Chief, Community Orthopaedic Division
Lead the Growth and Strategic Direction of Community Orthopaedics at Duke Health
Shape the Future of Community Orthopaedics Within a Nationally Respected Academic Health System
Duke Health invites applications and nominations for Chief of the Community Orthopaedic Division, a senior physician leadership role within the Duke Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished physician leader to define the vision, strategy, and future growth of a rapidly expanding, community-based orthopaedic division within one of the nation’s premier academic health systems. The Chief will provide executive leadership for a growing network of community-based orthopaedic practices while maintaining an active clinical practice and helping shape the next generation of community orthopaedic care across Duke Health.
The Division currently includes approximately 35 clinicians practicing throughout the community network, with anticipated growth to well over 50 clinicians in the next several years. This position offers significant organizational visibility, leadership influence, and the opportunity to build a scalable, integrated platform that advances clinical excellence, physician engagement, quality, and long-term growth.
The Chief will report to the Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Chief Physician Executive of the Duke Health Integrated Practice Community Division. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with Duke University Health System & Departmental leadership as well as MSK, Rehabilitation, Neurosciences & Spine service lines to strengthen alignment across community orthopaedic practices and support Duke Health's broader strategic priorities. The physicians in the department include PM&R doctors, non-op sports doctors, and chiropractors.
The successful leader will define and execute the Division’s strategic vision while advancing clinical excellence, physician engagement, organizational growth, and regional expansion. The Chief will recruit and develop outstanding physicians, strengthen culture across community practices, foster collaboration throughout Duke Health, and help build a scalable platform that reflects Duke's commitment to exceptional patient care, innovation, and service.
The ideal candidate will be an accomplished orthopaedic leader with a demonstrated record of clinical excellence, physician leadership, organizational growth, and team development. Experience may come from a high-performing community-based orthopaedic platform, an academic department, an integrated health system, or a multispecialty physician organization.
Most importantly, the successful leader will be a collaborative physician executive who can build consensus around a shared vision, develop physician leaders, strengthen culture across multiple practice locations, and guide continued evolution of community orthopaedics throughout Duke Health.
This role offers the combination of scale, institutional support, leadership responsibility, and future growth that many orthopaedic surgery leaders seek. The new Chief will have the opportunity to lead a substantial provider network today while helping design the structure, culture, strategy, and growth trajectory of an expanding community orthopaedic division for years to come.
Opportunity Highlights
- Senior physician leadership role with broad impact across a large and expanding community-based orthopaedics platform
- Opportunity to lead and further develop three established community based orthopaedic groups with anticipated future expansion, including to the Lake Norman region
- Executive responsibility for strategic growth, physician engagement, organizational development, clinical excellence, and divisional leadership within an integrated academic health system and community practice platform
- Active clinical practice with dedicated leadership time to advance strategy, growth, quality, physician engagement, and divisional priorities
- Direct influence on physician recruitment, program development, regional growth initiatives, service-line development, and expansion of community orthopaedic services
- Leadership role in recruiting, mentoring, engaging, and retaining high-performing orthopaedic surgeons and advanced practice providers
- Opportunity to advance quality, innovation, patient experience, and professional fulfillment across the division
- Collaboration with departmental, hospital, faculty practice, and system leadership to unify excellence in community-based care delivery and advance Duke’s mission and strategic objectives
- Opportunity to build a unified community orthopaedic division that reflects Duke's standards for excellence, service, and patient-centered care
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Key Leadership Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership and Division Development
- Define and execute the long-term vision and strategic direction of the Community Orthopaedic Division
- Partner with departmental and health system leadership to identify opportunities for growth, program development, and regional expansion
- Develop and implement strategic initiatives that advance Duke Health's community orthopaedic footprint
- Serve as a key physician leader and advocate for community orthopaedics across the health system
- Establish priorities that support sustainable growth, physician engagement, organizational alignment, and exceptional patient care
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Physician Leadership and Culture
- Foster a collaborative, high-performing physician culture across community practice locations
- Develop physicians and emerging leaders through mentorship, coaching, and leadership opportunities
- Promote engagement, accountability, inclusion, and professional development throughout the division
- Strengthen communication and alignment among physicians, advanced practice providers, administrators, and departmental leadership
- Build a culture centered on clinical excellence, teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement
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Recruitment and Talent Development
- Lead physician recruitment and retention efforts to support continued divisional growth
- Build a sustainable workforce strategy focused on succession planning and leadership development
- Enhance physician onboarding, mentorship, and professional advancement opportunities
- Support recruitment and retention of high-performing surgeons and advanced practice providers
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Clinical Excellence, Quality, and Innovation
- Champion high-quality, patient-centered orthopaedic care across all community practice settings
- Promote evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and innovation throughout the division
- Utilize quality outcomes, patient experience metrics, and performance data to guide continuous improvement
- Advance consistency in clinical standards while supporting the unique needs of each community served
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Organizational Alignment
- Strengthen collaboration between community orthopaedic practices, Duke Orthopaedics, and Duke Health leadership
- Partner with service line, operational, and physician leaders to support divisional and organizational priorities
- Ensure the division has the infrastructure, resources, leadership capabilities, and governance needed to support future growth
- Help build a scalable and sustainable community orthopaedic platform that supports excellence in care delivery, physician engagement, and organizational performance
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Ideal Candidate
Successful candidates will possess:
- MD or DO degree
- Board certification in Orthopaedic Surgery
- Fellowship training in an orthopaedic subspecialty
- Demonstrated physician leadership experience within an academic, community, or integrated healthcare environment
- Record of clinical excellence and professional achievement
- Experience leading physicians, developing teams, and guiding organizational change
- Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to work effectively with physicians, advanced practice providers, administrative leaders, and senior executives
- Passion for helping shape the future of community orthopaedic care within a nationally recognized health system
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Community Information
Duke’s community orthopaedic sites span some of North Carolina’s most desirable and fastest-growing regions, including the Raleigh-Durham Triangle and the Lake Norman/Mooresville area. This position can be in any of the locations where we have community department members. The Triangle offers strong schools, economic momentum, access to leading universities, and a nationally recognized quality of life, while Lake Norman offers waterfront living, family-friendly communities, and convenient access to Charlotte’s major metropolitan amenities.
- Raleigh–Durham ranked among the Best Places to Live and Top Markets for Quality of Life by U.S. News & World Report (2024–2025)
- Raleigh rated highly for amenities, health, and overall livability by AreaVibes (2026)
- Mooresville is recognized as one of the Best Places to Live in North Carolina by Niche