assigned. This role advances the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care that reflects system-wide goals and addresses the distinct needs of the communities served. The CMO provides strategic medical oversight, drives clinical innovation, ensures regulatory and accreditation compliance, and fosters strong collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and clinical excellence across a diverse portfolio of services, ensuring alignment with health center goals and Central Health’s overarching public healthcare system mission and service delivery strategies to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve. Reports directly to the CUC CEO with indirect reporting to the Central Health CMO for system-wide alignment and closely collaborates with system-wide colleagues in a highly-matrixed organizational structure.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Strategy

• Develop and implement clinical strategies tailored to CommUnityCare and Central Health’s broader ambulatory care, in alignment with system-wide priorities.
• Serve as the clinical voice within CommUnityCare and ambulatory care leadership, partnering with operational and administrative leaders to implement services that are cost-effective, digitally enabled, and integrated across care settings.
• Adapt and execute care transformation initiatives to improve outcomes and patient access.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accreditation, regulatory, and professional standards.

Quality, Patient Safety, & Patient Experience

• Lead quality improvement and patient safety efforts within ambulatory care services.
• Oversee implementation of evidence-based practices and clinical risk mitigation strategies.
• Drive initiatives that promote a consistent, equitable, and patient-centered experience.
• Champion data-driven approaches to monitor outcomes and ensure continuous improvement.

People & Culture

• Lead recruitment, engagement, and performance management of ambulatory care providers.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, equity, transparency, and psychological safety across all teams.
• Support leadership development, succession planning, and team resilience initiatives.
• Champion a people-first approach that values empathy, shared accountability, and collaborative decision-making.
• Encourage adoption of new technologies and innovations that enhance care delivery.
• Facilitate clinical research, data analysis, and integration of advancements into practice.

Clinical Operations & Efficiency:

• Partner with operational leaders to streamline workflows and optimize clinical service delivery.
• Promote resource stewardship and ensure care model alignment with financial and access goals.
• Support integration of services across the patient care continuum within ambulatory care services.

Regulatory Compliance & Board Accountability

• Work with legal, operational staff, and finance toward compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, including HRSA, Joint Commission, and CMS standards.

• Serve as HRSA-designated Clinical Director, ensuring the health center remains compliant with all Health Center Program requirements, including scope of project, quality, and clinical staffing standards.
• Hold final authority over credentialing and privileging for all FQHC-assigned providers and maintaining FTCA readiness, while ensuring alignment with system-wide objectives; may oversee broader ambulatory credentialing and privileging as delegated by system CMO.
• Act as clinical lead for external surveys and audits (HRSA OSV, FTCA, CMS, Joint Commission), driving corrective-action plans and sustaining continuous survey readiness.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including physicians, advanced practice providers, and care teams.
• Represent CommUnityCare and ambulatory care in system-level clinical forums and governance structures.
• Foster partnerships with external agencies, community organizations, and academic institutions to support the ambulatory care mission.

Additional Responsibilities

• Models, promotes, and performs all duties in an ethical manner consistent with the overall mission and values of CommUnityCare and the system. Performs any other duties as needed to drive the vision, fulfill the mission, and abide by the values of the system.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to define and lead a vision for clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and patient-centered care
• Skilled at aligning clinical priorities with organizational goals and driving system-level change
• Confident in balancing clinical, operational, and financial decisions in a complex healthcare setting
• Experienced in leading through change, promoting innovation, and fostering continuous improvement
• Knowledgeable in quality improvement, patient safety, and clinical risk management
• Committed to mission-driven goals and supportive of a patient-led Board of Directors
• Familiar with regulatory and accreditation standards, including Joint Commission and CMS
• Proven ability to implement evidence-based practices and improve performance outcomes
• Committed to building a culture of accountability, equity, and service excellence
• Skilled in optimizing workflows, coordinating care, and enhancing resource utilization
• Experienced in using EHRs, digital tools, and data to improve clinical operations and access
• Passionate about developing clinical teams through mentorship and continuous learning
• Knowledgeable in emerging technologies, research, and population health strategies
• Strong relationship-builder with experience in external partnerships and community collaboration
• Effective communicator who can influence physicians, leaders, and diverse stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and cultivate a collaborative culture
• Demonstrated success with risk-based reimbursement and PCMH models
• Spanish proficiency preferred.

Qualifications

• Education & Certification
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree required.
  • Board certification in a relevant medical specialty required.
  • Eligibility for medical licensure in the state of Texas and cannot be excluded from federal programs.
  • Additional master’s degree (MPH, MBA, MHA) preferred.

• Experience
  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive clinical experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role in a healthcare organization.
  • Experience in overseeing clinical operations, quality improvement, patient safety and/or a background in regulatory compliance, clinical risk management, and value-based care models preferred.

Experience in Federally Qualified Health Centers or safety-net system preferred.