Wound Surgeon / Director of Inpatient Wound Services

Job Description Summary

South Shore Health System (SSH) is seeking a full-time Wound Surgeon with expertise in complex wound management and reconstruction to serve as the Director of Inpatient Wound Services at South Shore Hospital. This physician leader will direct a comprehensive inpatient wound service while maintaining an active ambulatory wound surgery practice within a well-established, high-volume regional wound care program. The Director will work in close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team - including WOCNs, general surgery, vascular surgery, podiatry, hospitalists, and advanced practice providers - to deliver coordinated, evidence-based wound care across inpatient and ambulatory settings. This role represents a strategic opportunity to build and lead a recognized Center of Excellence in Wound Care at South Shore Health.

Job Description

About South Shore Health System
South Shore Health System (SSH) is a not-for-profit, independent community health system headquartered in Weymouth, Massachusetts, serving the South Shore region of Greater Boston. SSH encompasses South Shore Hospital, a regional referral acute care facility, as well as an expanding network of ambulatory care centers, physician practices, and specialty services. With a commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and compassionate patient-centered care, SSH is one of the most respected community health systems in New England.

The South Shore Hospital Wound Center
The South Shore Hospital Wound Center treats approximately 100 patients per day - more than 20,000 patients annually - and serves as a major referral center for complex and chronic wounds throughout the South Shore region. Despite its clinical volume and breadth, the program is positioned for significant growth and enhancement.

The current inpatient wound care model includes two Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses (WOCNs) and a consulting plastic surgeon. Additional wound care and surgical support is provided by established podiatry, vascular surgery, and general surgery teams, with consultative support from urology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and hospitalist services. The upcoming retirement of the current plastic surgeon creates a timely and strategic opportunity to reorganize these multidisciplinary efforts into a coordinated, physician-led wound service with dedicated leadership, enhanced surgical access, and improved care continuity across inpatient and ambulatory settings.

Position Highlights
• Physician leadership role directing the Inpatient Wound Service at South Shore Hospital.
• Integrated inpatient and ambulatory wound surgery practice within a high-volume regional wound center.
• Strategic opportunity to develop and lead a regional Center of Wound Care.
• Dedicated OR block time for wound-related surgical procedures.
• Robust NP/PA support and collaborative multidisciplinary team.
• Educational and program development opportunities with medical staff, nursing, and community partners.
• Practice within an independent, mission-driven community health system with strong regional partnerships.

Key Responsibilities
Clinical Excellence
• Serve as the Wound Surgeon for the South Shore Medical Center Ambulatory Wound Center and Director of the South Shore Health Inpatient Wound Service, overseeing all hospital-based wound care.
• Provide surgical consultation and operative management for complex wounds, including chronic non-healing wounds, surgical wound complications, pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcers, and wounds requiring debridement, skin grafting, flap coverage, or reconstruction.
• Maintain an active ambulatory wound surgery practice with strong integration between the inpatient and outpatient wound centers for seamless pre- and post-operative care.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams including WOCNs, general surgery, vascular surgery, podiatry, hospitalists, and advanced practice providers to ensure coordinated, evidence-based wound management.
• Provide timely, compassionate, and evidence-based care to patients with acute and chronic wounds across all clinical settings.
• Ensure appropriate, standardized use of advanced wound care technologies, including negative pressure wound therapy, bioengineered skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy referral pathways, and emerging wound healing modalities.

Note: Candidates who are Board Certified or Board Eligible in Plastic Surgery may elect to maintain and expand their practice within the Plastic Surgery service, including participation in specialty clinics, operative cases, patient care, and call coverage. This opportunity is optional and intended to allow interested candidates to continue practicing within their broader specialty rather than being limited exclusively to wound care. This flexibility extends to candidates Board Certified or Board Eligible in other relevant surgical specialties as well.

