Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

CLASSIFICATION CODE: EXEMPT FULL TIME

DEPARTMENT:CEO

REPORTS TO: CEO

STATEMENT OF JOB:The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is the senior medical executive responsible for leading, supervising, and delivering psychiatric and medical care at Apache Behavioral Health Services, Inc. (ABHS). The CMO provides direct patient care as a board-certified Psychiatrist while overseeing all prescribers and medical operations, ensuring evidence-based, culturally competent, and trauma-informed services are delivered to the White Mountain Apache Tribe.This CMO role assumes a licensed, board-certified Psychiatrist with prescriptive authority who will provide direct psychiatric care while also serving as ABHS’s Senior Medical Executive. It blends hands-on Psychiatry with Executive Leadership, ensuring compliance with IHS, AHCCCS, TRBHA, and Tribal regulations.The CMO ensures compliance with Indian Health Services (IHS) Annual Funding Agreements, AHCCCS/TRBHA Intergovernmental Agreements, Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, and all federal, state, and Tribal regulations governing medical and psychiatric practice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Medical Leadership & Governance

1. Serve as ABHS’s senior medical executive, setting standards for psychiatric and medical care.
2. Provide leadership in integrating medical and behavioral health services across programs.
3. Chair the Medical Executive Committee and participate in Executive Leadership Team meetings.
4. Establish and maintain clinical protocols for psychopharmacology, detox, crisis psychiatry, and MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment).
5. Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), Chief Clinical Officer (CCO), Clinical Directors, and Quality Management Director on clinical program design, policies, and performance benchmarks.
6. Ensure culturally competent and tribally relevant medical practices, integrating traditional healing when appropriate.
7. Advise the CEO and Board on medical issues, clinical trends, and public health priorities.

Direct Psychiatric Care (Hands-On Role)

1. Provide psychiatric evaluations, diagnoses, and psychopharmacological treatment for children, adolescents, adults, and elders.
2. Prescribe and manage medications in compliance with DEA and Arizona law.
3. Offer crisis intervention, on-call psychiatric support, and emergency risk assessments.
4. Conduct clinical case reviews, especially for complex, high-risk clients.
5. Supervise detoxification and medication management for substance use disorders.
6. Provide telepsychiatry coverage for clients in outlying communities.

Supervision & Workforce Development

1. Supervise and evaluate psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other prescribers.
2. Approve and oversee prescriber supervision assignments per Arizona licensing board standards.
3. Mentor clinical staff in psychiatric practice, medication safety, and integrated treatment planning.
4. Provide ongoing education for clinical staff in pharmacology, trauma-informed care, and emerging treatments.
5. Collaborate with HR on recruitment, credentialing, privileging, and succession planning for medical staff.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

1. Ensure all medical practices comply with IHS, AHCCCS, TRBHA, and 638 contract requirements.
2. Lead internal audits and clinical quality reviews for prescribing practices.
3. Oversee controlled substance management, including monitoring, reporting, and diversion prevention.
4. Partner with the Quality Management Director to maintain clinical dashboards, productivity metrics, and outcome measures.
5. Conduct peer reviews and morbidity/mortality reviews.
6. Ensure compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, DEA, OSHA, CARF, and Arizona licensure standards.

Policy & Risk Management

1. Develop and maintain medical policies, protocols, and procedures for all prescriber practices.
2. Ensure credentialing and privileging of all medical staff and contractors.
3. Act as liaison with medical licensing boards, DEA, IHS, and AHCCCS on medical matters.
4. Manage clinical risk by implementing and monitoring medication safety protocols.
5. Respond to legal and regulatory inquiries related to psychiatric/medical services.

Finance & Resource Stewardship

1. Collaborate with Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on medical services budgeting and cost management.
2. Evaluate program cost-effectiveness and recommend new service lines or adjustments.
3. Support grant writing, funding opportunities, and sustainability planning for psychiatric/medical programs.
4. Ensure efficient use of telehealth and EHR to maximize provider productivity and access to care.

Community & Tribal Engagement

1. Serve as the medical/psychiatric representative to White Mountain Apache Tribal leadership, IHS, AHCCCS, courts, and community partners.
2. Advocate for behavioral health needs in policy, funding, and program development forums.
3. Lead or participate in outreach and education efforts to reduce stigma around mental illness and promote wellness.
4. Build strong partnerships with schools, law enforcement, and Tribal entities to enhance coordinated care.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Licensure

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).
• Board Certification in Psychiatry (Child/Adolescent and/or Adult preferred).
• Current Arizona medical license or ability to obtain within one year.
• DEA registration with authority to prescribe controlled substances, including MAT.
• Maintenance of certification, licensure, and continuing education requirements.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years clinical experience in Psychiatry, including at least 5 years in leadership roles.
• Experience in Tribal health, IHS, or 638 contract settings strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in Crisis Psychiatry, substance use treatment, and Pychopharmacology.
• Proven track record of supervising prescribers and managing multidisciplinary clinical teams.
• Experience with EHR (myEvolv or equivalent) and telehealth Psychiatry.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep knowledge of federal, state, and Tribal behavioral health regulations.
• Strong clinical decision-making and diagnostic skills.
• Leadership ability with prescribers and clinical teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; skilled in presenting to Boards, Tribal Councils, and community forums.
• Culturally competent and respectful of Tribal sovereignty and healing traditions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, EHR platforms, and telehealth technologies.

NOTE: Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code, Section 472 and 473).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The physical characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

Constant: standing. Frequent: repetitive use of hand, walking, standing, bending neck and waist, squatting, climbing, kneeling, twisting neck and waist, simple grasping of left and right hand, power grasping right and left hand, fine manipulation right and left hand, pushing and pulling right and left hand, reaching above shoulder level, reaching below shoulder level, lifting objects weighing up to 25 pounds from below the waist to a height of 3 feet.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The employment is considered “at will” and agree that employment can be terminated with or without cause and with or without notice at any time at the option of either the employee or the company.