Medical Physician

Susan Leggett-Johnson, MD, MBA

Laurel, MD 301-***-**** ********@*****.*** LinkedIn

Summary

Healthcare executive, diversity and inclusion strategist, and internal medicine physician with uniquely expansive experience across operational leadership, utilization management, health equity, Human Resources, compliance/policy management, Medicare/Medicaid interactions, medical education, professional development, and physician wellness for large healthcare centers. Instrumental member of the frontline physician team providing high quality patient care and maintaining consistently high levels of patient satisfaction scores throughout career.

●Exceptional ability to align strategy with business and organizational needs, develop focused initiatives and provide tactical, grassroots solutions.

●Deep experience in the development and transformation of practices into high performing organizations with focus on improving overall landscape of healthcare for patients and providers.

●Experienced in utilization management assuring appropriate and exceptional health care delivery while supporting quality improvement efforts and policy compliance.

●Consistent success leading diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at all organizational levels with recognized diversity and inclusion consulting expertise.

●Passionate coach and mentor who has fostered the development and wellness of many physicians, executives, and directors to attain the highest levels of patient and staff experiences.

●Broad work across physician recruitment, retention, on-boarding, orientation, benefits, and compensation as well as effective performance evaluation strategy and design.

●Extensive work on and with Board of Directors with focus on overall direction, strategy, and effective organizational and resource planning.

●Key member of various Kaiser Permanente / MAPMG committees and councils and local community committees, including the Implementation & Transition committee guiding the affiliation between the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG) and The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG).

Professional Experience

Spring Heath - Internal Medicine Physician (2020-Present)

Provide care and medical management to beneficiaries suffering from mild anxiety, depression, and other appropriate behavior health conditions through video visits via initial assessments and follow up.

Kaiser Permanente –

Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG) Rockville, MD (1993-2019)

Premier multi-specialty medical group with more than 1,600 physicians spanning 50 specialties across 32 medical office buildings in the Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia service areas. Part of the Kaiser Permanente integrated managed care consortium.

Associate Medical Director (2006 – 2019)

Led the development and implementation of medical policies, procedures, and innovations across the organization to ensure the delivery of quality patient and physician care. Served as a member of the executive leadership team to support the growth, development and performance of the medical group, the growth of the membership and the operational performance of the organization. Areas of focus included but was not limited to:

Medical Administrator

Through clinical rotations with other members of the executive leadership team, responsible for utilization review of health services to ensure appropriateness of care and services and effectiveness of cost of services provided in our 24-hour urgent care and clinical decision units (CDU). Responsible for compliance with policies and procedures related to length of stay and care provided in the CDU and repatriation to and from CDUs and affiliated hospitals.

●Ensured compliance with CMS policies for observational stays in the CDUs.

●Reviewed appropriateness of services and effectiveness of care through utilization review processes.

●Served as a rotating member of the Appeals and Grievances Committee.

Professional Development

Oversaw all physician and staff training and development requirements, translating business objectives and challenges into leadership development strategies that drove business impact and established bench strength. Managed a multimillion-dollar budget, led an effective team, and partnered with leadership to develop programs supporting physician and staff wellness, professional development, and continuing medical education (CME) opportunities. Led onboarding and enculturation activities for new talent.

●Headed recruitment and professional development efforts during a growth in physician colleagues from 700 to 1,400, reducing time-to-fill significantly while maintaining caliber of hires.

●Coordinated and delivered several development and medical education events annually, including a bi-annual two-day event drawing nearly 300 Chiefs of Department and administrative partners to hear from industry thought leaders and converse around transforming healthcare through innovation, strategy, and leadership.

●Instrumental to maintaining high levels of management performance through 360-degree feedback assessments, biannual leadership and Emerging Leaders programs, and various forms of coaching.

●Spearheaded physician wellness initiatives across the organization as an intrinsic importance and impact on patient care.

●Fostered bonds between physicians and established stronger collaboration across working environments through establishment of networking and social events as well as mentoring programs.

●Maintained accreditation with accommodation status for CME offering, providing hundreds of hours of CME opportunities annually, including live, virtual and self-study options.

Chief Compliance Officer

Oversaw compliance activities within MAPMG to ensure observance of laws, regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures. Conducted cross-departmental investigations for effective identification, prevention, detection, and corrective actions within applicable laws. Provided reasonable assurance to senior management and Board of Directors that policies and procedures were compliant with regulatory agency guidelines and organizational Code of Conduct. Managed and maintained accreditation activities. Partnered with Legal, HR, and other departments, as needed, to address specific issues in privacy, harassment, and discrimination concerns. Worked as the Research Accountable Official for the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Research Institute (MAPRI). Responsible for providing updates to the MAPMG Board of Directors and the Audit and Finance Committee of the board.

●Developed and implemented annual compliance trainings for cross-functional staff members and physician workforce.

●Educated, communicated with, and created awareness among physicians regarding compliance issues that impacted them daily.

●Led investigations and implemented corrective actions for matters of privacy, non-adherence to corporate policies, and efforts to increase efficiency and effectiveness related to opioid prescribing, laboratory testing, and maintaining standards of quality.

●Maintained SME status within the organization through ongoing compliance education and attendance at various annual conferences.