Leadership & Program Development
• Provide physician leadership and strategic direction for the Inpatient Wound Service, setting short- and long-term goals aligned with SSH's mission and the evolving landscape of wound care.
• Lead the development of a coordinated, physician-led inpatient wound service model that enhances surgical access, care continuity, and clinical outcomes.
• Partner with hospital administration, nursing leadership, WOCNs, and ancillary services to optimize care delivery, patient throughput, and the patient experience for wound care patients.
• Drive the strategic vision to establish SSH's wound program as a recognized regional Center of Excellence in Wound Care.
• Develop and implement standardized wound care protocols, clinical pathways, and order sets across inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• Serve as an engaged member of the Department of Surgery and relevant medical staff committees.

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety
• Lead ongoing quality improvement initiatives within the wound care program, utilizing institutional dashboards and national benchmarking data.
• Monitor and report on key quality metrics including wound healing rates, time to surgical intervention, infection rates, readmission rates, and patient-reported outcomes.
• Promote evidence-based wound care practices and antimicrobial stewardship across all clinical settings.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous learning among all members of the wound care team.

Education & Research
• Provide education to ED physicians, hospitalists, nursing staff, physical and occupational therapy, and VNA partners on evidence-based wound assessment, management, and referral pathways.
• Participate in the development of local and regional wound care education programs.
• Mentor and teach medical students, residents, and advanced practice providers rotating through the wound care service.
• If desirable, may pursue opportunities for clinical research, including participation in multi-institutional trials and investigator-initiated studies relevant to wound healing and reconstruction.
• Promote the dissemination of knowledge through publications, presentations, and community education programs.
• Stay current with advances in wound care surgery and translate emerging best practices into clinical care at SSH.

Community Engagement
• Serve as a visible and trusted clinical leader for the South Shore community in matters related to wound care, wound prevention, and chronic wound management.
• Partner with community organizations, primary care physicians, skilled nursing facilities, and referring providers to enhance access to specialized wound care services.
• Participate in outreach events and educational programs to raise awareness of wound prevention and treatment across diverse patient populations.

Call Responsibilities
• Call responsibilities will be structured in coordination with existing surgical coverage arrangements and may be adjusted based on specialty background.

Qualifications & Requirements
Required
• MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school.
• Completion of an accredited surgical residency program in a relevant specialty (e.g., Plastic Surgery, General Surgery, or other surgical specialty with wound reconstruction expertise).
• Board Certification or active Board Eligibility in the relevant surgical specialty.
• Current, unrestricted medical license (or eligibility for licensure) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Eligibility for medical staff appointment and surgical privileges at South Shore Hospital.
• Demonstrated clinical expertise in complex wound management, wound reconstruction, and surgical wound care.
• Strong commitment to quality, patient safety, and evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to collaborative, multidisciplinary care.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team-based environment.

Preferred
• Board Certification in Plastic Surgery or relevant surgical specialty with fellowship or advanced training in wound care, microsurgery, or reconstructive surgery.
• Prior experience in a wound center leadership, program director, or medical director role.
• Experience with advanced wound care modalities including negative pressure wound therapy, bioengineered skin substitutes, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
• Active involvement in clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, or national society participation (e.g., WHS, SAWC, APWCA).
• Experience with chronic wound populations including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure injuries, and post-surgical wound complications.

• Established referral relationships and clinical reputation in the Greater Boston and South Shore medical community.

Core Competencies
• Advanced technical surgical skills in wound debridement, reconstruction, skin grafting, and flap procedures.
• Strong clinical judgment and ability to manage complex, high-acuity wound patients across inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• Excellent communication skills with patients, families, and multidisciplinary team members.
• Commitment to compassionate, equitable, and patient-centered surgical care.
• Collaborative, collegial approach to practice within a team-based environment.
• Dedication to continuous learning, quality improvement, program development, and professional growth.

Compensation & Benefits
South Shore Health System offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications, including:
• Competitive base salary with productivity incentive and potential for quality bonus structure.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Generous paid time off, CME allowance, malpractice, and professional development support.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer
South Shore Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

How to Apply
Qualified candidates are invited to submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter directly to the SSH employment portal and/or to:

South Shore Health System
55 Fogg Road, Weymouth, MA 02190
Attn: Tracey Donohue
Email: View email address on careers.southshorehealth.org
Phone: View phone number on careers.southshorehealth.org