Director | ECLS​/ECMO | Cardiogenic Shock & Pulmonary Embolism Response Team; PERT Programs

The MCS (Mechanical Circulatory Support) Director, in collaboration with the MCS team, coordinates all aspects of in-patient care and services for ECMO patients. Will also provide inpatient and outpatient services for VAD patients after program implementation.

The Director of ECLS/ECMO, Shock & PERT Programs is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and development of the Extracorporeal Life Support/Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation program, the Cardiogenic Shock program, and the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team within UT Health Tyler. This role requires a strong background in critical care, ECMO expertise, shock resuscitation, PE management, and organizational leadership. The Director will serve as the institutional champion for building these programs from the ground up, with the expectation of being hands‑on and readily available during the launch phase, gradually transitioning daily operational duties to frontline leaders as the team matures.

- Develop and implement the strategic vision for the ECLS/ECMO, Shock, and PERT programs in alignment with UT Health Tyler's institutional goals. Secure and maintain commitment from hospital administration as a foundational requirement.

- Formally establish and maintain program-specific policies, protocols, clinical pathways, and best practices for each program.

- Collaborate with healthcare leaders across departments to ensure seamless integration of ECMO, Shock, and PERT services with existing critical care, emergency medicine, cardiology, cardiac surgery, pulmonary, and interventional radiology units.

- Formally assign and define leadership roles, including:

• ECMO Medical Director and Surgical Director
• ECMO Coordinator and ECMO Specialists
• Shock Team Lead and Shock Response Coordinator
• PERT Medical Director and PERT Coordinator

- Establish activation criteria, response algorithms, and escalation pathways for each program.

- Provide clinical leadership and expertise in ECMO patient care, shock resuscitation (cardiogenic, septic, undifferentiated), and acute pulmonary embolism management.

- Develop and lead Multidisciplinary Teams for each program with structured daily rounds, case conferences, and ongoing education.

- ECMO Team: intensivists, cardiac/thoracic surgeons, perfusionists, ECMO specialists, nursing, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, palliative care.

- Shock Team: intensivists, cardiology (interventional and advanced heart failure), emergency medicine, cardiac surgery, nursing, pharmacy.

- PERT: pulmonology, interventional radiology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, emergency medicine, hematology, critical care, nursing.

- Collaborate with clinical teams to assess and evaluate candidates for ECMO cannulation, mechanical circulatory support, and PERT activation; monitor patient progress through standardized pathways.

- Ensure adherence to quality and safety standards in all procedures and protocols across the three programs.

- Develop and oversee institution‑specific cannulation, decannulation, anticoagulation, and weaning protocols for ECMO; shock algorithm and hemodynamic assessment protocols; and risk‑stratified PE treatment pathways.

- Supervise program staff, including ECMO specialists, shock response nurses, PERT coordinators, bedside nurses, respiratory therapists, and APPs.

- Develop and deliver ongoing education and training programs for all team members, including:

- ECMO simulation training and competency assessments

- Shock recognition, hemodynamic monitoring, and mechanical circulatory support education

- PERT activation drills and PE risk stratification training

- Annual competency reviews and recertification

- Foster a culture of continuous learning, multidisciplinary collaboration, and performance improvement.

- Lead the development of the APP/APRN critical care model, including scope of practice definition, training curricula, and credentialing pathways.

- Manage the budget and resource allocation for all three programs.

- Ensure the availability of necessary equipment, supplies, and resources,…