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University of Iowa Health Care (UI Health Care) seeks an Executive Medical Director for Ambulatory Services, a key clinical and operational leadership role responsible for advancing the quality, efficiency, and integration of ambulatory care across the UI Health Care enterprise. UI Health Care represents the integrated healthcare enterprise of the University of Iowa, which includes UI Hospitals & Clinics, the Carver College of Medicine, and UI Physicians. As one of the largest university-owned academic health systems in the nation, UI Health Care is committed to excellence in patient care, biomedical discovery, education, and community service.

UI Health Care delivers extensive ambulatory services across its main campus and multiple offsite locations throughout the region, serving as a critical access point for primary care, specialty care, diagnostics, procedures, and care coordination. Ambulatory operations continue to grow rapidly as UI Health Care expands access, adopts new models of care, and leverages technology to meet the health needs of Iowans and patients beyond the state.

The Executive Medical Director for Ambulatory Services will be a collaborative, forward-thinking physician leader who can guide this growth, support operational excellence, strengthen cross-disciplinary partnerships, and accelerate innovation in outpatient care delivery. This position will report directly to the Chief Physician Executive and will work in full dyad partnership with the Chief Administrative Officer, Ambulatory Operations. The Medical Director will provide clinical leadership and oversight for ambulatory operations across the UI Community Clinics, Pediatrics, Medical Center University, Medical Center Downtown, Medical Center North Liberty, and Iowa River Landing. Working closely with department chairs, clinic directors, and frontline teams, the Executive Medical Director will help shape a high-performing ambulatory system grounded in patient-centered care, quality, access, and value.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Provide physician leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for UI Health Care’s ambulatory clinical operations, ensuring excellent patient care, safety, and clinical outcomes across all outpatient sites. Serve as the senior physician leader for ambulatory services, accountable to the Chief Physician Executive and operating in dyad partnership with the Chief Administrative Officer, Ambulatory Operations. Lead clinical oversight and performance management for the UI Community Clinics, Pediatrics ambulatory services, Medical Center University, Medical Center Downtown, Medical Center North Liberty, and Iowa River Landing.


• Partner with operational and nursing leadership to develop and implement initiatives that improve access, efficiency, care coordination, and patient experience.


• Support the optimization of clinical workflows, scheduling practices, and team-based care models across diverse specialty and primary care clinics.


• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, using data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for innovation and growth.


• Collaborate with department chairs and medical directors to advance clinical quality, recruit and support faculty, and integrate care delivery across inpatient and outpatient settings.


• Contribute to and support the educational mission by advancing ambulatory training environments for medical students, residents, and fellows.


• Enhance the research mission by promoting opportunities for population health, implementation science, and clinical research within the ambulatory environment.


• Build strong relationships across UI Health Care, including with community partners, to strengthen coordinated care, referral pathways, and outreach strategies.

• MD or DO degree, with eligibility for medical licensure in the state of Iowa.

• Current clinical-track faculty appointment in the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.


• Progressive administrative and leadership experience in an academic medical center, health system, or large ambulatory practice environment.


• Demonstrated excellence and national recognition in clinical leadership, quality improvement, education, or clinical research sufficient to warrant faculty appointment.


• A strong track record of effective collaboration, interdisciplinary teamwork, and operational partnership with administrative and nursing leaders. Experience working within a dyad model of physician and administrative leadership is preferred. Experience leading improvements in clinical operations, patient access, quality, safety, or patient experience in ambulatory settings.


• Strong financial acumen with the ability to manage resources, support clinical productivity, and advocate for investments in outpatient care.


• Professional job-related experience fostering or promoting a welcoming and respectful work/academic environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated; or demonstrated the ability to do so.


• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills that enable transparency, trust, ethical decision making, and conflict resolution.

• Board certification in a relevant clinical specialty.

• Prior experience overseeing or growing large, multisite ambulatory clinical programs within an academic medical center or comparable healthcare system.


• Experience implementing innovative care models such as advanced practice provider integration, team-based care, telehealth expansion, or population health management.


• A thoughtful, strategic thinker who anticipates emerging trends in healthcare delivery and adapts effectively to a dynamic marketplace.


• A leadership style that promotes collaboration, accountability, and mutual respect while empowering others to perform at the top of their scope.


• Demonstrated ability to negotiate effectively across complex organizational structures and advocate successfully for outpatient operations and resources.