"Sr. Cardiac Surgery Physician Assistant"

Sr. Cardiac Surgery Physician Assistant

Req ID: 110079
Location: Orange, California
Division: School of Medicine
Department: Surgery
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range Minimum: USD $85.47/Hr.
Salary Range Maximum: USD $117.34/Hr.

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

$50,000.00 Sign-On Bonus for External Candidate only. See below for details
Relocation Reimbursement for External Candidate only. See below for details
To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

Surgery

Your Role on the Team

The Cardiovascular Institute and Division of Cardiac Surgery at UCI Health are seeking an experienced and motivated senior surgical physician assistant (Surgical PA). As one of the leading programs at UCI-Health, our cardiac surgery division is experiencing significant growth in both volume and complexity. UCI Health is the only hospital in Orange County performing durable LVADs and caring for complex ECMO patients.

Role and Responsibilities:
We are looking for candidates with a strong work ethic, technical proficiency, and a passion for surgical skill development. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, independent, and thrive in a collaborative, mentorship-driven environment.

Key responsibilities include:
- Performing endoscopic vein harvesting with experience or interest in endoscopic radial artery harvest.
- First assisting in cardiac surgeries, including gaining experience in large vessel exposure, femoral artery and vein access, sternotomy procedures, and ECMO cannulation.
- Advancing surgical skills under the guidance of dedicated cardiac surgeons committed to PA skill development.
- Working closely with attending cardiac surgeons, ICU physicians, and cardiac nurse practitioners who oversee patient care on the floors.
- Assisting in acute-care procedures such as ECMO management and performing surgical interventions in the ICU and on the floor.

This position reports to cardiac surgery leadership, including the Division Chief and Co-Directors of the Cardiovascular Institute, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and best practices. Surgical PAs in this role will work four 10-hour shifts per week, balancing time in the operating room and other hospital areas where acute and procedural support is needed. This position provides an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on experience in complex cardiac procedures beyond the traditional PA scope. We look forward to partnering with outstanding candidates who share our vision and commitment to advancing surgical excellence in cardiac care at UCI Health.

External Candidates hired into the Sr. PA classification (Job Code 009202) within the Cardiac Surgery Division by December 31, 2025, are eligible for a $50,000.00 sign-on bonus. Payment terms will be $25,000 paid to active employee on their first paycheck and the second payment of $25,000 will be paid to active employee upon completion of one year employment.

External Candidates relocating to California who are successfully hired into this job posting and meet relocation criteria will be offered up to $10,000.00 in relocation reimbursement.

What It Takes to be Successful

Required:
Must be a current, active, and unrestricted licensed Physician Assistant in the State of California.
Practice agreements completed and on file in Department.
Ability to obtain UCIMC Allied Health Professional Privileges prior to hire.
Practice agreements completed and on file in Department.
Skill at clearly communicating medical information to broad variety of people, both in person and on the telephone.
Maintains clinical competence in the delivery of patient care in the specialty area.
Corrections of treatment modalities.
Ability to be trained in the use of specialized medical equipment and procedures.
Ability to perform various medical procedures.
Knowledge of applicable billing practices for PA services.
Applicants are expected to meet the legal requirements to practice as a PA as determined by graduation from a training program approved by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California; to be certified by the State Board of Medical Examiners or the National Board of Medical Examiners.
HIPPA and other training completion as required by Medical Center Annual TB screening and any applicable test to meet JCAHO requirements. Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and procedures related to Protected Health Information (PHI) or other sensitive and personal information.
Must possess the skill, knowledge, and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties.
Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the program and UCI Health System.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the organization.
Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.
Ability to exercise diplomacy and flexibility in interacting with physicians, nurses, other paramedical personnel, administrators, emergency and law enforcement officers.
Skill to clearly communicate medical information to a broad variety of people, both in person and over the telephone.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Writing skills to prepare clear medical reports, laboratory data and progress notes.
Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload.
Ability to be trained in the use of specialized medical equipment and procedures.
Graduate from an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program.
California State Physician Assistant License, issued by Physician Assistant Board under Medical Board of California by date of hire. Must be a current, active, and unrestricted license.
NCCPA certified at time of hire and maintained throughout career at UCI.
Current BLS and ACLS certification
Must have a National Provider Identifier (NPI), or obtain an NPI, prior to employment start date and meet current Medicare requirements for billing.
Must have a current DEA number.
A minimum of 5 years of experience in cardiothoracic surgery with independent competency in endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH).

Preferred:
Willingness to contribute to quality improvement projects and initiatives as well as research, education and training when appropriate.
Familiar with EPIC Electronic Medical Record.