Description

Ellis Medicine is seeking a seeking an experienced and dynamic physician leader to serve as Chair of Psychiatry.  Ellis Medicine is a leading community health system committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate, and patient-centered care. Serving the Capital Region, Ellis offers a collaborative environment where physician leaders can shape clinical excellence, advance behavioral health services, and make a meaningful impact within the community.  

Position Details:

The Chair of Psychiatry provides comprehensive clinical, administrative, and strategic leadership for all psychiatric services at Ellis Hospital, including inpatient and outpatient programs. This position is responsible for overseeing departmental operations, physician performance, quality initiatives, regulatory compliance, and service line development, while maintaining an active clinical practice.

Key responsibilities include:

Clinical & Administrative Leadership

• Provide leadership for all inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services while maintaining an active clinical practice.
• Establish and oversee clinical standards, workflows, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate physician coverage, including emergency and on-call services.
• Foster a culture of excellence, safety, collaboration, and patient-centered care.

Medical Staff Oversight & Development

• Supervise psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, including recruitment, onboarding, credentialing, and performance evaluation.
• Promote professional development, engagement, and shared leadership within the department.

Quality, Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with Joint Commission standards, NYS Office of Mental Health, Department of Health, and hospital policies.
• Lead departmental peer review, quality assurance, and performance improvement activities.
• Enforce Medical Staff Bylaws and department policies.

Strategic & Operational Management

• Align inpatient and outpatient services to improve access, throughput, and continuity of care.
• Participate in budgeting, staffing planning, and operational strategy.
• Develop, review, and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and protocols.

Institutional Leadership & Governance

• Represent the Department of Psychiatry on hospital and medical staff committees.
• Serve as a liaison between psychiatry, hospital leadership, and community mental health partners.

Opportunity Highlights:

• Location: Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, NY
• Senior physician leadership role with significant influence over psychiatric service delivery
• Collaborative partnership with hospital leadership including the CMO, mental health administrative leadership, outpatient psychiatry leadership, and nursing partners
• Opportunity to advance and grow behavioral health services across the continuum of care
• Supportive, physician led organization focused on quality, safety, and patient centered outcomes

Qualifications:

• Board Certified Psychiatrist
• Eligible for medical licensure in New York State
• Minimum of five (5) years of clinical psychiatric experience.
• Prior leadership experience in psychiatry strongly preferred, with demonstrated skills in team building, communication, and physician management
• Strong clinical, administrative, and communication skills
• Commitment to quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and team based care

Recruitment Package:

• Compensation is $330,000 with the ability to earn an additional $20,000 in quality incentives
• The posted salary reflects the starting range of total compensation and does not include productivity bonuses, incentives related to quality and performance, extra shift incentives, and other forms of cash compensation as applicable to the position. In addition, providers typically receive a CME allowance and other benefits offered by their medical group employer. Please note that this salary range is provided in accordance with State law and is subject to variation due to the factors noted above.
• Relocation Assistance: Up to $25K
• CME time & $4,500 annual expense allowance

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental coverage
• Paid malpractice, including tail coverage
• Paid time away from the practice
• 403b Retirement savings program, with generous employer match
• Loan Repayment: Our institution qualifies as an eligible employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.