Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Division Chief
 Medical College of Wisconsin | |
 United States, Wisconsin, Milwaukee | |
 Apr 10, 2026 | |
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Job Profile:
Associate Professor or Professor | Department of Surgery | Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Position Summary:
The Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and Children's Wisconsin (CW) seek the next leader of our Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery team and Co-Director of the Herma Heart Institute (HHI). The successful candidate will be a skilled clinical congenital heart surgeon, an established scholar and innovator in congenital heart care, and an accomplished leader, confident functioning in a highly complex, matrixed environment. This position is located in Milwaukee, WI at the Children's Wisconsin hospital campus. We are comprised of nationally and internationally renowned, dedicated group of faculty and staff with a strong commitment to clinical care. Leadership Responsibilities:
Children's Specialty Group (CSG): The role involves serving as the Division Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery at Children's Wisconsin and Froedtert ThedaCare Health (for adult congenital heart disease), as part of the multi-specialty practice (Children's Specialty Group). In this role, the Chief is responsible for all aspects of clinical surgery and reports to the Surgeon-in-Chief at Children's Wisconsin and Children's Specialty Group, and the Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Herma Heart Institute (HHI): The role involves serving as the Co-Director of the HHI, along with the Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology, and the HHI Executive Administrator. The trio are responsible for all matters pertaining to clinical care, education, and research for patients with pediatric and adult congenital heart disease. Clinically the HHI consists of 3 congenital heart surgeons, 30 pediatric and adult congenital cardiologists, 8 pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, 11 pediatric intensivists, 22 advanced practice providers, and a total workforce of more than 300. Additionally, the HHI includes 8 research-intensive principal investigators with multiple current NIH-funded and equivalent projects, and a robust quality and outcomes program. The research arm functions within the auspices of the Children's Research Institute of Children's Wisconsin. In 2025, the HHI was in receipt of over $58 million of endowed funds through partnership with the Children's Wisconsin Foundation to support research, education and clinical innovation, with particular focus on leveraging Precision Medicine and Tissue Engineering related to congenital heart disease. Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW): As a member of the Department of Surgery and leader of the Division of Congenital Heart Surgery, the Division Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery will be responsible for the academic efforts of the Division, including oversight of the educational mission of MCW for both undergraduate and post-graduate students, residents, and fellows as well as oversight of the research efforts of the Division. There is an ACGME/American Board of Thoracic Surgery fellowship with trainees being given significant opportunities and experience with the Division. Forward Pediatric Alliance (FPA): As of January 2025, the HHI joined forces with their counterparts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW)/American Family Children's Hospital, thus creating "One Program on Two Campuses" resulting in a combined surgical volume that sits among the top ten in the country. The effort is known as "Forward Pediatric Alliance" (the name derives from the Wisconsin State Motto - "Forward"), and is jointly led by a "triad" of leaders on each campus (Chief of Congenital Cardiology / Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery /Executive Administrator). Together, the 6 leaders function as a single leadership team, reporting directly to the Forward Pediatric Alliance Joint Executive Committee, made up of senior leaders from both parent organizations. The newly recruited Co-Director of the HHI will serve as surgical triad leader in Milwaukee with responsibility for coordinated co-management of the entirety of the function of the Forward Pediatric Alliance. This position will be employed through the Medical College of Wisconsin, with an academic appointment and rank commensurate with qualifications and previous experience. Current board certification and eligibility for an unrestricted Wisconsin medical license are required. A competitive compensation and recruitment package will be provided. Candidate Qualifications: The qualifications, preferred experience/knowledge/skills for this leadership role includes the following:
Children's Wisconsin (CW) and Children's Specialty Group (CSG) Children's Wisconsin (CW) is the region's only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. We offer a wide range of care and support for families and children of all ages. Our services include medical care, dental care, mental and behavioral health services, child and family counseling, foster care, adoption, social services, child advocacy and injury prevention. Each year, Children's Wisconsin makes more than 6.5 million connections with kids and families in dozens of locations across Wisconsin through medical care, advocacy, research and education. CW and its joint venture with MCW - the Children's Specialty Group - are the largest providers of pediatric healthcare in the state, serving the children and families of Wisconsin with the highest level of care. through their American College of Surgeons Level I Children's