Medical Director

Medical Director 3.3 3.3 out of 5 stars 2121 E De Renne Ave, Savannah, GA 31406 Full-time Gateway Community Service Board 13 reviews Full-time Position Summary The Medical Director provides clinical, operational, and academic leadership for a high-acuity inpatient behavioral health crisis center. This role oversees psychiatric care delivery, ensures a safe and therapeutic environment, and integrates evidence-based practices into daily operations. In addition, the Medical Director serves as core faculty for psychiatry residents and medical students, with responsibility for clinical supervision, teaching, mentorship, and program development within a community-based academic model. This position blends clinical excellence, systems leadership, and academic engagement, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and advancing training in crisis psychiatry. Key Responsibilities 1. Clinical Leadership & Patient Care Provide direct psychiatric care in a high-acuity crisis stabilization setting Lead multidisciplinary treatment teams Establish and maintain standards for: Rapid assessment and triage Crisis stabilization and disposition planning Medication management, including complex and high-risk cases Ensure adherence to evidence-based practices in: Acute agitation management Suicide risk assessment Substance use and co-occurring disorders Support continuity of care and transitions to outpatient/community services 2. Operational & Safety Oversight Develop and implement clinical protocols to optimize: Patient flow and throughput Length of stay Readmission rates Lead safety initiatives, including: Restraint and seclusion reduction strategies Staff training in de-escalation and crisis intervention Partner with nursing and administrative leadership on staffing models and acuity management Oversee quality improvement (QI) programs and performance metrics Ensure compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., DBHDD, CARF) 3. Academic & Teaching Responsibilities (Core Faculty) Provide direct supervision of: Psychiatry residents (inpatient/crisis rotations) Medical students Deliver formal and informal teaching, including: Bedside teaching Didactic lectures Case conferences reviews Evaluate learners and provide formative and summative feedback Participate in curriculum development for: Crisis psychiatry Community-based mental health care Serve as a mentor for residents pursuing leadership or community psychiatry tracks 4. Program Development & Community Impact Help build and refine a community-centered crisis psychiatry model Collaborate with: Emergency departments Law enforcement and mobile crisis teams Outpatient behavioral health providers Develop innovative care pathways to reduce psychiatric boarding and improve access Participate in grant development, program expansion, or research initiatives (optional but encouraged) 5. Administrative Leadership Supervise and support attending psychiatrists and advanced practice providers Participate in recruitment, onboarding, and retention of clinical staff Lead or contribute to key committees: Quality & Safety Utilization Review Peer Review Manage scheduling and ensure adequate clinical coverage Collaborate with hospital/system leadership on strategic planning Qualifications Required MD or DO degree Board Certified in Psychiatry Eligible for or holding unrestricted Georgia state medical license Minimum 5 years of clinical experience in inpatient psychiatry or crisis settings Demonstrated leadership experience Experience working with trainees (medical students, residents) Preferred Experience in: Crisis stabilization units or psychiatric emergency services Academic medicine and teaching Board Certification in Addiction Medicine Interest or experience in quality improvement, systems design, or population health Core Competencies Clinical expertise in acute psychiatric care Systems thinking and operational leadership Strong teaching and mentorship skills Ability to manage high-acuity, fast-paced environments Collaborative, multidisciplinary leadership style Commitment to community psychiatry and health equity Impact of the Role This position is central to: Building a safe, high-functioning crisis system Training the next generation of psychiatrists in real-world, community-based care Improving access and outcomes for patients in acute psychiatric crisis

Work Environment :

General office environment. Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Must have ability to sit for long periods of time at a computer. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Employee must be able to travel between work sites. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop. Employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Must have the ability to sit for long periods of time at a computer. Employee frequently uses fine hand/eye coordination, hearing and visual acuity. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are not hazardous or unpleasant condition caused by noise, dust, etc. Employee must be able to travel between Gateway sites. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Gateway CSB promotes a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory pre-employment drug testing.