The Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute is seeking an experienced Cardiology Physician Leader to serve as Medical Director of our Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) program with primary oversight of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) services. This physician will provide clinical leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for a growing, multidisciplinary ECMO program supporting cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, advanced heart failure, and complex critical care patients.

 

This is an exceptional opportunity for a physician with deep ECMO expertise and a passion for program development, quality improvement, and team-based care to shape the future of advanced cardiac support at a tertiary/quaternary care center.

 

 

• Serve as the physician leader and clinical authority for the ECMO and mechanical circulatory support program.
• Oversee patient selection, cannulation strategies, management protocols, and decannulation processes.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of ECMO clinical pathways, policies, and protocols aligned with ELSO and national best practices.
• Provide direct clinical care consistent with specialty training (cardiology subspecialty practice).

• Monitor and improve ECMO clinical outcomes, patient safety metrics, and resource utilization.
• Lead morbidity and mortality reviews and quality improvement initiatives related to ECMO and MCS care.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and reporting requirements (e.g., ELSO).

• Collaborate closely with cardiothoracic surgery, critical care, emergency medicine, perfusion services, nursing, respiratory therapy, and hospital leadership.
• Support recruitment, education, and ongoing competency of ECMO team members.
• Foster a culture of high reliability, accountability, and continuous learning.

• Provide teaching and mentorship for fellows, residents, advanced practice providers, and nursing staff.
• Support simulation, training, and continuing education related to ECMO and cardiogenic shock.
• Participate in research, registry participation, and scholarly activity as aligned with institutional goals.

• Partner with Heart & Vascular Institute leadership to expand ECMO services, referral networks, and regional impact.
• Support development of advanced shock teams, mobile ECMO capabilities, or heart failure/MCS expansion as appropriate.

• MD or DO with board certification in Cardiology (Interventional Cardiology, Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant, or Critical Care Cardiology preferred).
• Demonstrated hands-on ECMO experience, including leadership in ECMO management for cardiac indications.
• Eligibility for medical licensure in the state of Connecticut.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in high-acuity environments.

• Experience as an ECMO Director, Associate Director, or physician champion.
• Familiarity with ELSO standards, registry participation, and quality benchmarks.
• Strong interest in program building, innovation, and system-level improvement.
• Academic appointment and scholarly activity (if applicable).

About Hartford HealthCare (HHC)
A nationally recognized, integrated system with 2,800+ providers across 500+ locations, including eight hospitals and one of the Northeast’s largest academic centers. The Heart & Vascular Institute offers a highly collaborative, forward-thinking environment where physicians lead, innovate, and grow.

Interested in exploring opportunities? Contact Pam Lasser, Physician Recruiter at email: pamela.lasser@hhchealth.org, or call or text: 860-306-8009.

 

Learn more about the Heart & Vascular Institute at https://hartfordhealthcare.org/services/heart-vascular