Building Our New Academic Leadership Structure Together

By Keith Bricking, MD, executive vice president, chief clinical officer, Premier Health

As we close 2025, Premier Health is taking an important step forward: creating a new Academic Institute Structure that will unify physician leadership, strengthen collaboration, and advance our clinical and academic missions.

This new structure is designed to bring all specialties together under strategic service lines, integrating physician leadership at every level—from Institute Chair to Academic Chair, Division Chief, and Section Chief. By establishing clear lines of communication, supporting clinical program development, and connecting with graduate medical education, this model fosters collaboration, positions our teams for long-term success, and helps our patients receive highly specialized care closer to home.

We are taking this first step of an important journey together. This framework encourages innovative thinking, streamlines decision-making, and allows us to allocate resources efficiently. Dyad leadership—pairing physician and administrative perspectives—will guide priorities, enhance strategic planning, and support a culture of accountability. 

Our goals are clear: expand access to specialty care in our community, support physician development, drive quality and high-value care, and strengthen Premier Health as a destination for top talent.

As this new structure rolls out, your engagement and collaboration will be essential. Together, we can build a system that is contemporary, adaptable, and aligned with our mission to deliver exceptional care—while fostering a culture where physicians, learners, and teams thrive.

Back to the December 2025 issue of Premier Pulse