Chief of Neonatology

Hoag Health, the top-ranked health system in Orange County, CA is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and collaborative neonatologist to serve as Chief of Neonatology and Medical Director of the NICU, providing strategic, clinical, operational, and quality leadership for NICU services across Hoag’s Newport Beach and Irvine campuses.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief of Clinical Institutes and the Executive Medical Director of the Women’s Health Institute, the Chief will play a pivotal role in advancing neonatal clinical excellence, strengthening physician leadership, and developing Hoag’s distinctive privademic model—integrating exceptional clinical care with academic medicine, research, education, and innovation.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished clinician and emerging or established academic leader who is passionate about improving neonatal outcomes, building high-performing physician teams, advancing clinical research, and creating opportunities for academic engagement and professional growth.

The Chief will partner closely with Maternal-Child Health, Obstetrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, nursing, and executive leadership to advance Hoag’s neonatal strategy and strengthen its position as a regional destination for high-quality neonatal care.

The position will include up to 0.4 FTE of protected administrative and research time, commensurate with the candidate’s responsibilities and mutually agreed-upon goals, to support program development, academic advancement, research, and quality improvement.

Hoag’s Neonatal Program

Hoag’s neonatal program comprises a 50-bed, Level IIIa Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) spanning two campuses in Newport Beach and Irvine. The Newport Beach NICU has recently expanded to 33 beds, while the newly opened Sun Family Campus in Irvine includes a 17-bed NICU, strengthening Hoag’s capacity to care for critically ill and premature newborns across its growing Women’s Health Institute.

Hoag partners with Rady Children’s Health of Orange County to provide NICU physician staffing and access to Level IV neonatal care capabilities. This partnership provides a foundation for delivering high-quality neonatal care while advancing clinical outcomes, program development, research, education, and innovation.

