Physician Director, Oncology Research for Riverside Health Medical Group in Newport News, Virginia

As a provider with Riverside Medical Group, you would join a team of providers who are respected leaders and part of our collaborative care delivery team.  Our providers care for our patients as if they are those they love.  Our core values are built into our provider compact that outlines our dedication to our patients as our first priority.  Our providers encourage patient involvement, embrace change, and take ownership in the success of the team and the organization.  If that resonates with you, we would like to speak to you.

Riverside Health Medical Group is seeking an Physician Director, Oncology Research for Riverside Health Medical Group in Newport News, Virginia

Responsibilities of the Role

Develop/foster a culture of clinical research within the Newport News oncology practice and all seven hematology/oncology practices. Lead and support the development and growth of the clinical research infrastructure to support clinical research goals. Develop an appropriate portfolio of oncology studies, both Riverside coordinated and jointly coordinated with the Riverside and UVA Health Research Collaborative, to meet the needs of our patient populations across our region and that have the potential to accrue patients successfully. Work with UVA Health clinical research leadership and Riverside clinical and organizational leadership to open clinical trials locally. Promote the opening of NCI and industry-sponsored clinical trials and act as a mentor for practitioners working to develop clinical trials. Effectively evaluate and select studies that will enable high accrual rates for the work effort and cost of initiating a trial while coordinating with the UVA Health Director of Research. Provide oversight of the protocol feasibility review process and meet all compliance requirements.  Working in coordination with the clinical practice leader for heme/onc, the oncology clinical trial staff and with the support of Riverside, ensure all accruing physician training and regulatory requirements are met timely. Working in coordination with the AVP of oncology, heme/onc practice leadership and the oncology clinical trial staff to ensure the safe management of medical care of all subjects. Working in coordination with the AVP of oncology and the oncology clinical trial staff to ensure that the rights and welfare of all subjects are protected. Working in coordination with the AVP of oncology and the oncology clinical trial staff, ensure the validity of the data reported to sponsors and co-lead sponsor site visits with the PI and research team. Over time, encourage physician, APP, pharmacist and nursing-initiated studies and mentor those interested in developing a study. Working in coordination with the AVP of oncology, the oncology clinical trial staff, and the heme/onc practice leader, develop systems to ensure physicians, clinical teams, and patients are aware of new and existing clinical trials and explore UVA technology options for matching patients to clinical trials.

Riverside Health Overview

Riverside Health is a not-for-profit health system in the Southeastern Region of Coastal Virginia, serving over 1 million residents in a geography spanning 8,000 square miles for more than 100 years.  (The region ranks 37th in Metropolitan Service Areas in the United States.)

Riverside offers a full continuum of services in its mission to care for others as we care for those we love: four acute care hospitals with over 685 total beds; including a tertiary center with Level II Trauma designation, and a fifth hospital to open in 2026 in Smithfield, VA; urgent care centers, diagnostic and imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, wellness and fitness centers,  senior living communities with independent and assisted living – including memory care – and skilled nursing.  The Martha W. Goodson Center (formerly CEALH) assists those affected by memory disorders or brain changes and their caregivers. Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center added a Psychiatric Emergency Department to serve the needs of patients and families in crisis.  The cancer care network offers nine centers for care, including a Stereotactic Radiosurgery Center joint venture with UVA Health and Chesapeake Regional Medical Center.  At Home services include home health, in-home private care, palliative and hospice care.

Riverside Medical Group provides 700 providers, over 120 who are family and internal medicine providers across 25 primary care locations.   The medical group had 198,000 patient visits in 2023 across all locations.

Riverside has five residency programs as well as the Riverside College of Health Sciences offering nursing and allied health programs.

The Riverside Foundation helps to ensure the highest level of care and service to the members of our community with support in neurosciences, cancer care, hospice, mental health and lifelong health as well as scholarships for education and a help fund for our team members.

Riverside Cancer Care Network

Riverside offers nine cancer care centers, including a joint venture Stereotactic Radiosurgery Center in Williamsburg, VA in affiliation with UVA Health and Chesapeake Regional Medical Center as well as medical and radiation oncology and surgery practices in Newport News, Williamsburg, Gloucester, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Accomack County on the Eastern Shore.  Our medical and radiation oncologists and most of our surgeons are employed through Riverside Medical Group.  There are currently sixteen hematologist/oncologist physicians, six radiation oncologists, eight surgeons with fellowships in GYN oncology, head & neck, thoracic, colon & rectal, breast and general surgical oncology subspecialties.

