NATIONAL BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS

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1 NATIONAL BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS The Search The (NBME) seeks an experienced, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader for the position of Senior Vice President (SVP) of Assessment Programs. The SVP will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Assessment Programs division and join the organization at a time of exciting change that builds on its long history of success. The SVP is expected to work with leadership across the organization to drive overall strategy and to ensure the successful management and growth of existing programs as well as the development and implementation of innovative products and services that will propel the organization into the future and deliver on its core mission and values. Founded in 1915, the NBME is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to its mission to protect the health of the public through state of the art assessment of health professionals along the continuum of education, training, and practice. The NBME vision is to enhance healthcare for patients around the world by using the power of assessment to drive individual, institutional, and system improvement and through research in evaluation as well as development of assessment instruments. The NBME identifies itself as the provider of high quality information from which various stakeholders can draw inferences and make low and high stakes decisions. The SVP will report directly to the President and CEO and is responsible for the management and growth of products and services within the Assessment Programs division, including the United States Medical Licensing Exam program (USMLE), services to medical schools and health professions organizations, services for practicing doctors, international collaborations, and new programs in development. The SVP will oversee a dedicated staff of approximately 50 individuals and a divisional budget of $38 million, and will influence the work of staff across the organization. The SVP will also work closely with a collaborative senior management team to guide the organization in the areas of program leadership and management, external relationships, innovation, and knowledge management. The ideal candidate will be an innovative, influential, and collegial leader with deep relationships in the healthcare community and demonstrate the ability to represent the organization externally to local, national, and international constituencies. The SVP is expected to bring a strong track record of management experience and results, particularly related to developing and launching new products or services,

2 Page 2 of 6 and a minimum of 15 years of experience working in healthcare or a related field, assessment, or educational services. A terminal degree related to medicine, health sciences, or measurement science is strongly preferred. The NBME is being assisted in the search by the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. Inquiries, referrals, curricula vitae, and cover letters should be sent by and in confidence as directed at the conclusion of this document. Background Coinciding with a period of great reforms in medical education and licensure, the NBME was founded in 1915 because of the need for a voluntary, nationwide examination that medical licensing authorities could accept as the standard by which to judge candidates for medical licensure. Since that time, it has continued without interruption to provide high-quality examinations for this purpose and has become a model of international stature in the development of testing methodologies. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, the NBME derives its revenues from fees charged for its examinations and services. The NBME is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has an annual operating budget of approximately $160 million. Products and Services The NBME provides a number of products and services in pursuit of its mission to protect and enhance healthcare for patients. It combines a deep understanding of healthcare with cutting edge knowledge of assessment to design, develop, and deliver assessment programs. Significantly, the NBME develops and manages the USMLE, a foundational examination in medical education, which accounts for 75 percent of its programmatic activity. The NBME and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) co-sponsor the USMLE, in collaboration with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The NBME s licensure programs also include the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), a collaboration between the NBME and the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) and the Post-Licensure Assessment System (PLAS), a joint activity of the NBME and the FSMB that includes the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX). Additionally, the NBME collaborates with numerous health profession organizations across the continuum of graduate education and practice. In 2016, the NBME worked with 24 organizations, including health profession certification boards, medical societies, and members of the American Board of Medical Specialties to administer approximately 70 examinations to over 70,000 examinees annually for a wide variety of purposes including licensure, certification, maintenance of certification/recertification and self-assessment. The NBME also provides comprehensive educational, consultative, and research services for healthcare organizations. The NBME mission encompasses protecting the public globally through assessment. It provides students, graduate physicians, medical schools, residency programs, and regulatory agencies around the world with valid and reliable information regarding individuals knowledge and overall curriculum effectiveness through subject examinations and self-assessments, consulting services, and the creation of new examinations such as the International Foundations of

