Strategic Medical Director, General Surgery

Opportunity Overview:

The Strategic Medical Director will report to the VP, Sr Medical Director, Clinical Strategy and be a fundamental physician driver of new clinical program design, strategy, and innovation – working closely with prospective and current clients as we rapidly expand. As an internal subject matter expert in one or more clinical specialties, you will support go-to-market efforts with the Growth team by evangelizing Cohere’s vision and understanding the pain points and needs of Cohere’s clients (i.e., health plans, health systems, & ACOs). You will also collaborate cross-functionally to shape and execute the clinical strategy so that Cohere successfully fills those needs using our core technologies and services.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the vision and evolution of the company’s clinical and digital care management offerings as the clinical subject matter expert, in collaboration with colleagues from Clinical Strategy, Analytics, Product Management, Operations, Growth, and other teams


• Utilize market data, consumer research, and patient analytics to spearhead new approaches to effective clinical delivery services, including the introduction of new technology and integrated paths


• Provide physician leadership in the creation of comprehensive research packages, investigating specific clinical areas/offerings and strategic partners of interest to strengthen the offering, then execute on cultivating any external partnerships and/or vendor relationships as necessary


• Partner with the VP Clinical Strategy and Cohere teams on new projects


• Provide subject matter expertise and leadership in Specialty Rx program design, strategy, and client-facing discussions


• Support the Growth team by traveling as one of our clinical experts (MD) for prospective client meetings and sales opportunities


• Build and expand client relationships by partnering with the Growth and Client Experience teams to uncover client pain points, deliver solutions, assign clients to managers as appropriate, and support upsell opportunities (e.g., Sleep programs)


• Participate in strategic planning for Cohere’s clinical and digital care management strategy


• Provide strategic guidance of utilization management and medical policy programs/areas as necessary to support the clinical organization


• Monitor performance of launched clinical programs within your Specialty area and support continuous improvement

What you’ll need:

• Completed US-based residency program. General medical or surgical training preferred. 


• Board certification as an MD or DO with a current unrestricted state license to practice medicine


• 5+ years of clinical practice beyond residency/fellowship 


• 5+ years experience in managed care or clinical strategy at a health plan, healthtech/solutions/services, expert consulting (partner-level), or related payer-facing roles


• MBA or advanced degree in healthcare-related discipline preferred


• Experience serving as the lead thinker / consulting partner, designing innovative clinical programs and interventions driving value for payers and their members


• Success in building credibility, influence and partnership with key clients


• Executive presence and ability to communicate effectively with partners / clients


• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with highly cross-functional teammates and influence internal partner groups


• Strong communication and team management / interpersonal skills


• Strong leadership capabilities and ability to initiate and maintain cross-team relationships

Pay & Perks:

Fully remote opportunity with about 25% travel

Medical, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Program 

401K retirement plan with company match; flexible spending and health savings account 

️ Flex Time Off + company holidays

Up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave 

Pet insurance  

The salary range for this position is $250,000 to $300,000 annually; as part of a total benefits package which includes health insurance, 401k and bonus. In accordance with state applicable laws, Cohere is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. Individual pay decisions are ultimately based on a number of factors, including but not limited to qualifications for the role, experience level, skillset, and internal alignment.

Interview Process*:

1. Connect with Talent Acquisition for a Preliminary Phone Screening


2. Meet your Hiring Manager!


3. Behavioral Interview(s)

*Subject to change

About Cohere Health:

Cohere Health’s clinical intelligence platform delivers AI-powered solutions that streamline access to quality care by improving payer-provider collaboration, cost containment, and healthcare economics. Cohere Health works with over 660,000 providers and handles over 12 million prior authorization requests annually. Its responsible AI auto-approves up to 90% of requests for millions of health plan members.

With the acquisition of ZignaAI, we’ve further enhanced our platform by launching our Payment Integrity Suite, anchored by Cohere Validate™, an AI-driven clinical and coding validation solution that operates in near real-time. By unifying pre-service authorization data with post-service claims validation, we’re creating a transparent healthcare ecosystem that reduces waste, improves payer-provider collaboration and patient outcomes, and ensures providers are paid promptly and accurately.

Cohere Health’s innovations continue to receive industry wide recognition. We’ve been named to the 2025 Inc. 5000 list and in the Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for U.S. Healthcare Payers (2022-2025), and ranked as a Top 5 LinkedIn™ Startup for 2023 & 2024. Backed by leading investors such as Deerfield Management, Define Ventures, Flare Capital Partners, Longitude Capital, and Polaris Partners, Cohere Health drives more transparent, streamlined healthcare processes, helping patients receive faster, more appropriate care and higher-quality outcomes.

The Coherenauts, as we call ourselves, who succeed here are empathetic teammates who are candid, kind, caring, and embody our core values and principles. We believe that diverse, inclusive teams make the most impactful work. Cohere is deeply invested in ensuring that we have a supportive, growth-oriented environment that works for everyone.

We can’t wait to learn more about you and meet you at Cohere Health!

Equal Opportunity Statement: 

Cohere Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all.  To us, it’s personal.

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