●Managed the effectiveness of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) working closely with the IRB Chairperson and the IRB Administrator. Monitored compliance of the IRB and MAPRI to human protection, privacy, and financial policies and procedures related to research.

Chief Human Resource Officer

Provided oversight and direction across all aspects of HR functions, including recruitment, hiring, training/development, staffing, diversity initiatives, compensation, benefits, performance management, and employment legalities. Directed employee relations, including physician recruitment and on-boarding, mentoring, and investigations.

●Credited with maximizing recruitment results through coordination and execution of recruiting events and conference attendance.

●Served on the Compensation Committee and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.

●Interviewed hundreds of physicians assessing for cultural fit with organizational values.

●Performed and supported/collaborated with Legal in dozens of investigations related to performance issues, reasonable accommodations, FMLA and leave issues, and matters of harassment.

Led work related to the development and understanding of physician opinion scores and member/patient satisfaction survey scores annually

Chief Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Officer

Responsible for cultivating a work and learning environment that aligned diversity and inclusion efforts with overall business strategies and educated staff/physicians on the effects of cultural proficiency on overall patient/employee satisfaction. Served as point person for the medical group to address and resolve issues around health equity. Collaborated with regional executive leaders on the development of diversity agendas and strategic plans for a growing population of diverse members.

●Developed a multi-year strategy for the organization diversity and inclusion efforts that aligned with the overall goals of the organization and promoted physician and staff sense of inclusion.

●Co-Lead the inter-regional Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee supporting the EID strategies for all eight (8) Permanente Medical Groups on behalf of the Executive Medical Directors.

●Launched business resource groups across the region and recommended an enhanced approach to help attract talent to the organization resulting in an increase in diverse hires across the board, including staff, physicians and leadership.

●Lead change management efforts to build internal awareness around diversity and inclusion and facilitate training to all levels of staff and physicians.

●Key contributor to the ongoing development of an annual two-day diversity conference that has supported the organization in its diversity and inclusion efforts for over 40 years.

●Enhanced interpretation services across the practice by initiating and implementing the use of a Video Remote Interpreter (VRI) for various languages, including sign language.

Director of Medical Education

Oversaw the rotation of medical students, residents, and fellows working with physicians to ensure compliance of rules and regulations, proper agreements, and an appropriate learning environment. Established and maintained relationships with affiliated academic institutions. Served as Designated Institutional Official and Chairperson of the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC).

●Established an effective learning environment for a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) program for rotating third-year medical students from Penn State School of Medicine.

●Planned, received approval for and initiated an Internal Medicine Residency Program, serving as Designated Institutional Official and ensuring compliance with ACGME Common, specialty specific program, and institutional requirements.

●Served as a member of the advisory committee for the new Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine in the area of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (opening 2020).

Physician Director—Silver Spring, Prince George & North Capital Medical Centers- Kaiser Permanente (1997 – 2006)

Led day-to-day clinical operations, including access, service, and quality of care for lives served across three medical office buildings in the District of Columbia and suburban Maryland areas. Recruited physicians, led performance evaluations, developed/mentored physicians, and leveraged Art of Medicine Score to identify individual strengths and weaknesses. Promoted quality of patient care by linking physician performance with patient satisfaction and overall business objectives.

●Credited with motivating physicians and staff through organizational change.

●Successfully managed physician performance through metrics and feedback related to patient satisfaction, quality of care, and safety.

Physician Advisor—Regional Medicare Product (2000 – 2003)

Physician Advisor—Regional Elder Care Program (1999 – 2003)

Earlier Experience

Group Health Association—Silver Spring Medical Center Silver Spring, MD

Internal Medicine Physician

Acting Medical Director, Primary Prevention Program

Tulane Medical Center New Orleans, LA

Huey P. Long Memorial Hospital Pineville, LA

Junior Attending, Hospitalist

Education & Professional Development

MBA. Loyola University—Sellinger School of Business, Baltimore, Maryland

Internal Medicine Residency. Howard University Program, Washington, D.C.

MD. Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA

B.S. (Biology) Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA

Board, Committee & Council Leadership

MAPMG:

National Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Council, Member (2004 – 2019)

Permanente Physician Wellness Interregional Committee, Member (2018 - 2019)

Permanente Physician Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Interregional Committee, Co-chair (2018 – 2019)

Permanente People Leadership Summit (PPLS) Interregional Committee, Member (2017 – 2018)

Board of Directors, Member (2004 – 2008)

Compensation Committee, Member (2004 – 2008)

Retirement Committee, Member (2004 – 2008)

Medicare Steering Committee, Co-chair (2000 – 2003)

Medicare Strategy Team, Member (2000 – 2003)

Abstract

The Power Journey of a Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group Physician (Pursuit of Wellness, Engagement, and Resilience Through Social Support, Susan Leggett-Johnson, MD, MBA; Gene Gincherman, MD; Mary Zmuda, MPH. The Permanente Journal. Kaiser Permanente National Quality Conference. (2019)

Volunteer Work

George Washington University School of Medicine Bridge to Care Clinic, Volunteer (2016 – 2018)

Montgomery County WorkSource Montgomery, Board Member (2016 – 2018)

Montgomery County Workforce Development Board, Member (2008 – 2016)

George Washington University School of Medicine, CAPS Faculty (1997 – 2006)

Contact this candidate