Wanted: Chief Healthcare AI Officer

Cedars-Sinai joins several health systems that appointed their first chief AI officers in 2024, including Cleveland Clinic, Richmond, Va.-based VCU Health, and Washington, D.C.-based Children's National Hospital.

The CHAIO’s role includes developing a comprehensive AI strategy aligned with the organization’s goals, identifying high-impact use cases, and ensuring effective implementation. Collaboration among AI companies, research institutions, and health care organizations is crucial for success. Additionally, the CHAIO is responsible for establishing governance and policies to ensure responsible AI application and compliance with evolving regulations. Cross-functional collaboration and communication are essential — the CHAIO works closely with leaders in clinical informatics, data management, bioethics, health technology, medical directorship, hospital operations, and many others to achieve shared aims. As AI continues to advance in health care, the CHAIO’s role is likely to become increasingly critical for harnessing AI’s benefits while mitigating risks.

The audience at the HLTH health innovation conference in Las Vegas didn’t hear the answer they were expecting when members of an augmented intelligence (AI) expert panel were asked whether health organizations should welcome a designated AI executive into their C-suite.

“I think folks were maybe a little surprised that the entire panel was like ‘No,’” said HLTH panelist Brett Oliver, MD, a family physician and chief medical information officer for Louisville, Kentucky-based Baptist Health Medical Group.

Dr. Oliver argues that health systems and medical groups first need to raise the level of their overall “AI literacy” before such an opening is created and that everyone should understand the basics of how AI works.

However, if you decide to become one or hire one, what are the required competencies of a Chief Healthcare AI Officer? What is the job description?

Here are four objectives chief AI officers should focus on as part of their scope.

Here is the job description (ChatGPT): NOTE: Your application will be screened by our AI HR agent.

Job Title: Chief Healthcare AI Officer

Location: The usual suspects. Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Department: Executive Leadership Team Job Type: Full-Time

Position Overview:

We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our team as the Chief Healthcare AI Officer (CHAI Officer). This executive-level role is designed for a dynamic individual with a deep understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative potential in the healthcare sector. The CHAI Officer will be responsible for driving the development, implementation, and scaling of AI technologies to improve patient care, streamline healthcare operations, and enhance clinical decision-making processes.

The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in AI research and development, healthcare innovation, and leadership in cutting-edge technologies. This role demands a forward-thinking individual who can bridge the gap between data science, healthcare, and executive leadership to ensure AI solutions are integrated effectively and ethically into all aspects of healthcare delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• AI Strategy and Vision:
• Develop and execute a long-term AI strategy aligned with the organization's overall business objectives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership, clinical teams, and IT departments to define AI priorities in patient care, operations, research, and business intelligence.
• Lead the vision for AI-powered healthcare transformation, including the introduction of new AI-driven products and services.
• Leadership and Collaboration:
• Foster collaboration between IT, clinical teams, business units, and external partners to drive AI adoption and integration into healthcare workflows.
• Serve as the primary liaison with external stakeholders such as regulators, industry groups, and AI vendors to keep the organization at the forefront of AI innovation.
• Mentor and develop AI teams, building a culture of innovation, excellence, and cross-disciplinary teamwork.
• AI Product Development and Implementation:
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI, machine learning (ML), and other data-driven technologies to improve healthcare delivery, clinical outcomes, and operational efficiencies.
• Oversee the design and deployment of AI tools and platforms that support clinical decision-making, predictive analytics, medical imaging, patient engagement, and more.
• Ensure that AI projects are executed with a focus on safety, ethics, transparency, and patient-centered outcomes.
• Clinical and Operational Excellence:
• Drive operational, financial, and clinical improvement results
• Establish metrics for assessing the performance, scalability, and impact of AI systems on clinical and operational outcomes.
• Continuously monitor and optimize AI models and solutions to improve efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness.
• Drive a culture of continuous learning and improvement in AI within the organization.
• Ethical AI Governance:
• Establish data governance frameworks to ensure high-quality, secure, and compliant data management practices for AI applications.
• Drive the adoption of advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to derive actionable insights from healthcare data (EHR, claims, patient feedback, etc.).
• Work closely with data scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals to ensure AI models are accurate, relevant, and effective.
• Regulatory and Ethical Compliance:

• Ensure AI applications comply with healthcare regulations (e.g., HIPAA, FDA guidelines) and ethical standards regarding patient privacy, fairness, and transparency.
• Stay updated on AI regulations and frameworks in healthcare, advocating for responsible AI development and use.
• Lead efforts to educate and guide the organization in adopting ethical AI practices, including bias mitigation and fairness in AI models.
• Innovation and Research:
• Metrics and Reporting:
• Removing inequities
• Using AI to achieve the sextuple aims and reduce employee turnover
• Creating shareholder value for our venture arm

Qualifications:

• Education:
• A PhD or Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Additional certifications or training in healthcare administration, healthcare technology, or medical informatics is a plus.
• Experience:
• 10+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, and data science, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within the healthcare industry.
• Proven track record of developing and deploying AI-driven solutions within healthcare systems, such as predictive analytics, medical imaging, or clinical decision support tools.
• Strong understanding of healthcare workflows, clinical operations, and patient care dynamics.
• Experience in working with regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance with healthcare laws and ethical standards, such as HIPAA and FDA guidelines.
• Skills:
• Expertise in machine learning algorithms, deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and data analytics in healthcare contexts.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Deep understanding of healthcare data structures (e.g., EHR, EMR) and technologies (e.g., telemedicine, AI in diagnostics).
• Ability to balance innovation with practical implementation and compliance requirements.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies for non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Attributes:

• Passion for improving healthcare through AI, with a strong focus on ethical considerations and patient outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, manage large teams, and deliver results on time and within budget.
• Experience in working with external partners such as tech companies, universities, and regulatory agencies to drive AI innovation in healthcare.

Work Environment:

• The CHAI will work in a dynamic healthcare environment, collaborating with clinical, IT, and executive teams.
• Some travel may be required for conferences, partnerships, and regulatory engagements.

Apply now if you are the new triple threat: clinician-technologist-entrepreneur. But don't just apply for the job. Manifest it.

Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA is the President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs on Substack