Sr Physician Assistant, Cardiac Surgery (Days) **Signing Bonus up to $20,000**

Senior Surgical Physician Assistant

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.
• Providing inpatient floor management for cardiac surgery patients, including daily rounds, discharge coordination, consultative support, and multidisciplinary care planning.

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. Clinical responsibilities may be distributed between operative, procedural, inpatient, and acute care services based on programmatic needs. The role is expected to maintain significant operative involvement while also providing inpatient floor management, ICU support, discharge coordination, consultative services, and procedural care as needed. Inpatient and floor-based responsibilities are an expected component of the position and may comprise up to 50% of assigned clinical effort based on programmatic and patient care needs. 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.