UC Irvine | Academic Leadership Role | Heart Transplantation Medical Director

The University of California, Irvine Mary & Steve Wen Cardiovascular Division within the Department of Medicine is currently seeking candidates for the position of Heart Transplantation Medical Director, a faculty appointment in the Health Sciences Clinical series.

This leader will direct the growth, operations, and clinical excellence of UC Irvine’s expanding heart transplant and advanced heart failure program

​

Key Responsibilities:

The Medical Director will lead the continued development, expansion, and oversight of UC Irvine’s multidisciplinary Heart Transplant Program. Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing all aspects of the transplant program, including clinical operations, performance improvement, regulatory readiness, and program growth.
• Providing inpatient care within the heart transplant/mechanical circulatory support service and the cardiac care unit at the Orange campus.
• Providing outpatient care across heart transplant clinics, LVAD clinics, advanced heart failure clinics, and community outreach sites.
• Establishing and maintaining transplant program policies, protocols, and treatment guidelines.
• Ensuring compliance with UNOS, CMS, and Joint Commission standards.
• Teaching fellows, residents, and medical students.
• Collaborating with the Transplant Administrator (APP-level) in implementing programmatic changes, operational improvements, and staff education.
• Participating in community outreach and representing the program at regional and national meetings.

​

Program Volume:

• Service area: 5.5 million patients
• Projected growth target: 110 transplants per year at 10‑year horizon

​

Schedule:

• 24/7 responsibility consistent with leadership of a heart transplant program.
• Clinical responsibilities divided between inpatient care (Orange campus) and outpatient clinics (Orange + Irvine locations).

​

Qualifications:

• M.D./ D.O. or equivalent degree
• Board Certified in Cardiology
• Board Certified in Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology
• Eligible for California medical licensure
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in heart transplantation

​

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1–2 years of high‑volume transplant experience (≥60 transplants/year)
• 8+ years overall experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience

​

Benefits include:

• $433,329 - $488,827 compensation package based on qualifications, training, and experience
• Faculty Department Stipend: up to $3,000/year (amount varies annually)
• 24 days paid vacation, 14 paid holidays, 1 week of CME time
• University of California Pension Plan or separate 401K with 8% match
• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• UC Irvine School of Medicine Faculty Development Program

To explore this opportunity further, please contact our Asst. Director of Physician Recruitment Jacob (Jay) Colón @ jcolon1@uci.edu or apply via the "Learn More" link below.

About UCI Health

UCI Health is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare to Orange County and surrounding communities through its world-class physicians, surgeons and clinical staff.

UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. UC Irvine Medical Center, the main campus in Orange, California, features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center. It is the primary teaching hospital for UCI School of Medicine.

Learn more about UCI Health: ucihealth.org

Job information: ucihealth.org/careers

Volunteer information: ucihealth.org/volunteer