Description

Be part of a ground-up initiative as Valley Health builds one of the newest General Surgery Training programs in Virginia!

At Valley Health, we are guided by a mission to improve the health of the diverse communities we have continued to serve for over a century. Located in the heart of Winchester Valley, Virginia, Valley Health is a not-for-profit, community-based health system serving a population of more than 650,000 community members across the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. As the region’s largest employer with more than 6,000 team members, Valley Health includes an expansive network of physicians across a six-hospital healthcare system.

This position will focus on addressing the critical physician shortage and health equity needs through supporting the expansion of Graduate Medical Education (GME). Valley Health has invested in ACGME-accredited programs and is projected to train several hundreds of residents over the next several years, ensuring that the next generation of physician leaders have the cultural sensitivity and linguistic competence to provide quality patient care.

We are a supportive organization and are seeking an outstanding academic physician leader (MD, DO) to build and contribute to the development of the inaugural General Surgery Residency Program at Valley Health’s flagship hospital, Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, VA. The anticipated launch date for the fully sponsored General Surgery Residency Program is expected to begin July 2028, and will accept two residents per year.

Collaborating closely with the DIO and executive leadership, the General Surgery Residency Program Director will help establish the brand for the new program and will lead the application process for accreditation. The individual will oversee the five-year program that provides high-quality clinical experiences for residents, with unique opportunities including extensive robotic surgery training, in-depth research participation, and advanced educational experiences.

YOUR FUTURE AT A GLANCE
The Program Director will have a strong interest, and at least three years’ experience in teaching residents or fellows in GME, and will play a vital role in shaping the future legacy of our community-based residency program, ensuring its success. The foundational program will have a full-time coordinator to support the operations. This GME partnership continues to build and train in the highly competitive region, with the goal of retaining physicians, expanding access to quality care in both urban & rural areas and underserved communities, and by positioning Valley Health Winchester Medical Center as a major teaching hospital.

• Established ACGME-accredited residency programs: Family Medicine (18 residents) and Internal Medicine (6 residents per year). Rural healthcare experiences are available to residents at Valley Health’s critical access hospitals.
• Academic affiliation with local medical school supports the foundation of the GME programs.
• Strong focus on health equity, rural medicine, and community-based care.
• There is a commitment from the hospital’s board and leadership to support the GME programs financially and administratively.
• Valley Health has a strong market position in premier procedural service lines within the Shenandoah Valley area, serving as a major employer and provider of community-based health care services.
• You’ll have a shared voice in physician-led, patient-focused medicine and experience the camaraderie and professionalism of progressive, like-minded physicians.
• Access to the latest advances in technology and innovative procedures.
• Collaborative, award-winning team devoted to ongoing medical education and professional development.
• Career Advancement opportunity to serve as Department Chair, Medical Staff Leader Quality or Admin/DIO.

Winchester Medical Center (Primary Training Site)
Winchester Medical Center (WMC) is the flagship hospital of Valley Health and the central hub for GME programs. Located in Winchester, Virginia, this 495-bed facility serves as a tertiary referral center for the northern Shenandoah Valley, and eastern West Virginia. WMC is the region’s only Level II Trauma Center and offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient services. The hospital is deeply committed to academic excellence, interprofessional collaboration, and innovation in patient care.

• Level II Trauma Center and tertiary care referral hub
• Over 70 teaching faculty across hospitalist and specialty disciplines
• Dedicated resident workrooms, call rooms, and simulation facilities
• New inpatient rehabilitation center, mental health facility, and PACE program

Recently, Valley Health has been awarded:

• Winchester Medical Center Earns 12th Straight A Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group
• Four Valley Health Rural Hospitals Recognized for Excellence with 2025 Chartis Performance Leadership Award
• Valley Health Receives Forbes America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals 2025
• Forbes America's Best-in-State Employers 2025
• U.S. News & World Report Names Winchester Medical Center Among Top 5 Hospitals in VA
• Warren Memorial Hospital Honored as Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals by Chartis Center
• Newsweek America's Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare 2025
• Newsweek America's Greatest Workplaces for Mental Wellbeing
• Newsweek One of America's Top Maternity Hospitals 2025
• WMC's 11th Straight A Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group
• Valley Health Excellence in Healthcare IT with Level 8 Achievement in CHIME Digital Health Most Wired

KEY QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Education & Certification

• Medical degree from an LCME or AOA COCA-accredited institution.
• Current board certification in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery, and valid Virginia medical licensure.
• Completion of an ACGME-accredited General Surgery residency program.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience as active faculty member in an ACGME-accredited General Surgery residency program.
• Minimum 3 years of documented educational and/or administrative experience following residency completion.
• Ongoing clinical practice requirement in General Surgery throughout tenure.
• Previous experience in curriculum development, resident mentoring, and quality improvement preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Possess excellent clinical skills, communication and mentorship skills, and a strong commitment to providing excellent care in a collaborative environment.
• A personality and style that is grounded in partnering, collegiality and consensus building, coupled with the ability to make and stand by decisions.

LIFE IN VIRGINIA’S WINCHESTER / SHENANDOAH VALLEY

The beautiful Northern Shenandoah Valley offers four seasons and a perfect blend of urban and suburban living. The Shenandoah Valley is like the Napa Valley of the East Coast, with scenic mountains, vineyards, farmlands, rivers, and valleys as far as the eye can see. You’ll have all the connectivity and convenience of city living without the traffic and congestion. Valley Health’s original, and largest hospital is located an hour outside of Washington, D.C., in Virginia’s fastest-growing metropolitan city, Winchester, Virginia. Winchester and the surrounding areas attract a diverse mix of residents, including young professionals, families, and retirees. Life in the Region:

• 65 miles from Washington, D.C.
• Excellent public and private school options
• A safe and engaging community life, affordable real estate, low taxes, and cost of living
• Convenient proximity to local, state, and national parks, forests, hiking and biking trails (Appalachian Trail), and waterways (Shenandoah River)
• Vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, galleries, theater, historical sites, and museums
• Access to three international airports
• Immersion in a culturally rich area boasting Virginia wine country, breweries, and a little something for everyone

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

All inquiries and nominations, including a CV and Letter of Interest should be directed in confidence to Valley Health’s executive search partner, Elaine Auerbach, MBA, MPH: eauerbach@kbic.com and/or academicmedicine@kbic.com or call (972) 265-5259.

Application Link: https://www.kbic.com/job-board/general-surgery-residency-program-director  

Excellent Salary + Comprehensive Benefits Package

• Highly competitive salaries plus annual incentive compensation opportunity.
• Paid Relocation.
• Paid time off.
• CME time off with lucrative CME stipend.
• Paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance, long term disability, AD&D insurance.
• 401K plan with employer match.
• Paid medical malpractice insurance with tail coverage.
• And many other non-traditional benefits.

EEO/AA Employers.