With tradition dating back to 1885, the Keck School of Medicine of USC is the oldest school of medicine in Southern California. Among the most notable achievements, the Keck School of Medicine of USC had the first academic Department of Emergency Medicine in the United States in 1970, were the first to provide real-world experience in patient care in the first year of medical school, led movement toward the use of the “standardized patient” for medical training, and have developed HTE@USC, a cross-disciplinary program for medical and engineering students to find solutions to real-world health care problems.

At the Keck School of Medicine of USC, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and society by promoting health, preventing, and curing disease, advancing biomedical research and education tomorrow’s physicians and scientists.

With more than 2300 faculty, 2200 staff and 1,200 students, it is also home to more than 900 resident physicians being trained in more than 50 specialty or sub-specialty programs and 26 research-oriented basic and clinical academic programs. Keck School of Medicine of USC generates more than $400M in annual sponsored research with an incredible alumni base of over 7,000 with 5,000 physician graduates who practice in Southern California.

Dean Carolyn Meltzer, MD

Dr. Carolyn Meltzer began as Dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC in March of 2022. An expert in neuroradiology and nuclear medicine, Dean Meltzer has conducted research to understand the brain’s structure and function during normal aging, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and psychiatric disorders in later life. She also specializes in cancer imaging research.

As chair of radiology and imaging sciences at Emory University for 15 years, Meltzer oversaw more than 1,200 health providers and other employees across nine hospitals and many community-based clinics, representing a medical enterprise responsible for more than 1.5 million procedures each year. She also held three prominent leadership roles at Emory University’s School of Medicine: associate dean for research; executive associate dean of faculty academic advancement, leadership, and inclusion; and the chief diversity and inclusion officer. Prior to Emory University, Meltzer held various academic and administrative appointments at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, including professor of radiology, neurology, and psychiatry, and chief of neuroradiology.

She has a lengthy history of service to the medical profession on a national level, serving on professional and advisory boards like the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies at the Association of American Medical Colleges, American Society of Neuroradiology, American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors, and many others.

As chair of the Radiological Society of North America’s Committee on Diversity & Inclusion, Meltzer pushed for more funding resources for students from minority backgrounds and developed educational programs on unconscious bias and gender-based harassment in medicine. She also led a joint initiative between Emory University and the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System to strengthen care and reduce barriers to accessing health services for military veterans.  She plans to continue that focus on equity in her new role at the Keck School of Medicine: “I am especially energized by the opportunity to join USC’s vibrant and collegial community at a time of great opportunity to address our world’s most complex health care challenges,” she said. “Teams that bring together diverse expertise and perspectives are needed to elevate health equity as a societal imperative.”

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the Senior Associate Dean, Chief Operations and Financial Officer is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of operational excellence, fiscal integrity, and stewardship of resources. In collaboration with senior leadership and key stakeholders, the COO/CFO will ensure the financial and operational practices are consistent, innovative, and collaborative across the various entities within the School of Medicine. As the continued integration into the health system occurs, the COO/CFO will liaise with the University of Southern California central administration, Keck Medicine of USC, and the Los Angeles County Hospital on a variety of initiatives. In addition, the COO/CFO will maintain and develop existing relationships with the Los Angeles community and other external stakeholders.

The COO/CFO will need to drive success on the enterprise side to be able to determine the appropriate and most effective fund flow model and revenue cycle as well as instituting transparent and best in class accounting and reporting practices. The COO/CFO must understand and work within the clinical mission and be able to identify systemic inefficiencies to introduce major process and practice improvements to work as collaboratively and fluidly as possible with all stakeholders and departments.

The COO/CFO oversees a diverse and talented staff committed to supporting the Keck School of Medicine to achieve its mission and critical goals. With approximately 40 financial and operational staff, the COO/CFO has ultimate responsibility for ensuring the Keck School of Medicine can effectively serve its faculty, staff, and students.

Additional responsibilities of the Senior Associate Dean, Chief Operations and Financial Officer include:

Operations

• Directs and coordinates the daily activities of the Keck School of Medicine in accordance with policies, goals and objectives established by the Dean, Keck School of Medicine.

• Ensures the achievement of short-and long-range strategic goals for operations, human resources, financial performance, and growth.

• Creates structures and processes to manage the school's current activities and projected growth.

