Vitreoretinal Surgeon - Lexington, KY

Medical Director – Retina

Retina Associates of Kentucky

Retina Associates of Kentucky is seeking an accomplished Vitreoretinal Surgeon to serve as Medical Director – Retina, providing physician leadership for RAK while continuing a robust clinical practice.

This is an opportunity for an established Retina surgeon to expand their impact beyond individual patient care and help shape the future of Retina Associates of Kentucky. The Medical Director will serve as the senior physician leader for the practice, partnering closely with the Practice Leader and regional and executive leadership across physician governance, clinical excellence, physician engagement, recruitment, retention, practice growth, research, innovation, and the patient experience. The role is structured as approximately 80% clinical practice and 20% physician leadership, clinical research, and innovation. The Medical Director serves a renewable two-year term and is appointed by the Chief Medical Officer in partnership with executive and regional leadership.

Shape What's Next at RAK

RAK has an exceptional clinical foundation and an opportunity to build an even stronger future. The Medical Director will help shape how the practice evolves—strengthening physician partnership and governance, advancing clinical excellence, developing physicians and future leaders, expanding access to research and innovative therapies, and partnering with the Practice Leader to build a high-performing practice.

This is a working physician leadership role—not simply an advisory position.

Key Responsibilities

Physician Leadership & Practice Governance

- Serve as the senior physician leader and voice for RAK physicians.

- Lead local physician governance and physician engagement.

- Partner closely with the Practice Leader on the clinical and physician components of practice strategy and execution.

- Foster collaboration, collegiality, mentorship, and clinical excellence.

- Help develop emerging physician leaders.

- Support physician recruitment, ramp, retention, onboarding, and succession planning.

- Identify physician and practice barriers and partner with operational leadership to resolve them.

- Represent RAK physicians in regional and enterprise physician leadership forums.

Clinical Excellence, Quality & Patient Experience

- Champion evidence-based Retina care and clinical best practices.

- Promote a culture of clinical excellence, safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

- Partner with Quality, Compliance, and operational leadership to address opportunities for improvement.

- Advocate for appropriate patient access, clinical capacity, and an exceptional patient experience.

- Help ensure physicians have the tools, technology, infrastructure, and support necessary to deliver outstanding care.

Practice Growth & Development

- Partner with the Practice Leader on the clinical and physician components of RAK's growth strategy.

- Support physician recruitment, ramp, retention, and succession planning.

- Identify opportunities to expand clinical services, technology, therapies, and strategic partnerships.

- Bring the physician perspective to decisions affecting the practice.

- Help identify and share best practices that can strengthen RAK and the broader Retina organization.

Research & Innovation

- Help develop and advance RAK's clinical research and innovation agenda.

- Identify opportunities to expand clinical trial participation and patient access to emerging therapies.

- Encourage physician participation in research.

- Partner with ECP's broader research infrastructure to expand RAK's research capabilities.

- Identify and champion innovations that can improve clinical outcomes, physician experience, and patient care.

Fellowship & Physician Development

- Direct RAK's robust Retina fellowship program in close collaboration with the University of Kentucky.

- Help establish an exceptional educational experience emphasizing clinical excellence, surgical training, research, mentorship, and professional development.

- Mentor fellows and emerging physician leaders and help develop the next generation of Retina leaders.

Physician & Organizational Partnership

- Serve as the primary physician partner to the Practice Leader.

- Communicate organizational priorities and physician perspectives effectively.

- Help translate strategy into physician engagement and local execution.

- Provide candid physician perspective to regional and executive leadership.

- Partner with other physician leaders to share best practices and accelerate innovation.

Time Allocation

80% Clinical Practice

Continue a robust clinical and surgical practice at RAK while maintaining the clinical excellence and patient relationships that define the practice.

20% Physician Leadership, Research & Innovation

Dedicated time for physician governance, physician leadership and development, practice strategy, recruitment and retention, fellowship leadership, clinical research, innovation, and partnership with the Practice Leader and organizational leadership.

Physician Partnership & Equity

RAK is part of EyeCare Partners' broader physician-led platform, and we believe the strongest practices are built through meaningful partnership between physicians and operational leadership.

The Medical Director will have an opportunity to help shape the future of RAK alongside practice and executive leadership, with a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect our physicians, patients, and practice.

Eligible physicians may also participate in ECP's physician equity and incentive programs, providing the opportunity to share in the value created as the organization and practice grow. Equity opportunities are subject to applicable program terms and eligibility requirements.

Compensation & Opportunity

- Annual compensation package of $1.5M+, commensurate with experience and overall contribution.

- Sign-on, ramp, and relocation bonuses provided to support the transition to RAK.

- Approximately 80% clinical practice / 20% physician leadership, research and innovation.

- Opportunity to lead one of the region's premier Retina practices while continuing a substantial clinical and surgical practice.

- Opportunity to direct a robust fellowship program in partnership with the University of Kentucky.

- Opportunity to build RAK's research and innovation platform and help shape the future of Retina care.

- Opportunity to participate in physician equity and incentive programs and share in the long-term value created through the growth and success of the organization.

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a respected and accomplished Vitreoretinal Surgeon who is ready to expand their impact as a physician leader while continuing to practice at a high level.

The ideal candidate will bring:

- Exceptional clinical and surgical credibility.

- The trust and respect of physician colleagues.

- A genuine interest in physician leadership and practice governance.

- Strong communication, relationship-building, and collaborative leadership skills.

- A passion for mentoring and developing other physicians.

- A growth-oriented and entrepreneurial mindset.

- An interest in clinical research and innovation.

- A commitment to clinical excellence and an exceptional physician and patient experience.

- The ability to partner effectively with operational leaders while maintaining strong physician leadership.

Why This Role

This is an opportunity to continue doing what you love—caring for patients and practicing Retina—while helping shape the future of one of the country's leading Retina practices.

You will have the opportunity to influence how physicians work together, how the practice grows, how future leaders are developed, and how RAK brings research, innovation, and new therapies to its physicians and patients.

If you are ready to lead, mentor, innovate, and help build what comes next in Retina, we would love to talk with you.

Rachel Tankersley
Director, Talent Acquisition | EyeCare Partners
Email: Racheltankersley@eyecare-partners.com
Phone: 314-580-0036