Medical Director, Trauma Education

**We will be accepting applications through September 30, 2025.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a professional and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.

Summary:

The American College of Surgeons is seeking a dynamic Medical Director, Trauma Education to shape the future of trauma care through strategic leadership, innovation, and collaboration on national and global initiatives.

The Medical Director, Trauma Education provides strategic, clinical, and scientific leadership for key trauma initiatives, including Trauma Education, Injury Prevention, Stop the Bleed, and Advocacy. The Medical Director works closely with senior employees from the ACS Trauma Department, the Committee on Trauma (COT), SVP, Education, ACS leadership, and a broad network of trauma care professionals to expand the influence and effectiveness of ACS Trauma Programs nationally and internationally.

This role identifies and prioritizes emerging opportunities that address the evolving needs of trauma care, while ensuring alignment with the strategic goals of the ACS and COT. The Medical Director helps shape program direction, guide Trauma educational content and delivery, and support quality improvement and global engagement efforts.

As a key representative of ACS Trauma Programs, the Medical Director builds and sustains strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fosters cross-sector collaboration, and supports research and innovation. The role also plays a critical part in mentoring, engaging and developing Trauma team employees and volunteer leaders, contributing to long-term program success.

This position is part-time (40%) and based in our Chicago office (hybrid role). The anticipated salary range for this position is $240,000- $290,000 (commensurate with related experience).

Primary Responsibilities:

Interdepartmental Collaboration, Community Involvement, and Strategic Partnerships

Relationship-building and program representation.

The Medical Director, Trauma Education, develops and maintains strong relationships with professional organizations, trauma societies, funders, and industry partners. They partner closely with senior ACS employees in clinical-administrative dyads to guide Trauma Program initiatives and advance shared strategic goals.

In representing the COT, the Medical Director engages with ACS leadership, the Board of Regents, and external audiences through meetings, publications, and communications with media, vendors, and policymakers. With a foundation in surgical practice, the Medical Director helps translate frontline clinical experiences into practical, relevant program decisions that reflect both patient care realities and administrative standards.

They also serve as an ex-officio member of key COT committees and maintain ongoing communication with global partners to align goals, support collaboration across regions and contracted sites, and promote consistency across ACS Chapters.

Strategic Program Planning and Innovation

Long-term vision, educational strategy, and program evolution.

The Medical Director, Trauma Education, partners with ACS and COT leadership to identify gaps in trauma care and develop innovative, forward-thinking solutions that address those needs.

They evaluate and guide trauma education content and delivery methods to ensure they align with the evolving professional development needs of trauma providers. Drawing on clinical expertise and current best practices, they help shape educational strategies in partnership with the SVP, Education that enhance patient outcomes and maximize resources and services for members.

The Medical Director also leads efforts to secure funding-particularly for initiatives in underserved areas-by developing business cases, grant proposals, and contracts that support program expansion. In addition, they contribute to research and evaluation efforts to measure program effectiveness and inform future planning.

Business Operations and Resource Alignment

Departmental-level planning, financial sustainability, and operational efficiency.

The Medical Director, Trauma Education, plays a central role in strengthening the financial and operational foundation of core Trauma Programs. They collaborate with ACS employees to plan budgets, allocate resources, and prioritize initiatives that align with strategic objectives and available capacity. They support the senior Trauma Department employees in their management of the operational and resource components of the programs.

They help ensure programs are both mission-driven and financially viable by balancing educational goals with market realities. The Medical Director also drives innovation in program delivery and identifies opportunities for market growth based on performance trends. Additionally, they lead non-vendor contract negotiations, manage the promulgation process, and help reconcile the external constituent structure relative to the membership.

Program Oversight and Compliance

Tactical, program-level operations, including content review and adherence to standards.

The Medical Director, Trauma Education ensures that assigned trauma programs operate in accordance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. They help establish and enforce business rules and program policies, and they resolve complex compliance and customer service issues that are escalated by employees or program participants.

They review all program content for medical accuracy, consistency, and clarity, and lead regular quality improvement and evaluation efforts that lead to opportunities that enhance program performance and educational impact. They ensure ACS intellectual property is protected and that Trauma Program operations follow established organizational policies and best practices.

Volunteer Engagement and Leadership Development

Volunteer recruitment, mentorship, and governance support.

The Medical Director, Trauma Education, actively recruits volunteers involved in Trauma Programs, providing guidance and feedback to help them meet program expectations and contribute meaningfully to strategic goals. They lead committee and work group meetings to address clinical and operational issues, support policy implementation, and advance quality improvement initiatives. The Medical Director also ensures that all volunteer activities reflect the values of the ACS and the COT, while helping to manage potential conflicts or dualities of interest.

They contribute to succession planning and leadership transitions across program areas, working with senior employees and surgeon leaders to support the COT Chair, Executive Committee, and broader Trauma team. The Medical Director also plays a key role in leadership onboarding, including assisting in the selection and orientation of the incoming COT Chair.

Requirements:

• Must be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
  
  
• A board-certified general surgeon with most of their active clinical practice focused on trauma surgery or a similarly experienced physician leader with a deep commitment to trauma education and systems improvement.
  
  
• Must be a current ATLS Instructor; active clinical practice at an ACS verified trauma center is preferred.
  
  
• Demonstrated experience in clinical leadership, surgical education leadership, educational innovation, and operational program development and financial management.
  
  
• Proven ability to work across multidisciplinary teams, lead complex initiatives, and engage with high-level stakeholders.
  
  
• Able to travel internationally 1-3 times per year for 3-5 days, participate in March COT meeting, ACS Clinical Congress, TQIP Conference, and 4 Executive Committee meetings.
  
  
• Additional experience in fund raising, grant writing, medical surgical education research and global healthcare is a plus.
  
  

The American College of Surgeons is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruitment@facs.org or call (312) 202-5000 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.