Riverside Health’s cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as an Integrated Cancer Network Program.   The cancer program also holds accreditations with ASCO QOPI, ASTRO Apex, and NAPBC.

The program has won four awards from Medicare’s OCM program for quality and participates in Anthem BCBS and Humana’s Oncology Medical Home programs for quality and cost efficiency.

Riverside Research Program Summary 

In July 2023, Riverside and UVA Health announced an exciting new strategic alliance to expand patient access to innovative care for complex medical conditions, transplants and the latest clinical trials.  The new Alliance promotes knowledge sharing, innovation, and growth for both health systems.

In January 2024, the parties proposed and endorsed a strategic plan and draft construct for growth in research.  The leadership infrastructure and joint committee leadership development is currently underway.  Key focus areas will begin with existing programs in oncology, neurosciences, and cardiovascular research at Riverside Health.  Recruitment efforts include leadership: a Director of Research (employed by UVA Health), who will be responsible for growing the clinical trials program in the Hampton Roads Region, and an Associate Vice President (employed by Riverside Health) who will bring years of experience in health care and clinical trials management experience, cross-functional collaboration, and project, budget and staffing management to the program.  The growth framework also includes forming a Joint Clinical Trials Program Steering Committee, with representatives from both organizations’ leadership, and consolidating all CTO functions into one department, based at Riverside and managed by UVA Health.  The goal of the Alliance, regarding clinical research, will be the development of a coordinated program with portfolios for Riverside Health in both UVA Health trials and trials outside of UVA Health that meet the needs of the population served by Riverside.

To meet these goals, the Alliance seeks a Physician Director for Oncology Research, who will be based in the Hematology/Oncology Newport News practice of Riverside Health and be responsible for working within the structure described to develop and oversee a strong clinical trials program within oncology.  The successful individual will bring clinical research experience in a large, community-based cancer program and/or an academic medical center setting to the role and will lead the development and growth of clinical research across our Riverside Cancer Care Network of medical oncology practices and support the coordination of clinical trials in other cancer specialties (i.e., radiation oncology).

This physician research leader will work collaboratively within the Riverside Health/UVA Health Clinical Research structure, based in Riverside, and collaborate with both organizations. The successful candidate will be a demonstrated leader in the development and growth of a clinical trial program in oncology who will mentor the physicians within the practices to promote the expansion of clinical trials and provide direction to the clinical trials team.  Sixty percent (60%) of worked time will be spent caring for cancer patients and forty percent (40%) will be dedicated to this important research role. Understanding how to balance meeting clinical, financial, and research goals within a community-based oncology practice is important.  The position will report to the Chief of Oncology at Riverside and have a matrix relationship to the cancer clinical trials lead at UVA Health.

Key Qualifications of the Role

• MD/DO double boarded in Hematology & Oncology
• 10 years in clinical practice
• 7 years of oncology clinical trials leadership and management experience in the academic setting and/or with large, community-based clinical practices.  There is a preference for experience in the community setting.
• Track record of success:
  • Demonstrated development and growth of an oncology clinical trial program.
  • Proven ability to increase the engagement of heme/onc physicians in clinical trials and expand accruals to trials, particularly in promoting culture change within a strong clinical practice to embed clinical trials into clinical care and influence this culture and practice across all sites.
  • Demonstrated experience as a Principal Investigator and support of other investigators.
  • Participation in NCI National Clinical Trial Network (NCTN) cooperative groups; experience within the NCI NCORP program a plus.
  • Strong experience with industry-sponsored trials
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent relationship management across divisions and organizations

Education/Qualification:

MD or DO or Equivalent Foreign Diploma

Certification(s) and License(s):

Eligible for/Current VA Medical License

Board Certified or Board Eligible

DEA

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.

Collaborative approach with other providers and clinical/nonclinical staff

High Emotional Quotient to be successful in complex healthcare/acute care setting.

Ability to prioritize tasks based on urgency and manage stress in a high paced environment.

Proficiency in using EMR.

Other specialties and services: https://www.riversideonline.com/services/index.cfm

More about Riverside, a great place to work
We are one of the area's larger employers, with about 10,000 team members. More than 2,300 have worked here 10 years or more! Riverside has been certified by the Great Place to Work organization since 2017.