MEDICAL DIRECTOR, POPULATION HEALTH & ACO OPERATIONS
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
ROY J. AND LUCILLE A. CARVER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HEALTH CARE
University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) is seeking a visionary and collaborative Medical Director, Population Health & Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Operations. This 0.7 FTE leadership role is pivotal in advancing UI Health Care’s mission to deliver high-value, patient-centered care. The Population Health & ACO Operations Medical Director will partner with the Director of Population Health & ACO Operations to shape and implement clinical strategies that align with the Quadruple Aim—enhancing patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs, and improving the work life of health care providers. The successful candidate will also be appointed to a .3 FTE as a clinical position in a clinical department within UI Health Care.
Key Relationships
Reports to: Executive Medical Director, Ambulatory Care
Collaborates with:
Director of Population Health & ACO Operations
Population Health Nursing Leader
Chief Quality Officer
Chief Medical Informatics Officer
Executive Director of the University of Iowa Physicians (UIP)
Clinical leadership, including Department of Family & Community Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and additional specialty departments
Clinical and multidisciplinary care teams
External payers and partners, including health plan medical directors, post-acute facility clinical leadership, and community-based organizations
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Strategy
Serve as the clinical lead for population health initiatives, translating strategy into action across the continuum of care.
Partner with primary care, specialty care, and care management teams to align clinical practices with value-based care goals.
Lead or co-lead clinical pathway development and implementation to reduce variation, improve outcomes, and control costs.
Champion team-based care, integrated care delivery, and proactive risk management for patients across acuity levels.
Drive improvement in clinical quality and equity metrics, especially in underserved or high-risk populations.
Performance Improvement & Accountability
Analyze and improve performance on quality metrics (e.g., HEDIS, ACO, CMS Star ratings, etc.).
Develop and disseminate actionable data insights to guide physician behavior change and practice improvement.
Collaborate with finance, analytics, and operations teams to manage medical cost trend and total cost of care.
Engagement & Education
Engage and educate physicians and APPs on population health principles, value-based care models, and performance expectations.
Serve as a trusted liaison between the population health team and frontline clinical leaders.
Facilitate feedback loops to ensure provider concerns, ideas, and clinical perspectives inform strategic decisions.
Model of Care & Program Development
Co-design and help implement care models such as care management, transitions of care, chronic disease management, and home-based care.
Provide clinical input into digital health tools, risk stratification models, and decision support systems.
Support integration of behavioral health, pharmacy, and social determinants of health into care delivery.
Desired Outcomes
Clinical & Financial
Improved outcomes in priority clinical areas (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, COPD).
Reduction in avoidable ED visits, hospital admissions/readmissions, and avoidable post-acute utilization.
Favorable performance on total cost of care, risk adjustment accuracy, and shared savings targets across value-based contracts.
Quality, Experience & Equity
Improved performance on clinical quality and safety metrics (e.g., HEDIS, Star ratings, ACO benchmarks).
Reduction in disparities across key clinical and social outcomes, especially among high-risk and underserved populations.
Enhanced patient experience and continuity of care across settings and episodes.
Adoption of Digital Tools
Increased provider adoption and satisfaction with population health tools, such as clinical dashboards, care gap alerts, risk stratification, and decision support.
Seamless integration of digital health solutions into clinical workflows, reducing administrative burden and enabling proactive care.
Improved data transparency and feedback loops that support provider engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Organizational Alignment & Culture
Greater alignment between frontline clinical practice and enterprise population health strategy.
Scalable care models and workflows adopted across departments or regions.
Strengthened culture of collaboration, clinical accountability, and performance excellence.
Critical Leadership Capabilities
Strategic Thinking: Ability to align clinical initiatives with institutional goals and the evolving healthcare landscape.
Influence and Change Management: Skilled in engaging stakeholders, building consensus, and driving change.
Operational Execution: Capable of translating strategy into action through effective planning, implementation, and performance monitoring.
Collaboration and Relationship Building: Builds trust and fosters partnerships across departments and with external entities.
Health Disparity Focus: Committed to reducing disparities and promoting equitable care delivery.
Appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and may be on either the Clinical or Tenure Track. The position will be .7 FTE with the remaining .3 FTE as a clinical position in a clinical department within UI Health Care.
