Chief Medical Officers

Physicians have held leadership positions in hospitals and other settings for hundreds of years, but it was not until recent decades that the specialized career of chief medical officer emerged in response to the growing complexity of the healthcare system. CMOs serve as a bridge between physicians and other healthcare professionals and upper management and other non-medical stakeholders. The COVID pandemic fueled demand for CMOs as health care organizations, as well as companies, sought experts to help them navigate the logistical, financial, staffing, and patient care challenges of the pandemic.

The American College of Physician Executives was founded in 1975 to represent the professional interests of physicians in management positions. It is now known as the American Association for Physician Leadership.