The Chief of Neonatology and Medical Director of the NICU will provide direct clinical leadership and oversight of the Rady-employed neonatologists practicing at both Hoag campuses. The Chief will be accountable for establishing clinical expectations, aligning practice standards, advancing quality and safety, supporting physician development, and ensuring a cohesive approach to neonatal care across both sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic and Clinical Leadership
• · Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic vision for neonatology aligned with Hoag’s organizational priorities and Women’s Health Institute strategy.
• · Provide physician leadership and clinical oversight of NICU services across both Newport Beach and Irvine campuses.
• · Establish consistent clinical standards, evidence-based protocols, and care pathways across both NICUs.
• · Identify opportunities to expand clinical capabilities, enhance access to specialized neonatal care, and develop innovative models of care.
• · Maintain clinical credibility through an appropriate clinical practice while fulfilling administrative, research, and strategic leadership responsibilities.
• Quality, Safety, and Clinical Outcomes
• · Lead continuous improvement in neonatal clinical outcomes, patient safety, and family experience.
• · Establish and monitor performance metrics, including risk-adjusted outcomes, morbidity, mortality, infection prevention, unplanned transfers, length of stay, and other relevant measures.
• · Lead multidisciplinary case reviews, morbidity and mortality conferences, and quality improvement initiatives.
• · Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, accreditation, and California Children’s Services requirements.
• · Promote a culture of transparency, evidence-based practice, professional accountability, and continuous learning.
• · Review transfers to higher-level neonatal centers to ensure that clinical decisions are appropriate, timely, and aligned with Hoag’s clinical capabilities and established transfer criteria.
• Physician Leadership and Clinical Oversight
• · Provide direct clinical leadership and oversight of the Rady-employed neonatologists delivering care in Hoag’s Newport Beach and Irvine NICUs.
• · Establish clear expectations for clinical performance, professional conduct, communication, collaboration, and adherence to Hoag’s clinical standards and policies.
• · Partner with Rady Children’s Health leadership to align physician staffing, clinical coverage, recruitment, performance management, and professional development with Hoag’s strategic priorities.
• · Foster a cohesive physician team across both campuses, promoting consistent clinical practices, shared accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• · Lead neonatal clinical quality, safety, and outcomes initiatives, ensuring that physician performance and program outcomes are routinely evaluated.
• · Collaborate with Hoag nursing, operational, and executive leadership to ensure effective interdisciplinary care delivery and appropriate utilization of NICU resources.
• · Establish effective processes for clinical escalation, transfer decisions, case review, and coordination with higher-level neonatal care resources.
• · Advance opportunities for physician participation in research, education, scholarly activity, and quality improvement in support of Hoag’s privademic strategy.
• · Partner with Rady leadership on employment-related matters, including recruitment, contracting, and formal personnel processes, consistent with the governing agreement and defined organizational responsibilities.
• Advancement of Hoag’s Privademic Model
• · Advance Hoag’s privademic strategy by integrating clinical excellence with research, education, scholarly activity, and innovation.
• · Develop a sustainable vision for neonatal clinical research, including investigator-initiated studies, collaborative research, clinical trials, and quality improvement initiatives, as appropriate.
• · Establish relationships with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners to expand neonatal research and educational opportunities.
• · Encourage scholarly activity, presentations, publications, and participation in professional societies.
• · Identify opportunities to develop research infrastructure, mentorship, and institutional support that enable neonatologists to participate in meaningful academic work.
• · Partner with Hoag leadership to identify opportunities for programmatic growth, external funding, philanthropy, and research support.
• · Establish measurable goals for academic productivity, research development, and clinical innovation that align with Hoag’s strategic priorities.
• NICU Operations and Resource Stewardship
• · Partner with NICU nursing and operational leadership to optimize capacity, staffing, throughput, and utilization of available resources.
• · Develop physician staffing plans and participate in annual budgeting, capital planning, and resource allocation.
• · Evaluate opportunities to improve operational efficiency while preserving clinical quality and safety.
• · Collaborate with hospital leadership on equipment, technology, space, and infrastructure needs.
• · Support effective admission, discharge, escalation-of-care, and interfacility transfer processes.
• · Balance clinical, operational, research, and administrative priorities through effective resource stewardship and strategic planning.
• Maternal-Child Health Integration
• · Establish strong partnerships with Obstetrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Labor and Delivery, Fetal Diagnostics, and newborn hospitalist services.
• · Strengthen prenatal consultation, high-risk delivery planning, delivery room readiness, and neonatal resuscitation processes.
• · Develop coordinated pathways for maternal and neonatal care, including management of high-risk pregnancies and anticipated premature deliveries.
• · Partner with Maternal-Child Health leadership to improve outcomes across the continuum from pregnancy through delivery, neonatal hospitalization, and transition to home.
• · Support effective communication and collaboration with referring physicians and external neonatal and pediatric specialty centers.
• Program Development, Education, and Innovation
• · Identify opportunities to enhance neonatal clinical capabilities, develop new programs, and strengthen Hoag’s regional reputation for neonatal care.
• · Advance clinical education, simulation, evidence-based practice, research, and quality improvement.
• · Support the professional development of neonatal clinicians and interdisciplinary team members.
• · Evaluate emerging technologies and innovations that improve neonatal outcomes, patient experience, and care delivery.
• · Represent Hoag in relevant professional organizations and regional collaborations.
• Required Qualifications
• · MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school.
• · Board certification in Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
• · Eligibility for an unrestricted California medical license and appropriate hospital medical staff privileges.
• · Substantial clinical experience as a practicing neonatologist, preferably in a Level III or Level IV NICU.
• · Demonstrated leadership experience in clinical operations, quality improvement, physician engagement, or program development.
• · Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and work effectively across physician, nursing, administrative, and executive leadership.
• · Demonstrated commitment to evidence-based practice, patient safety, and measurable clinical improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• · Prior experience as a Chief of Neonatology, NICU Medical Director, Division Chief, or equivalent physician leader.
• · Experience overseeing NICU services across multiple hospitals or clinical sites.
• · A demonstrated interest in clinical research, academic medicine, education, or scholarly activity.
• · Experience developing clinical research programs, academic partnerships, or innovative clinical programs.
• · Experience with physician recruitment, staffing models, budget development, and operational performance.
• · Demonstrated success in improving neonatal outcomes and advancing clinical quality.
• · Strong communication, relationship-building, conflict-resolution, and change-management skills.
• Leadership Competencies
• · Strategic vision and execution.
• · Clinical credibility and sound judgment.
• · Collaborative, visible, and accessible leadership.
• · Commitment to high reliability, quality, and patient safety.
• · Physician engagement, mentorship, and talent development.
• · Interest in advancing clinical research, education, and scholarly activity.
• · Data-driven decision-making and operational accountability.
• · Ability to build partnerships and lead organizational change.
• Measures of Success
• · Improvement and sustained performance in neonatal quality and safety outcomes.
• · Consistent clinical practices across both NICUs.
• · Effective NICU capacity management and appropriate utilization of higher-level neonatal transfers.
• · Physician recruitment, retention, engagement, and professional development.
• · Progress in advancing Hoag’s privademic model through research, education, scholarly activity, and academic partnerships.
• · Development and execution of a neonatal research and program development strategy.
• · Strong collaboration across Maternal-Child Health and related clinical services.
• · Achievement of agreed-upon operational, financial, research, and program development objectives.
• Administrative and Research Time

The role will include up to 0.4 FTE of protected administrative and research time, based on an agreed-upon annual work plan and measurable objectives. This time will support strategic leadership, clinical program development, research, scholarly activity, academic collaboration, and quality improvement. The allocation will be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with institutional priorities, clinical responsibilities, and programmatic progress.

Contact:

Steven Yi

Physician Consultant

Steven.yi@hoag.org