• Has leadership and management responsibility for overseeing the school's financial and budget administration including budgetary targets; human resources/workforce planning and training including recruitment and development program; information technology; office management; faculty affairs; student affairs; scientific/research affairs; clinical affairs; facilities and space management; fundraising; and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Works cooperatively with Keck Medical Center in the areas of practice integration and clinical program development.

• Monitors and improves the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the school's functions on a continuous basis.

• Works cooperatively with Keck Medical Center in the areas of practice integration and clinical program development.

Strategy

• Directs the short-and long-range strategic planning and development program to ensure the best use of the school's resources in defining and planning goals, objectives, and programs for the achievement of organizational growth.

• Directs and communicates results of studies to assess organization performance against plans.

• Works with Dean, Keck School of Medicine, and other senior management to develop short-term and long-term plans and processes.

• Creates structures and processes to manage the school's current activities and projected growth.

• Informs and collaborates with Dean, School of Medicine about key business/financial issues that affect policy and programs, especially the school's financial status.

Team Leadership

• Develops, motivates, and supervises staff members who have highly specialized knowledge of their areas of responsibilities.

• Directly or indirectly manages staff, usually through subordinate managers or supervisors.

• Determines organizational structures, reporting relationships and short­ and long-range staffing needs based on goals.

• Reviews and approves hiring and salary actions to ensure compliance with policy.

• Oversees performance appraisal process for staff and remains informed of any disciplinary actions required.

Policy & Oversight

• Ensures that the school's policies and procedures comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

• Oversees the review and interpretation of new pending laws and regulations, which potentially affect the school's business practices.

• Coordinates the developments or revision of policies, procedures, contracts, and agreements to ensure compliance.

• Provides for the review of modifications initiated by other departments or functional areas.

• Communicates changes to impacted areas of the school.

• Works with Dean, School of Medicine, and top management on strategic planning 

activities to ensure and enhance school compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Cooperates with general counsel as requested on matters involving questions regarding the organization's compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Role Requirements

The ideal candidate will be an experienced financial and operations professional with demonstrated leadership in a large, complex organization with directly related administrative management experience in a university or corporate environment. The COO/CFO will be expected to lead in a manner that promotes trust and transparency in recommending needed institutional change management, developing effective policies, procedures, and programs to serve the School of Medicine.

The COO/CFO must be an excellent communicator and collaborative individual with the ability to establish strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. It is crucial that this leader works collaboratively with a diverse set of university stakeholder groups in support of the Keck School of Medicine’s strategic direction while also balancing the strategic needs and compliance requirements.

The ideal candidate will have a successful track record that includes:

• An excellent record of achievement with at least ten years of progressive senior healthcare management experience with proven skill in partnering effectively with physicians to create organizations and environments capable of delivering uniquely outstanding services.

• Directly related broad-based senior financial and administrative leadership experience in health/hospital administration, business, or related discipline.

• Demonstrated record of leading effective organizational change management.

• A collaborative, effective, and transparent leadership style that combines a capacity for strategic vision with technical expertise in effective fiscal management.

• Proficiency in financial management including ability to produce and analyze financial information related to the operation of the school.

• Knowledge of best practices and trends in higher education financial operations along with active participation in financial issues at the national level.

• Familiarity with and current knowledge of federal, state, local, and university rules, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures concerning financial activities.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement a comprehensive and strategic vision, including planning, resource allocation, creative problem-solving, and commitment to continuous improvement.

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a critical value for the Keck School of Medicine, Keck Medicine of USC, and the University.

• Demonstrated capacity to communicate broadly across an institution coupled with the ability to distill complex financial information and concepts to a broad array of stakeholders.

• Outstanding interpersonal, oral, and written communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, and team-building skills.

• Strong commitment to maintaining the highest levels of integrity and adhering to strong ethical principles of financial management.

• A high level of professionalism with a demonstrated ability to gain confidence at all levels.

Year One Critical Success Factors

• Develop strategic vision through extensive listening and engagement to learn the needs of the departments, faculty, staff, and stakeholders.

• Create a communicative and collaborative environment that empowers and supports staff by exercising discretion and transparency with all processes and practices.

• Definitive progress and plan for consistent stability with vision to implement learnings from first year into clear process improvement plans.

• Help unit leaders solve financial problems in a way that is consultative and builds trust.

Education

• Master’s degree

• Combined experience / education as a substitute for minimum education

Compensation

• A competitive compensation package will be made available to the selected candidate.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer