Chief Health Information Officer

ECU Health has retained Kirby Partners to support its search for a Chief Health Information Officer.

ECU Health provides care for more than 1.4 million people across 29 counties in eastern North Carolina, from their flagship academic medical center and teaching hospital at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine in metro Greenville to eight community hospitals, numerous outpatient facilities, home health, hospice and wellness centers. The system has more than 1,100 academic and community providers practicing in over 185 primary and specialty clinics located in more than 110 locations.

ECU Health Medical Center has earned Magnet Recognition, the highest national honor for nursing excellence for the third time.

Mission: To improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.

Vision: To become the national model for rural health and wellness by creating a premier, trusted health care delivery and education system.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer and leading a team of 40 with six direct reports, the Chief Health Informatics Officer (CHIO) will serve as ECU Health’s senior informatics executive, leading enterprise-wide strategies across clinical informatics, analytics, research informatics, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital health. As a member of the executive leadership team, the CHIO will shape how information and technology enable high-quality, equitable, and efficient care across a regional academic health system.

This role blends strategic vision with operational execution, guiding the optimization of Epic, the development of a standardized telehealth program to expand rural access, and the responsible use of analytics and AI to improve quality, safety, population health, and research. The CHIO will also collaborate with the ECU Brody School of Medicine to strengthen research informatics and academic partnerships, with the opportunity to obtain a faculty appointment and contribute to operational research and peer-reviewed publications.

To maintain clinical credibility and stay grounded in patient care, the CHIO will dedicate approximately 20% of their time to clinical practice. They will also lead and participate in clinical and operational governance committees, ensuring that clinical insight informs all key decisions.

ECU Health is at the forefront of innovation and AI adoption, and the informatics team is charting that path. Current initiatives that the informatics team is working on include:

• Collaborating with the ECU Brody School of Medicine to build a more robust curriculum and informatics internship/rotation program.
• Leveraging the Analytics and AI infrastructure, the Informatics team is actively measuring program value, conducting operational research and initiating the development of custom AI models tailored to clinical and organizational needs. Examples of current research efforts include AI modular monitoring, blood culture shortage, LLM self-prompt neurosurgery, and agentic AI in ID.
• Serving a diverse clinical community and focusing on improving clinicians’ wellbeing to hire and retain top talent.
• Implementing a new AI-enabled smart hospital platform aimed at transforming clinical operations, enhancing patient outcomes, and optimizing resource utilization.
• Several AI initiatives are underway, beyond ambient listening. ECU Health recently joined the Alliance for Healthcare from the Eye and is preparing to launch a pilot to analyze retinal images using AI for early disease detection and management at three primary care clinics. Other AI initiatives include early detection sepsis 2.0, no-show prediction, AI text assistant, InBasket ART response, early stroke detection, predicting LOS using Epic Cosmos, NoteReader CDI, and more.

Upcoming Projects

• Define and advance the organization’s telehealth strategy, optimizing current virtual care programs and expanding into additional specialties.
• Advance the foundational digital health vision by integrating emerging technologies to anticipate future needs and unlocking new possibilities across clinical, operational, and research domains.
• Balance short-term optimization of EHR and core systems with long-term innovation and value creation.
• Track emerging trends to identify opportunities for applied informatics, AI integration, and evidence-based innovation.
• Lead digital transformation efforts that enhance care delivery and the clinician–patient experience.

With strong support from the executive leadership team, the CHIO and informatics department have a tremendous opportunity to impact patient care, leveraging cutting edge technology. This role is ideal for a visionary leader who thrives at the intersection of technology, clinical care, and strategic transformation, and who is passionate about leveraging digital health to improve lives across diverse communities.

Qualifications

Required Education

• Medical degree (MD or DO) with board certification and eligibility for unrestricted medical licensure in North Carolina

Required Qualifications

• Board certification in Clinical Informatics
• 5+ years of direct clinical care with active EHR use in care delivery
• Progressive leadership roles in clinical informatics within a multi-hospital or academic health system
• Demonstrated success advancing enterprise EHR optimization, telehealth adoption, or analytics-driven initiatives
• Expertise in analytics, AI, and research informatics with demonstrated ability to establish governance and drive alignment across clinical, operational, and research domains
• Comprehensive informatics expertise, including clinical decision support, workflow redesign, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and usability/human factors principles
• Proven ability to collaborate and influence complex, matrixed organizations

Preferred Qualifications

• Epic experience
• Fellowship training in Clinical Informatics
• Advanced degree such as MBA, MHA, MS, or MMM
• Experience in a complex academic environment or with industry partners (biopharma, payors, startups, technology vendors)

Leadership Competencies

• Mission driven leader committed to advancing equity and improving access for rural and underserved communities.
• Strategic thinker who can translate vision into actionable results and measurable outcomes.
• Inspirational leader who motivates and develops teams and acts as a role model for change.
• Effective change agent, able to drive cultural transformation across a large, diverse organization.
• High emotional intelligence and collaborative approach, with strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Courage to challenge conventional practices and advocate for innovation.
• Ability to communicate complex strategies and data in practical, actionable terms relatable to all levels of the organization.

Location

Relocation or residency within a commutable distance from Greenville, NC is required.

About Greenville, North Carolina

A cultural and educational hub

Home to East Carolina University, Greenville is located 85 miles east of Raleigh and 160 miles southeast of Richmond, Virginia. Living in Greenville offers a blend of quiet city life within a thriving innovative college town, centered around college sporting events and the downtown arts, music, and restaurant scene. The city hosts several festivals and events throughout the year that bring the community together.

Exceptional quality of life

Greenville’s close proximity to the Tar River, Contentnea Creek, and other waterways, offer many opportunities to be outside and enjoy nature. The city’s Greenways that begin downtown are linear parks provide nearly 9 miles of trails for walking and biking. The Tar River is a nearly 200-mile long river that flows southeast beginning near the North Carolina/Virginia border through Greenville and is a popular spot for kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding.

A livable city

With low housing costs and living expenses, Greenville is an attractive place to live and work. The city is home to a variety of public schools that have been rated highly by the state, making it a great choice for families.

Procedure for Candidacy

Final candidates should expect two interviews with Kirby Partners recruiters (including a video conference interview). You may be asked to complete our “Executive Profile” and submit references to be considered for presentation to the search committee.