Description

Psychiatrist / Medical Director
Ponessa Behavioral Health | South Central Pennsylvania

Full-Time Preferred | Part-Time Arrangements Considered

About Ponessa Behavioral Health
Ponessa Behavioral Health (PBH) is a well-established behavioral health organization serving children, adolescents, and adults throughout South Central Pennsylvania. With over three decades of experience providing behavioral health services, our organization is committed to delivering accessible, compassionate, and high-quality care to individuals and families in the communities we serve.

Our comprehensive services include Mental Health Outpatient Therapy, Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Treatment, School-Based Mental Health Outpatient Therapy, Partial Hospitalization Programming for children and adolescents, Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS), and Psychiatric Evaluations and Medication Management.

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking Psychiatrist / Medical Director to provide physician-level clinical leadership and help guide the continued development and quality of our psychiatric services.

This is an opportunity for a psychiatrist who enjoys clinical leadership, values collaboration, and wants to make a meaningful impact within an established community-based behavioral health organization.

Position Overview
The Medical Director will work directly with the Chief Executive Officer and organizational leadership to provide clinical oversight, guidance, and leadership for Ponessa's psychiatric services.

The position includes collaboration with psychiatric Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs), oversight of clinical standards and treatment planning, consultation regarding complex clinical situations, and participation in quality improvement and policy development.

For a full-time candidate, the position may include direct psychiatric patient care in addition to Medical Director responsibilities. For qualified candidates interested in a part-time leadership arrangement, responsibilities and scheduling may be tailored to the agreed-upon commitment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide physician-level clinical leadership and oversight of psychiatric services.
• Serve as the designated collaborating physician for psychiatric CRNPs, including consultation, mentorship, and responsibilities associated with collaborative practice agreements.
• Review and electronically sign or cosign treatment plans as required by applicable regulations, payer requirements, and organizational policies.
• Provide clinical consultation regarding complex psychiatric cases, medication management concerns, and treatment recommendations.
• Collaborate with nursing personnel, psychiatric providers, and organizational leadership to promote consistent, high-quality patient care.
• Participate in the development, review, and implementation of clinical policies, procedures, and standards of care.
• Support clinical quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Assist with the integration and coordination of psychiatric services across Ponessa's behavioral health programs.
• Provide clinical guidance regarding psychiatric provider performance, professional development, and best practices.
• Participate in selected leadership and Medical Department meetings.
• For full-time arrangements, provide direct psychiatric evaluations and medication management services as mutually agreed upon.

Ponessa's preference is to recruit a full-time Psychiatrist / Medical Director who can provide both clinical leadership and direct psychiatric services.

However, we recognize that experienced psychiatrists may have existing clinical, academic, or leadership commitments. We are therefore open to considering part-time arrangements for highly qualified candidates who are interested in providing meaningful physician-level leadership and oversight.

The specific schedule, responsibilities, on-site expectations, and clinical consultation availability would be determined collaboratively based on the needs of the organization and the candidate's availability.

Workplace Type: Hybrid (Primarily On-Site)

Ponessa Behavioral Health values the importance of an engaged, accessible Medical Director who is actively involved with our clinical providers and leadership team.

While some flexibility for remote work may be available, our preference is for the Medical Director to work primarily on-site to support collaboration, clinical oversight, and organizational leadership.

Specific scheduling and remote work arrangements may be discussed based on the candidate's qualifications, responsibilities, and the needs of the organization.

Compensation and Benefits
Ponessa offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience, qualifications, schedule, and the scope of Medical Director responsibilities.

• W-2 employment opportunity.
• Compensation structure based on the agreed-upon role and time commitment.
• Employee benefits in accordance with applicable eligibility requirements.
• Potential reimbursement of professional liability insurance expenses associated with Medical Director responsibilities, subject to an agreed-upon annual maximum.
• Established clinical, nursing, and administrative support.
• Opportunity to contribute to organizational clinical leadership and program development.

Why Join Ponessa Behavioral Health?
At Ponessa Behavioral Health, the Medical Director is more than a title. We are seeking a physician who wants to contribute ideas, provide meaningful clinical guidance, and help strengthen the delivery of psychiatric services across a diverse behavioral health organization.

You will have the opportunity to work directly with executive leadership, collaborate with dedicated psychiatric and behavioral health professionals, and help shape the clinical direction of an organization committed to serving individuals and families throughout South Central Pennsylvania.

We welcome inquiries from experienced psychiatrists interested in full-time leadership opportunities as well as those who may wish to explore a flexible, part-time Medical Director arrangement.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and learn more about this opportunity with Ponessa Behavioral Health.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited medical school.
• Completion of an accredited psychiatry residency program.
• Board certified or board eligible in Psychiatry.
• Current, unrestricted Pennsylvania medical license or eligibility to obtain licensure prior to employment.
• Current DEA registration or eligibility to obtain appropriate registration prior to providing clinical services.
• Demonstrated experience in psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, and medication management.
• Ability and willingness to serve as the collaborating physician for psychiatric Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs), in accordance with Pennsylvania requirements.
• Strong clinical judgment, ethical standards, communication skills, and commitment to quality patient care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with executive leadership, psychiatric providers, nursing staff, and interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Ability to fulfill applicable clinical oversight, documentation, regulatory, and professional responsibilities associated with the Medical Director position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Board certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Previous experience as a Medical Director, supervising psychiatrist, or clinical leader.
• Experience working in outpatient or community-based behavioral health settings.
• Experience treating children, adolescents, and adults.
• Familiarity with Pennsylvania behavioral health licensing regulations, documentation standards, and payer requirements.
• Experience collaborating with or supervising psychiatric CRNPs.
• Interest in clinical quality improvement, policy development, and organizational leadership.

Additional Considerations
Full-time employment is preferred; flexible part-time arrangements may be considered for qualified candidates.
The position may include direct patient care depending on the agreed-upon schedule and responsibilities.
The selected candidate must be able to meet the clinical consultation, collaboration, and oversight requirements associated with the position.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable credentialing, background checks, and other organizational requirements.