3 Page 3 of 6 Medicine. In 2016, over 640,000 assessments were provided through the subject examination program, self-assessment services, customized assessment services, and new web-based initiatives. NBME Leadership and Organizational Structure In January 2017, Dr. Peter Katsufrakis was named as the President and CEO of the NBME. He served in leadership roles at the NBME for nine years before becoming president, most recently in the position of SVP of Assessment Programs. As CEO, Dr. Katsufrakis serves as a full, voting member of the Executive Board and oversees an outstanding senior management team comprised of SVPs overseeing Operations, Information Technology (and Chief Information Officer), Professional Services, Assessment Programs, and Research and Discovery. The NBME operates with a matrixed management structure to produce the NBME s products and services. It is a highly cross-functional environment; therefore, the Assessment Programs division works closely with all units, especially the Professional Services and the Research and Discovery divisions. For example, Professional Services provides the various assessment services that contribute to each product, including integrated management, test development services, psychometrics and data analytics, and the center for advanced assessment. Research and Discovery is a division focused on new product development and the NBME research enterprise which feeds the early stage development of products that eventually transition to the Assessment Programs pipeline. All of these products rest on the foundation of infrastructure services made up by IT and Operations, which includes a newly formed Marketing and Communications department. The NBME s approximately 500 full-time staff includes professionals with backgrounds from various health professions and educational settings as well as test development, measurement, business operations, law, information technology, research and development, publishing, program management, process improvement, and other fields. NBME Renewal In 2015, the NBME celebrated the 100 th anniversary of its founding. Leading up to this moment of reflection on its successes and achievements, the organization began to think about the future and ways it could best advance and complement existing services, reach a broader global public, and leverage its capabilities as an assessment organization. NBME Renewal was developed to provide the strategic framework to ensure that the NBME continues to protect the public in a dynamic healthcare landscape and continues to find ways to use its expertise to drive individual, institutional, and system improvement. At the same time, the organization is focused on driving operational efficiencies that will mitigate the cost of developing new products and enhance the overall effectiveness of the organization. Broadly guided by commitment to mission impact, financial sustainability, and stakeholder experience, Renewal encompasses the development of a 15-year strategic plan (NBME 2030), a focus on continuous improvement, extension of the NBME s traditional realm of activities to more completely fulfill its mission and vision, and an effort to promote an internal culture that is collaborative, transparent, nimble, and entrepreneurial. The strategic planning efforts have led to

4 Page 4 of 6 the development of action plans to maintain and grow current activities, diversify products and services, expand internationally, and improve high quality research and innovation. It positions the NBME to remain at the forefront of the assessment community in healthcare by pursuing a number of initiatives in areas from workplace based assessments to interprofessional care, among many new products and services. Through this work, the NBME seeks to expand its network of potential collaborators, encompassing those not only in the house of medicine, but healthcare professions more broadly. Responsibilities and Opportunities for the Senior Vice President The new SVP will join the NBME at a moment of tremendous potential as the organization explores ways to diversify its mission to serve a broader range of stakeholders while remaining deeply committed to excellence in its core products and services. The Assessment Programs division and the SVP are central to this ambitious goal, and critical to the present and future stature of the NBME as a worldwide leader in assessment. This role will require a comprehensive understanding of assessment, the role of health profession education and regulatory organizations, and an understanding of the critical importance of the NBME s role in protecting and serving the public. The SVP must be a dynamic leader in developing strong external relationships with existing and new partners, bringing strategic focus to current activities and future goals, and fostering an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit within the unit. The key challenges and opportunities for the incoming SVP include: Develop and steward strong external relationships and partnerships The NBME strives to achieve a broader application of its mission within both the house of medicine and in other healthcare domains. This requires continuous commitment to quality in its traditional products and services while, at the same time, energetically developing new partnerships for mission fulfillment. The SVP plays a critical role in understanding the healthcare landscape and the market for NBME products and services and must be in regular contact with the community to listen to their current and emerging needs. The SVP will cultivate, nurture, and manage new and existing relationships with medical schools, state medical boards, licensing authorities, healthcare professions, and other collaborators, domestically and internationally, through formal and informal communications and personal interactions. In leading this effort, the next SVP of Assessment Programs will need to bring robust entrepreneurial skills and business acumen. The SVP will also demonstrate an ability to identify and seize new opportunities together with a strong market orientation and comfort using data to drive strategy and decisions. Advocate nationally and internationally for the NBME and the value of assessment broadly As the NBME begins its second century of serving the public, the organization must anticipate the future and position itself to remain at the forefront of assessment services. The SVP will be a vigorous advocate for the integrity, credibility, and domestic and international leadership of the NBME in evaluation services for medicine and health professions. The SVP will be a leading voice in continuing to build awareness and make the case for the NBME s core products and services, including the USMLE, as critical to the healthcare community and the safety of the

