Cejka Executive Search Retained by Arkansas Health Network to Find CMO

December 18, 2018 – Paul Esselman, senior executive vice president and managing director at Cejka Executive Search, is helping to find a chief medical officer for Arkansas Health Network, a physician-driven, clinically integrated network that spans the state.

The CMO will serve as a key member of the network’s management team to provide leadership in advancing Arkansas Health Network’s clinical programs, said Cejka Executive Search. The individual will provide clinical leadership to support and advance population health strategies and clinical integration throughout Arkansas Health Network. In addition, the CMO will develop, enhance and manage clinical services and programs to further Arkansas Health Network’s population health management work and commercial health plans.

Candidates should have demonstrated leadership experience and success leading clinical integration network strategies and population health management programs that achieve the highest standards of quality care and outcomes within a managed care environment, said the search firm. Current board certification is required and an advanced degree is highly desirable.

Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas Health Network manages over 81,000 value-based patient lives and is the largest clinically integrated network in Arkansas with close to 1,600 providers in its “network” portfolio.

Healthcare Recruiters

Cejka Executive Search, based in St. Louis, has provided recruiting services exclusively to the healthcare industry for more than 35 years. Its client roster includes Georgetown University Hospital, Northwestern Memorial, Levine Cancer Institute, St. John Providence Health System, Tenet, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Centene Corp., Cape Fear Valley Health and Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.

The firm has conducted searches for an array of roles, including chief medical information officer, chief compliance officer, chief of oncology, chief medical officer, chief of pediatrics, chief of neurology, chief nursing officer, CEO, CFO, COO, department chair, chief clinical officer, medical director and chief strategy officer.

Mr. Esselman has years of results-oriented leadership experience within healthcare, helping board members and senior executives define and secure the leadership talent organizations they need. As managing director, he provides strategic oversight and operational direction for the Cejka Executive Search team and is involved in nurturing the firm’s long-term client and talent relationships. Mr. Esselman provides client consultation for senior-level executive search engagements, with a focus on C-suite positions and assisting with organization development and succession planning strategies.

Chief Medical Officers

According to recruiters, the role of the chief medical officer has evolved in recent years, and organizations are looking for leaders with broader skill-sets. “Today’s CMO needs to have professional experience gathered from different players in the drug development industry, since he or she needs to understand the objectives of the key players in the field,” said Marc Salzberg, CEO of Airway Therapeutics, that is, academia / clinical practice, the pharma industry, regulatory authorities and third-party vendors, such as contract research organizations, in order to successfully cooperate with those partners.”

Over the past year, numerous healthcare organizations have turned to executive search firms to find new CMOs. Here is a sampling from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

Quick Leonard Kieffer has been selected by Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago to lead its search for a new chief medical officer. Reporting to the president and CEO of the hospital, the chief medical officer is a strategic partner in enhancing physician alignment strategy, ensuring regular communication with…

Chicago-based executive recruitment firm Carrington & Carrington has been selected by Planned Parenthood Federation of America to find its next chief medical officer. “The CMO serves as a visionary, strategic thinker, and national thought leader on clinical issues, both in the Planned Parenthood setting and the field of women’s health broadly.” 

Coulter Partners placed David Michelson as the chief medical officer of Proclara Biosciences in Cambridge, MA. “David is a seasoned leader, with deep research, clinical and regulatory expertise, including significant experience in neurology and I thank the Coulter Partners team for their outstanding work in achieving this high-caliber appointment.”

Slone Partners placed Michael Dugan as chief medical officer of Clinical Genomics. Dr. Dugan is a well-known biotechnology leader with extensive clinical experience in both commercial and academic settings. Previously, he served as president and chief executive officer of MCDXI Medical Diagnostics International.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media