Medical Director

Company Overview:

Upward Health is an in-home, multidisciplinary medical group providing 24/7 whole-person care. Our clinical team treats physical, behavioral, and social health needs when and where a patient needs help. Everyone on our team from our doctors, nurses, and Care Specialists to our HR, Technology, and Business Services staff are driven by a desire to improve the lives of our patients. We are able to treat a wide range of needs – everything from addressing poorly controlled blood sugar to combatting anxiety to accessing medically tailored meals – because we know that health requires care for the whole person. It’s no wonder 98% of patients report being fully satisfied with Upward Health!

Job Title & Role Description:

The  Medical Director will partner with cross-functional teams and senior leaders to deliver innovative and high-quality care in the home and community for high-need, high-risk, high-utilizing patients. Job requires a leader with a proven track record of innovation, achievement of measurable goals, and exceptional clinical competencies. The candidate has a proactive role in the marketplace and with our patients: delivering care directly and providing clinical oversight to the members of our Interdisciplinary Care Team. The ideal candidate must be flexible and willing to work in a high growth, fast paced company where the scope of services and protocols will evolve. This is a dynamic environment requiring flexibility, dedication, and commitment to improve care for underserved populations. The role is primary remote, but residence in the state of interest is required. Approximately 20% of your time will be doing direct patient care.

Skills Required:

• Doctor of Medicine degree from a recognized medical school program
• Must possess a current, unrestricted medical license in the State(s) of interest
• Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine or in related primary/specialty care
• Minimum three years of experience practicing in a direct patient care environment
• Previous medical leadership and teaching experience preferred
• Expertise in of population-based medicine and quality improvement principles 
• Experience with managing patient with complex needs, included behavioral health and substance use diagnoses
• Strong healthcare management acumen, including working knowledge of current U. S. payer and provider landscape
• Must be able to positively interact with other clinicians, senior management, patients and their families, and all levels of medical and non-medical professionals
• The high sense of urgency and can-do attitude required 
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills - will proactively and thoroughly communicate with other members of the team and seek input and guidance to solve tough problems
• Technical acumen with EMR system (Athena experience a plus)

Key Behaviors:

Proactive Leadership: 

• Takes initiative in shaping clinical direction and driving the delivery of high-quality care, while motivating and leading interdisciplinary teams.

Collaboration: 

• Works effectively across departments and with external stakeholders to ensure integrated, patient-centered care.

Flexibility and Adaptability: 

• Able to navigate a rapidly evolving work environment, adjust strategies as needed, and embrace new methods of care delivery.

Accountability: 

• Demonstrates ownership of both clinical outcomes and team performance, ensuring high-quality care for patients.

Empathy: 

• Consistently demonstrates compassion and understanding toward patients and team members, recognizing the complexities of their needs.

Effective Communicator: 

• Clearly articulates clinical goals, challenges, and changes to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, fostering transparency and collaboration.

Patient-Centered Approach: 

• Prioritizes patient needs and ensures decisions are made with the goal of improving patient health and quality of life.

Competencies:

Clinical Expertise: 

• In-depth knowledge of medical practice, population health, and the application of medical principles to high-need patient populations.

Leadership: 

• Proven ability to lead and manage clinical teams, providing oversight, mentorship, and direction to ensure optimal patient care.

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: 

• Ability to analyze complex situations and develop effective, data-driven solutions to improve patient care and operational efficiency.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: 

• Expertise in working with cross-functional teams, fostering effective partnerships with diverse healthcare professionals to achieve the best patient outcomes.

Healthcare System Knowledge: 

• Deep understanding of healthcare payer and provider systems, policies, and regulations to ensure effective service delivery.

Quality Improvement: 

• Skilled in the application of quality improvement methods to continuously enhance care delivery processes and outcomes.

Technology Proficiency: 

• Experience with EMR systems (Athena preferred) and the ability to leverage technology to improve care coordination and patient outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement: 

• Ability to interact with key stakeholders, including patients, families, senior management, and external partners, to align on goals and drive operational success.

Upward Health is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, retaining, and maximizing the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. This job description is a general outline of duties performed and is not to be misconstrued as encompassing all duties performed within the position.