Chief Physician Assistant Surgical

About the role

The Department of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery at Montefiore-Einstein is seeking a highly experienced Chief Physician Assistant (PA) to provide clinical leadership and administrative oversight of the Thoracic Surgery PA team.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and supervision of Physician Assistants within Thoracic Surgery
• Manage staffing, scheduling, and daily operations to ensure continuous clinical coverage
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, training, and retention of PA staff
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development
• Aid with payroll, budgeting, and resource management
• Serve as a liaison between PAs, physicians, nursing, and administrative leadership
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care across all clinical settings
• Collaborate with attending physicians and interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care
• Maintain monitoring of clinical performance, patient outcomes, and satisfaction metrics
• Support development and implementation of clinical protocols and pathways
• Develop and maintain PA orientation, training, and competency programs
• Mentor and support ongoing education and clinical skill development
• Participate in departmental initiatives, research activities, and quality improvement efforts
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements (e.g., JCAHO, NYS DOH)
• Support audit readiness and accreditation standards
• Oversee documentation standards and reporting requirements
• Perform comprehensive patient assessments, including histories and physical exams
• Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
• Assist in thoracic surgical procedures and provide perioperative care
• Develop and implement treatment plans in collaboration with supervising physicians
• Perform advanced procedures (as credentialed), including line placement and chest tube insertion
• Respond to emergencies and perform life-saving interventions as needed

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from an accredited program
• Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
• Active New York State Physician Assistant license (or eligibility)
• Minimum of 4–6 years of clinical experience; thoracic or surgical experience strongly preferred
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred
• Current BLS and ACLS certifications
• Strong leadership, clinical judgment, and communication skills