Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

CLASSIFICATION CODE: EXEMPT FULL TIME

DEPARTMENT: CEO

REPORTS TO: CEO

STATEMENT OF JOB: The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is the senior medical executive responsible for leading, supervising, and delivering psychiatric and medical care at Apache Behavioral Health Services, Inc. (ABHS). The CMO provides direct patient care as a board-certified Psychiatrist while overseeing all prescribers and medical operations, ensuring evidence-based, culturally competent, and trauma-informed services are delivered to the White Mountain Apache Tribe.  This CMO role assumes a licensed, board-certified Psychiatrist with prescriptive authority who will provide direct psychiatric care while also serving as ABHS’s Senior Medical Executive. It blends hands-on Psychiatry with Executive Leadership, ensuring compliance with IHS, AHCCCS, TRBHA, and Tribal regulations.  The CMO ensures compliance with Indian Health Services (IHS) Annual Funding Agreements, AHCCCS/TRBHA Intergovernmental Agreements, Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, and all federal, state, and Tribal regulations governing medical and psychiatric practice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Medical Leadership & Governance

1. Serve as ABHS’s senior medical executive, setting standards for psychiatric and medical care.
2. Provide leadership in integrating medical and behavioral health services across programs.
3. Chair the Medical Executive Committee and participate in Executive Leadership Team meetings.
4. Establish and maintain clinical protocols for psychopharmacology, detox, crisis psychiatry, and MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment).
5. Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), Chief Clinical Officer (CCO), Clinical Directors, and Quality Management Director on clinical program design, policies, and performance benchmarks.
6. Ensure culturally competent and tribally relevant medical practices, integrating traditional healing when appropriate.
7. Advise the CEO and Board on medical issues, clinical trends, and public health priorities.

Direct Psychiatric Care (Hands-On Role)

1. Provide psychiatric evaluations, diagnoses, and psychopharmacological treatment for children, adolescents, adults, and elders.
2. Prescribe and manage medications in compliance with DEA and Arizona law.
3. Offer crisis intervention, on-call psychiatric support, and emergency risk assessments.
4. Conduct clinical case reviews, especially for complex, high-risk clients.
5. Supervise detoxification and medication management for substance use disorders.
6. Provide telepsychiatry coverage for clients in outlying communities.

Supervision & Workforce Development

1. Supervise and evaluate psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other prescribers.
2. Approve and oversee prescriber supervision assignments per Arizona licensing board standards.
3. Mentor clinical staff in psychiatric practice, medication safety, and integrated treatment planning.
4. Provide ongoing education for clinical staff in pharmacology, trauma-informed care, and emerging treatments.
5. Collaborate with HR on recruitment, credentialing, privileging, and succession planning for medical staff.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

1. Ensure all medical practices comply with IHS, AHCCCS, TRBHA, and 638 contract requirements.
2. Lead internal audits and clinical quality reviews for prescribing practices.
3. Oversee controlled substance management, including monitoring, reporting,