Chief Physician Assistant -Cardiac Surgery, Operating Room

Join Tufts Medical Center as Chief Physician Assistant – Cardiac Surgery

Tufts Medical Center is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Physician Assistant to serve as Chief Physician Assistant – Cardiac Surgery, providing clinical and operational leadership within our high-acuity academic cardiac surgery program. This is a unique opportunity to lead and develop a team of Cardiac Surgery PAs while working alongside nationally recognized cardiac surgeons and helping shape the continued growth and advancement of the program.

Key leadership responsibilities include:

• •Lead and develop the Cardiac Surgery PA team , with responsibility for staff education, mentorship, onboarding, professional development, performance, and building a high-performing clinical team.
• •Direct PA staffing, scheduling, and clinical operations across the Cardiac Surgery program , optimizing coverage, patient flow, OR efficiency, and continuity of care across the perioperative continuum.
• •Partner with Cardiac Surgery physician and administrative leadership to build and advance the program , establishing best practices, improving workflows and quality, and helping shape the long-term strategy and growth of the PA team.

In addition to these leadership responsibilities, the Chief Physician Assistant will maintain an active clinical presence within the Cardiac Surgery program, including serving as a surgical first assist in complex cardiac procedures. The program performs a broad range of procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repair and replacement, aortic surgery, cardiac tumor resections, mechanical circulatory support procedures, and heart transplantation. Clinical responsibilities may also include endoscopic and open conduit harvesting, including greater saphenous vein and radial artery procurement.

Why Tufts Medicine?

• •Leadership and career advancement opportunities
• •Competitive salary and benefits
• •Annual CME stipend plus dedicated CME days
• •Practice at a leading academic medical center while helping shape the future of cardiac surgery care

Contact our team for more information @ mary.tallett@tuftsmedicine.org

Job Profile Summary

These roles focus on providing high-quality patient care and promoting wellness. APCs work collaboratively with physicians and other healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat a variety of acute and chronic conditions. In addition, this role focuses on care under the supervision of licensed physicians including conducting comprehensive patient assessments, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions, injuries, and illnesses, developing and implementing treatment plans in collaboration with supervising physicians, prescribing medications and performing procedures, educating patients and families on treatment options, health maintenance, and preventive care and adjusting treatment plans as necessary. A management role that supervises employees focusing on tactical, operational activities within a specified area, with the majority of time spent overseeing area of responsibility, planning, prioritizing and/or directing the responsibilities of employees. Goal achievement is typically accomplished through performance of direct and/or indirect reports. A role that supervises para-professional employees. Responsibilities that typically include: Setting day-to-day operational objectives for team, problems faced may be difficult but typically are not complex, and ensures policies, practices and procedures are understood and followed by direct reports, customers and stakeholders.

Job Overview

This position reports to the Division Chief and Vice-President of Ambulatory Services and is responsible for the direction of the Physician Assistants, including arrangement of schedules, staffing during vacations, direction of orientation programs, formulation of in-service training programs and staff development. Acts as a liaison between adult and pediatric patients and families and physicians. Performs the clinical responsibilities of a staff physician assistant. Provides continuity of care for adult and pediatric patients during the course of fulfilling the tasks of a staff physician assistant. Participates in committees and task forces as directed by the Division Chief.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree.

2. Successful completion of a Physician’s Assistant program.

3. Physician’s Assistant Certification within one (1) year of hire.

4. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

5. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.

6. Five (5) year of Physician’s Assistant experience.

7. State and federal controlled substances registration.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree.

2. Two (2) years of Physician’s Assistant experience.

3. Bilingual.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Orients and trains new physician assistants, coordinates schedules and vacation coverage.

2. Develops, refines and updates physician assistant job descriptions; develops behavioral objectives and performs initial evaluation of physician assistant students.

3. Prepares educational lectures on adult and pediatric topics for nursing and other ancillary personnel.

4. Serves on hospital committees as designated by the Division Chief; reviews and updates division protocols for adult and pediatric patient care for approval by the Division Chief.

5. Directs and supervises assigned personnel including performance evaluations, scheduling, orientation, and training. Makes recommendations on employee hires, transfers, promotions, salary changes, discipline, terminations, and similar actions. Addresses grievances and other personnel problems within position responsibilities. Provides effective direction, guidance, and leadership over the staff for effective teamwork and motivation.

6. Develops, recommends, and manages budgets for the areas managed. Coordinates the assignment of tasks for the efficient utilization of available resources.

7. Maintains credentialing and licensure for Physician Assistant staff.

8. Oversees schedules and approvals for payroll reporting, dues and membership for Physician Assistant staff.

9. Obtains a detailed medical history and performs a comprehensive physical examination on adult and pediatric patients.

10. Performs preoperative preparation of adult and pediatric patients and reinforces information presented by the attending physician to the patient and/or family as necessary. Coordinates necessary tests, consultations, and procedures as indicated or requested by the attending physician.

11. First or second assists on routine and complex adult and pediatric surgical procedures as necessary. Positions and preps patients, performs operative assistance as requested, transcribes operative notes and postoperative orders in accordance with service protocols, accompanies patients to recovery room or intensive care units.

12. Performs bedside diagnostic and therapeutic invasive procedures on adult and pediatric patients as indicated or directed by the attending surgeon, including but not limited to thoracentesis, tube thoracostomy, central venous lines, Swan-Ganz catheter insertion, wound debridement, and endotracheal intubation.

13. Performs basic and advanced cardiac life support procedures as necessary and directs these efforts until the arrival of a senior physician.

14. Prepares adult and pediatric patients for discharge, including patient and family discharge teaching, continuing care and rehabilitation arrangements, writing discharge prescriptions, and confirming primary care or referring physician follow-up.

15. Prescribes pre and postoperative medications for adult and pediatric patients in accordance with serv