5 Page 5 of 6 public. The SVP will also be an advocate nationally and internationally for the value of assessment broadly, with the ability to illustrate the link between assessment and its role in addressing the most important societal goals for improved healthcare. The SVP will partner closely with the new Marketing and Communications function to advance its already strong standing in the healthcare community while expanding the visibility of the NBME beyond its traditional audiences. Contribute to the NBME s process of strategic realignment In light of the ongoing Renewal process, the SVP will join the NBME at a time of organizational transition and thoughtful realignment. The SVP will ensure that key strategic goals and outcomes are evaluated and will bring a strong organizational mindset and expertise in change management to conversations about optimal organization across the key functions of the NBME. The SVP will promote a culture of innovation and measured risk-taking among staff and will pursue improved efficiency by strengthening NBME business architecture and processes. The SVP will collaborate with other senior vice presidents to integrate cross-program activities and functions within the NBME, including oversight of late stage new product development and commercialization in collaboration with the Product Discovery unit. The SVP must be a flexible and nimble leader to manage in an evolving business landscape. Internally, with staff and volunteers, they must demonstrate empathy about the stresses and challenges of organizational change and be inspirational about its possibilities for advancing the NBME s mission. Manage a large, complex unit The NBME s matrixed environment will require an individual with an exemplary record of success in leading complex organizations. The SVP has responsibility for managing a highly engaged Assessment Programs team that is dedicated to the highest quality in its products and services. To advance the goal of developing and launching new products and services, the SVP will need to prioritize the most promising measurement advancements that will best serve stakeholder needs and ensure that appropriate staff resources are deployed to maximize success. They will need to continue to recruit at the highest level into key positions, empower staff to achieve their full potential, and ensure opportunities for talent development. The ideal candidate will possess a transparent and galvanizing leadership style and the ability to foster a culture of open and ongoing communication. A key aspect of internal communication will be articulating a set of clearly defined priorities and goals for the Assessment Programs division while ensuring accountability towards progress on major objectives and continued programmatic excellence. The SVP is responsible for maintaining the financial strength of the Assessment Programs division, and working with senior management to ensure that the organization generates sufficient resources to allow for aggressive investment in the future by diversifying sources of revenue and establishing appropriate fiscal accountability and procedures. The Successful Candidate The NBME seeks an exceptional leader with the vision, leadership qualities, and energy to elevate an already outstanding organization. Although the search committee understands that no single candidate will have all of the ideal qualifications, it seeks candidates with the following experience and abilities, including:

6 Page 6 of 6 A track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcome-based program and staff to launch new programs; developing and operationalizing strategies and revenue generating activities that have taken a program or organization to the next stage of growth; Significant positive relationships and stature within healthcare and/or measurement science; the ability to build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with other organizations and constituents including those among the healthcare, academic, licensing, and international communities; Commitment to promoting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement; demonstrated success recruiting, managing, and developing a strong team of staff, program/project managers, and development professionals; a hands-on leader with an orientation to work collaboratively with a team of senior professionals and to promote collaboration deep into the organizational culture; The ability to convey the NBME s mission, vision, values, and role in assessment to external constituents in a variety of professional settings including conferences, meetings, journals, and other media outlets; an effective communicator who builds trust and establishes credibility; Unwavering commitment to quality programs with the ability to achieve strategic objectives and manage a budget; strong analytical skills, business acumen, and a data oriented approach to decision-making; Exceptional communication skills; a persuasive and polished communicator with experience serving as an effective spokesperson at the national and/or international level; An astute sense for organizational dynamics and a sophisticated understanding of organizational structures; the ability to be flexible and nimble in a changing environment; The ability to develop strong teams, empower staff, and promote professional growth; the ability to be flexible, and ensure the staff has the skills to meet the NBME s future needs; Solid judgment and unimpeachable integrity; Positive attitude and demonstrated passion for the NBME s domestic and global mission; A minimum of 15 years of experience working in healthcare, assessment or educational services is required; A terminal degree related to health sciences, education or measurement science is strongly preferred, with at least 10 years of strategic, operational and people management experience. The has engaged Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in confidence to the firm as directed below. John Muckle, Vice President Sarah Hadjian, Associate Isaacson, Miller Summer Street, 7th Floor Boston, MA Phone: (617) The NBME is an Equal Opportunity Employer.