Description
Chief of Breast Surgery
| Position Title: | Chief of Breast Surgery |
| Department: | Surgery / Oncology Services |
| Reports To: | Surgeon-in-Chief |
| Employment Type: | Full-Time, Employed Physician |
| FLSA Status: | Exempt |
| Location: | South Shore Health System, Weymouth, MA |
About South Shore Health System
South Shore Health System (SSH) is a not-for-profit, independent community health system headquartered in Weymouth, Massachusetts, serving the South Shore region of Greater Boston. SSH encompasses South Shore Hospital, regional referral acute care facility, as well as an expanding network of ambulatory care centers, physician practices, and specialty services. With a commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and compassionate patient-centered care, SSH is one of the most respected community health systems in New England.
SSH's Breast Health Program is a nationally recognized, comprehensive center of excellence offering multidisciplinary evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of benign and malignant breast disease. The program is supported by dedicated breast imaging, pathology, genetic counseling, medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and oncology nursing services.
The Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at South Shore Health provides convenient world-leading cancer care programs to our southeastern Massachusetts communities. Experts from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and South Shore Health provide services in the Cancer Center. This unique clinical collaboration among the three organizations makes it possible to offer many advanced cancer treatments including groundbreaking clinical trials—often without the inconvenience of driving into Boston.
Position Summary
The Chief of Breast Surgery is a senior physician leader responsible for providing outstanding clinical care to patients with breast disease while leading the strategic direction, clinical quality, and operational excellence of the Breast Surgery program at South Shore Health System. This individual will serve as the clinical and programmatic leader for breast surgical oncology, working in close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to deliver state-of-the-art, evidence-based care across the continuum—from screening and diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.
In addition to maintaining an active surgical practice, the Chief of Breast Surgery will champion quality improvement, research, and community education initiatives, and will serve as a visible representative of SSH’s Breast Health Program to referring physicians, patients, and the broader medical community.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Excellence
- Maintain a full-time, active clinical practice in breast surgical oncology, performing a high volume of surgical procedures including lumpectomy, mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection, nipple-sparing procedures, and oncoplastic techniques.
- Provide timely, compassionate, and evidence-based care to patients with benign and malignant breast disease across all stages.
- Collaborate closely with medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, radiology, pathology, and genetic counseling in a true multidisciplinary tumor board model.
- Participate in high-risk breast clinics, survivorship programs, and genetic counseling referral pathways.
- Ensure appropriate, standardized use of emerging surgical technologies including intraoperative margin assessment and image-guided localization techniques.
Leadership & Strategic Direction
- Provide visionary leadership for the Breast Surgery program, setting short- and long-term strategic goals aligned with SSH’s mission and the evolving landscape of breast oncology.
- Lead physician recruitment efforts to grow and sustain a high-quality breast surgery team.
- Serve as an engaged member of the Department of Surgery and relevant medical staff committees, including the Cancer Committee and Breast Health Program leadership team.
- Partner with hospital administration, nursing leadership, and ancillary services to optimize care delivery, patient throughput, and the patient experience.
- Represent SSH’s Breast Health Program at regional and national forums, fostering relationships with referring providers and elevating the program’s visibility and reputation.
- Collaborate with regional academic centers to promote the care of people with breast disease on the South Shore.
Quality Improvement & Patient Safety
- Lead ongoing quality improvement initiatives within the Breast Surgery program, utilizing data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB), American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards, and institutional dashboards.
- Monitor and report on key quality metrics including surgical complication rates, re-excision rates, time to treatment, and patient-reported outcomes.
- Participate in monthly Breast Service Quality, Safety and Operations Committee, Surgery Department Peer Review and other Surgery Department activities as needed.
- Develop, implement, and maintain evidence-based clinical protocols, care pathways, and standardized order sets.
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous learning among all members of the breast care team.
Education & Research
- Mentor and teach medical students rotating through the breast surgery service.
- If desirable, may pursue opportunities for clinical research, including participation in multi-institutional trials and investigator-initiated studies relevant to breast oncology.
- Promote the dissemination of knowledge through publications, presentations, and community education programs.
- Stay current with advances in breast surgical oncology and translate emerging best practices into clinical care at SSH.
Community Engagement
- Serve as a visible and trusted clinical leader for the South Shore community in matters related to breast health, early detection, and cancer prevention.
- Partner with community organizations, primary care physicians, and referring providers to enhance breast cancer screening rates and access to specialized care.
- Participate in outreach events, health fairs, and educational programs to raise awareness of breast health across diverse patient populations.
Qualifications & Requirements
Required
- MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school.
- Completion of an accredited General Surgery residency; fellowship training in Breast Surgical Oncology strongly preferred.
- Board Certification or active Board Eligibility in Surgery (American Board of Surgery).
- Current, unrestricted medical license (or eligibility for licensure) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Eligibility for medical staff appointment and surgical privileges at South Shore Hospital.
- Demonstrated clinical expertise and established surgical volume in breast oncology.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of post-training clinical experience in breast surgical oncology.
- Strong commitment to quality, patient safety, and evidence-based practice.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
Preferred
- Fellowship training in Breast Surgical Oncology from an accredited program.
- Prior experience in a program leadership, division chief, or medical director role.
- Active involvement in clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, or national society participation (e.g., ASBrS, SSO, ASCO).
- Experience with oncoplastic breast surgery techniques.
- Established referral relationships and name recognition in the Greater Boston and South Shore medical community.
Compensation & Benefits
South Shore Health System offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications, including:
- Competitive base salary with productivity incentive and quality bonus structure.
- Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- Generous paid time off, CME allowance, and professional development support.
- Malpractice insurance coverage (claims-made with tail coverage).
- Retirement plan with employer contribution (403(b)).
- Relocation assistance (if applicable).
- Access to a collegial, mission-driven, independent health system with strong community roots and a collaborative culture.
Equal Opportunity Employer
South Shore Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates are invited to submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and the names of three professional references to:
Physician Recruitment Office
South Shore Health System
55 Fogg Road, Weymouth, MA 02190
Email: tdonohue@southshorehealth.org
Phone: (781) 340-8423
www.southshorehealth.org