Surgery Verification Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence, 78-bed Level IV NICU, Level IV Epilepsy Center, and a 72-bed PICU. Children's Wisconsin is expanding its services in Northeast Wisconsin. Clinics in Appleton and Ashwaubenon now offer families increased access to more than 60 providers from more than 20 specialties. Located in Neenah, our Fox Valley Hospital is the only hospital in Northeast Wisconsin dedicated exclusively to the care of kids. This hospital includes a 20-bed pediatric unit and a 22-bed Level III NICU. Our Milwaukee Hospital is a verified Level I Children's Surgery Center, a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence. The Milwaukee Hospital has a 72-bed Level IV NICU, a Level IV Epilepsy Center and a 68-bed PICU. Children's Wisconsin also participates in several American College of Surgeons (ACS) programs, including the Children's Surgery Verification Program, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and the Trauma Quality Improvement Program. In 2025, Children's Wisconsin earned the highly coveted Magnet Recognition Program status for the fifth consecutive time from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Less than .5% of health systems worldwide have achieved this honor five times. The cardiac programs participate in all leading registries including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Database, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC4), Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3), Action Network, Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry, and the IMPACT Registry. Each year, our team of more than 800 specialty care providers across 70 specialty areas perform more than 23,000 surgeries and have nearly 700,000 specialty care visits. Families visit our mental and behavioral health providers more than 164,000 times and our primary and urgent care teams more than 466,000 times annually. In 2025-2026, U.S. News & World Report named Children's Wisconsin the best pediatric hospital in the state, and ranked five specialties among the best in the country. Children's Wisconsin has also been recognized as top workplace by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for 16 years in a row. Procedure for Candidacy Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant. Nominations and applications, including current curriculum vitae and a cover letter stating qualifications and reasons for interest in the role, may be submitted to: Angie Lahr, Business Manager Senior, at alahr@mcw.edu #LI-BLT1 The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is the state's only private medical school and health sciences graduate school. MCW consists of a School of Medicine with campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin, a School of Graduate Studies, and a School of Pharmacy. MCW is a major national research center ranking in the top third of U.S. medical schools in NIH funding and is the second largest research institution in Wisconsin. Academic medicine is at the core of everything we do at MCW, bringing together scientists, clinicians, students and community members to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. MCW is a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to pioneer pathways to a healthier world. Every study we conduct and every patient we see leads to new learning and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge and innovation. Approximately 1,780 MCW physicians and approximately 905 advanced practice providers care for more than 484,000 patients of all ages annually at Froedtert Hospital, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Children's Wisconsin, and many other hospitals and clinics throughout eastern Wisconsin, representing more than 5.1 million patient visits annually. The beautiful, safe and modern campus of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) houses Froedtert Hospital, Children's Wisconsin, Curative Care Network, Versiti Blood Research Institute and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division. These member entities share a common mission of excellence in patient care, medical education, biomedical research and community service. Commitment to MCW Values All of our endeavors at MCW, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: acting inCaringways - engaging inCollaborativeefforts - approaching our world withCuriosity- advancingInclusivepractices - demonstratingIntegrityin all we do - treating everyone withRespect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences and perspectives through merit-based processes, and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is located on Lake Michigan's western shore. A metropolitan area with more than 1.6 million people, Milwaukee is an affordable, comfortable place to live, work, and play, big enough to be exciting and uncongested enough to get around easily. Milwaukee's many neighborhoods have incredible charm, accommodating a variety of lifestyles, from high-rise apartments to small farms. Nestled along a magnificent bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, Milwaukee's downtown is home to botanical gardens, lakefront museums, a theater district, the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers, bustling nightlife, and award-winning restaurants. The lake and its harbors are skirted by scenic parklands and provide first-class opportunities for recreation, including hiking, cycling, boating, and more. A recent study ranked Milwaukee as the 15th most walkable of the 50 largest US cities. Milwaukee has all the advantages of a large, vibrant city but without the stress or cost. MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-DiscriminationThe Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. | |