Outpatient/Inpatient Gastroenterology Physician Opportunities at Brand New Lakeland Highlands Hospit

Job Description

Job Description

Join Our Team as a Gastroenterologist

We are looking for board-certified or board-eligible Gastroenterologists to become part of our team at the newly established Lakeland Highlands Hospital in Polk County, FL. This role is perfect for those who seek a well-rounded schedule that includes both clinic and procedural work, the flexibility to operate in outpatient and ASC environments, and the chance to cultivate a successful practice in a rapidly expanding community.

Our organization is recognized nationally for its exceptional digestive disease program, providing thorough and coordinated care to assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of digestive disorders. Our team comprises highly respected physicians who are leaders in clinical research and postgraduate medical education.

Key Responsibilities:

• Must be Board Eligible or Board Certified in Gastroenterology.
• Completion of an ACGME-accredited Fellowship in Gastroenterology.
• Possession of a Florida Medical License or the ability to obtain one.

Practice Highlights:

• State-of-the-art hospital featuring modern endoscopy suites and cutting-edge GI technology.
• Strong referral network through over 100 primary care physicians at Watson Clinic.
• A thriving, physician-led healthcare system with professional management.
• Excellent brand recognition, attracting new patients to our Digestive Health Institute.
• An integrated, multidisciplinary practice environment with subspecialties.
• Robust operational support and resources in a collaborative atmosphere.
• Dynamic leadership that encourages physician autonomy in clinical decisions and patient outcomes.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• Chance to expand an active research and innovation program.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package with potential for increased earnings based on productivity.
• Comprehensive benefits including vacation time, health, vision, and dental insurance, full malpractice coverage, disability insurance, and retirement savings options.
• Generous sign-on bonus with eligibility for an annual performance bonus.

Community Overview:

• No state income tax.
• Greater Orlando provides easy access to Florida's renowned theme parks and attractions.
• Diverse lifestyle options, from vibrant urban areas to family-friendly neighborhoods with top-rated schools.
• Abundant outdoor activities, including large public parks, hiking and biking trails, and access to lakes for kayaking, fishing, and paddleboarding, with beautiful beaches just an hour away.

About Our Digestive Health Institute:

Our Digestive Health Institute is a premier destination for care, offering comprehensive services to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide array of conditions affecting the digestive system, including complex cases. Led by distinguished specialists, we provide many diagnostic and treatment options that are available only at the most advanced centers, including innovative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that enhance diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Specialties and Services Include:

• Advanced Endoscopy
• General Gastroenterology
• Hepatology
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Motility
• Pancreatology
• Research and Physician Education

What Sets Us Apart:

• A commitment to innovation, cutting-edge research, and global educational initiatives.
• Among the few facilities offering peroral endoscopic myotomy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and NaviCam technology.
• One of the rare programs worldwide to integrate AI with endoscopic ultrasound procedures for improved performance.
• Development of technology in collaboration with industry partners to reduce radiation exposure during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
• Partnerships to integrate AI in endoscopic technology for early cancer detection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• A team that includes authors of over 2,000 peer-reviewed journal articles and the best-selling textbook on endoscopic ultrasound, Endosonography .

Future Initiatives:

• Creating evidence-based protocols for managing colon polyps using advanced techniques.
• Establishing a liver transplant program.
• Developing the most comprehensive motility unit in the southern United States.
• Creating subspecialty fellowships in hepatology, motility, and IBD, alongside gastrointestinal and advanced endoscopy fellowships.
• Hosting the largest institution-sponsored endoscopy/EUS congress in the United States.

About Lakeland Highlands Hospital:

As part of an integrated healthcare system, we have partnered with a respected, physician-led practice to deliver outstanding healthcare to the communities of Polk County and its surroundings. The strengths of this collaboration will be highlighted with the opening of the Lakeland Highlands Hospital in summer 2026.

This cutting-edge facility will feature over 300 inpatient beds, 69 emergency and observation beds, 11 operating rooms, four cardiac and interventional suites, and an intensive care unit that will expand from 18 to 36 beds. The hospital will provide a wide range of surgical and procedural services across various specialties. A robust cardiovascular program will offer diagnostic cardiology services at launch, with plans to include PCI care and advanced electrophysiology programs shortly thereafter. The hospital will also focus on neurology, particularly stroke and spine care, aiming to achieve primary stroke center status soon after opening, followed by comprehensive stroke center designation. An obstetrical unit will be available from day one, featuring eight labor and delivery rooms, two designated C-section operating rooms, and over 25 postpartum rooms. A neonatal intensive care unit will be introduced shortly after the hospital opens.

Our organization has received numerous awards for excellence and is recognized for fostering a workplace culture that emphasizes personal and professional development for our physicians and team members throughout their careers.

• Joy in Medicine designation by the American Medical Association.
• Great Hospitals in America 2024, Becker's Hospital Review .
• Great Place to Work® Certification.
• 150+ Top Places to Work in Healthcare 2025, Becker's Healthcare.
• Top Workplaces Award 2025, USA Today .
• America's Greatest Workplaces 2025, Newsweek .
• Glassdoor's Best Places to Work 2025.