Chair, Department of Psychiatry

The MetroHealth System | Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | Cleveland, Ohio

The MetroHealth System (MHS) — a nationally recognized, mission-driven academic health system and the largest public health provider in Northeast Ohio — invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair, Department of Psychiatry.

The Chair of Psychiatry will be a dynamic, visionary, and inclusive leader who will guide a department deeply committed to MetroHealth’s public service mission and its academic partnership with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). The Chair will oversee all aspects of clinical care, education, research, and community engagement within the Department of Psychiatry and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of behavioral health across the region.

Reporting to David Stepnick, M.D., Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive and Clinical Officer, the Chair will collaborate with clinical and operational leaders across the system — including the MetroHealth Behavioral Health Hospital — to advance integrated, patient-centered, and equitable mental health care. The Chair will also serve as the primary liaison to CWRU, ensuring that educational and research partnerships continue to thrive.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for the Department’s clinical, academic, and research missions.
• Recruit, retain, and mentor outstanding faculty and staff to foster excellence, collaboration, and innovation.
• Promote the integration of behavioral health across the MetroHealth system, improving access and outcomes for all patients.
• Strengthen and expand the Department’s educational and research relationships with CWRU and other academic and community partners.
• Manage departmental resources responsibly and transparently, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, addressing the social determinants of health and combating structural discrimination through service and advocacy.

Qualifications

• M.D. (or equivalent) and eligibility for medical licensure in the State of Ohio.
• Board certification in Psychiatry.
• Demonstrated progressive leadership experience within academic psychiatry, preferably in a teaching hospital or health system.
• Proven ability to foster innovation and excellence in clinical care, education, and research.
• Track record of successful faculty development, mentorship, and collaboration across disciplines.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement.
• Understanding of budget and resource management in a complex academic environment.
• Evidence of ongoing professional and scholarly development.

About the Department and Academic Partnership

Since 1914, MetroHealth has been a proud affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, with a shared commitment to training the next generation of innovative clinicians and scholars.

Each year, more than 380 CWRU medical students and over 100 visiting medical students complete rotations at MetroHealth. The Department of Psychiatry plays a vital role in this mission by providing education across the medical student curriculum, residency, and fellowship programs, all while delivering high-quality, compassionate mental health services to diverse patient populations.

MetroHealth was recently ranked among the Top 50 Teaching Hospitals in the United States by Washington Monthly Magazine, reflecting its deep commitment to academic excellence and community service.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY  

At MetroHealth, Behavioral Health is integrated into all care throughout the health system. Mental health and substance use disorders are considered part of comprehensive care whether or not it is provided on the main campus or in one of the many locations across Northeast Ohio.

MetroHealth offers a diverse group of specialists:

•      Psychiatrists
•      Clinical Psychologists
•      Advanced Practice Nurses
•      Mental Health Counselors
•      Social Workers
•      Chemical Dependency Counselors
•      Medical residents, psychology trainees, and student interns from various disciplines

Attending physicians are all faculty at Case Western Reserve University, and the staff have experience in a wide range of treatment approaches.

MetroHealth offers a wide array of behavioral health services, including medication management, counseling and treatment for substance use disorders, and can address a variety of behavioral health issues, including:

•      Anxiety disorders
•      Bipolar disorder
•      Depression
•      Schizophrenia

Care is offered in two formats:

•      Inpatient program: designed for people with acute mental health disorders that require intense, around-the-clock care and supervision.
•      Outpatient program: designed for people who have mental health disorders but can continue to live at home while they access care.

Outpatient services are available across the MetroHealth footprint both integrated within our primary care practices and at behavioral health hubs strategically located in east, west, and central Cuyahoga County. Outpatient care includes scheduled in person and virtual visits as well as walk in crisis care at our hubs and in tandem with MetroHealth’s four Emergency Departments.

Inpatient services are centralized at our Cleveland Heights campus. We have a 12-bed inpatient medical/psychiatric unit as well as a 70-bed free-standing behavioral health hospital .  The hospital supports behavioral health for adults, in all areas of the continuum of care. Exciting components of the hospital include a dual diagnosis center for mental illness/addiction and private rooms for adult psychiatry.  We are currently staffed to support 60 patients in the 60 beds yet can increase based on patient referrals and admits. We have plans to scale the hospital to 112 beds, to include adolescent and geriatric units.

Behavioral health specialists offer services in the Emergency Department at MetroHealth Medical Center. Doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for patients who enter the hospital with a psychiatric emergency, or for those who need someone to talk to because of an illness or injury that brought them to the hospital.

In addition to primary care, behavioral health services are integrated into specialty care areas, including sleep, weight management and cancer care clinics. This allows patients to receive behavioral healthcare services in conjunction with their medical care. The department’s services are currently offered within a variety of outpatient clinics, including correctional medicine, HIV, Weight Management, Sleep, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, General Medicine and Specialty Care including the multi-disciplinary staffed LGTBQ Pride clinic. Continued expansion of integrated care capabilities will be an important focus, as well as creating a relational presence in key surrounding communities.

The therapies offered can vary depending on the behavioral health issue at hand, but programs might include medication, individual psychotherapy and group psychotherapy:

•      Adult Behavioral Health
•      Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health
•      Substance Use Disorders

MetroHealth offers recovery services for substance use disorders, including Level-of-Care Assessments. Working with patients and families personalized treatment plans are mapped out, and MetroHealth provides intensive and non-intensive outpatient group services, individual counseling and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).

Additionally, Child Psychiatry is experiencing continued robust growth in programs that diagnose and treat Autism Spectrum Disorder.  MetroHealth has received foundational and other funding that enables the system to provide high-level Autism assessment and interventions for indigent families and Spanish speaking families through their MAAC program.

Psychiatric Residency Training Program

MetroHealth offers robust and fully accredited training programs which include a General Psychiatry Residency Training Program along with Psychology and other training programs.  All of MetroHealth’s programs are affiliated with Case Western Reserve University. The Psychiatry Residency Training Program emphasizes both biological and psychotherapeutic approaches to patient care and residents receive a balanced training.  The program has a diverse group of faculty who are engaging mentors and emphasize individual educational opportunities to trainees in a supportive learning environment. The teaching program consistently brings new ideas and energy to the department.

The Psychiatry program is popular and has expanded from 20 to 32 residents.  The four-year program features training from faculty members in a variety of areas including Inpatient Psychiatry, Neurology, General Medicine, Psychosomatics, Chemical Dependency, and Forensic, Geriatric, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

About The MetroHealth System

The MetroHealth System is a nationally respected public academic health system with a strong commitment to service, innovation, and equity. With more than 8,000 employees, MetroHealth operates four hospitals, four emergency departments, and more than 20 health centers across Cuyahoga County. Its mission — leading the way to a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork — is at the heart of every program.

MetroHealth is also recognized nationally for its leadership in population health, community partnerships, and addressing social determinants of health — including housing, education, and economic stability.

Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter to:

Domonique Allds
Director of Provider Recruitment
dallds@metrohealth.org