Joseph Califano was named physician-in-chief of Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. Califano will retain his roles as professor of surgery and director of the Head and Neck Cancer Center as well as maintain an active clinical practice in head and neck surgery.
His principal role will be to oversee clinical operations related to Moores Cancer Center and all related inpatient and outpatient oncology services at UC San Diego Health, as well as operations with affiliates and outreach clinics.
In this role, Califano will be directly responsible to Scott Lippman, director of Moores Cancer Center, or as delegated to Catriona Jamieson, deputy director of Moores Cancer Center.
For ambulatory clinic operations, Califano will have a reporting relationship to Christopher Kane, chief executive officer, UC San Diego Health Physician Group. For hospital-based services and quality initiatives, he will also have a reporting relationship to Thomas Moore, MD, interim chief medical officer.
As physician in chief, Califano will be appointed to the Cancer Center Executive Committee and will work in partnership with Julie Croner, chief administrative officer, on operational and strategic opportunities that further the mission and vision of the cancer center, including reviewing and redesigning the organizational structure for cancer center medical leadership, advising on clinical faculty recruitments and resource allocation, standardizing cancer center processes and procedures and coordinating with cancer center leaders for clinical research and education efforts.
Additionally, Califano will be responsible for service line performance, collaborating with ancillary services including radiology and pathology/laboratory, leading the oversight committee for Moores Cancer Center psychology and psychiatry services, overseeing clinical quality and patient satisfaction in conjunction with the chief medical officer, managing approvals for charity care, high cost drugs, and inpatient imaging, advancing the agenda of cancer center quality and value, and appointing a new director of quality.
As well, Califano will participate in Board of Visitors and philanthropy meetings and cancer center and health system strategic planning as well as oversee clinical space planning, including for new facilities and service offerings. He will also collaborate with chairs and division chiefs as it relates to the clinical faculty practice within the cancer center.
Califano will be directly responsible for:
Oversight of disease team leaders and cancer cabinet in collaboration with Croner and Razelle Kurzrock, senior deputy director of clinical research, including goal setting and annual review;
Oversight of clinic medical directors in collaboration with Kane and Croner, including goal setting and annual review;
Oversight of hospital medical directors in collaboration with Moore, including goal setting and annual review.
