Organ Procurement Surgeon

About the role

LifeSource is hiring an Organ Procurement Surgeon to be responsible for the surgical recovery of deceased donor organs for transplantation and/or research in the operative setting. This surgeon serves within the Organ Services department and is accountable for the surgical evaluation, dissection, recovery, preservation, packaging, and disposition of donor organs in accordance with organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and transplantation best practices.

The Organ Procurement Surgeon primarily recovers abdominal organs from both Donation after Brain Death (DBD) and Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) donors and may also participate in the recovery of thoracic organs, tissues, heart valves, and research organs. This role collaborates closely with donor hospital personnel, transplant center surgeons and coordinators, medical examiners, pathology departments, and Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) staff to maximize organ utilization and transplantation outcomes.

This position manages the operative environment to facilitate the safe and efficient recovery of all transplantable and research organs while maintaining donor dignity and honoring the gift of donation. The Organ Procurement Surgeon promotes evidence-based practices, serves as a mentor and educator, and supports organizational efforts to increase both the number of donors and organs transplanted.

Responsibilities

• Performs surgical recovery of abdominal organs from deceased donors meeting national standards for organ recovery and transplantation.
• Manages the donor hospital recovery process by collaborating with hospital staff and other transplant center personnel in a respectful and professional manner.
• Performs organ biopsies and collaborates with donor hospital pathology regarding interpretation and organ suitability, when requested.
• Inspects the abdominal cavity for abnormalities requiring pathological evaluation or further investigation.
• Recovers abdominal organs from deceased donors for transplantation.
• Recovers heart valves and organs for research.
• Maintains expertise in organ preservation and places organ(s) on the preservation devices as needed.
• Prepares organs for cannulation in collaboration with the Surgical Recovery Coordinator/Surgical Recovery Specialist.
• Provides an accurate and verifiable description of organ anatomy with LifeSource staff to include the assessment of quality, anatomical abnormalities, and surgical injuries for the awareness and ultimate acceptance of the recipient transplant programs.
• Performs sterile packaging of organs in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Assists with verification of organ labeling to ensure accuracy and safety and assists the Surgical Recovery Coordinator (SRC) in perfusion and preservation.
• Communicates significant operative findings to medical examiners, pathology personnel, transplant centers, and leadership as appropriate.
• Participates in quality review of donors.
• Maintains a professional operating room environment with responsibility to manage conflict when necessary.
• Assists, as directed, in the development of policies and procedures relating to organ donor evaluation, screening, medical management, surgical recovery, and organ preservation.
• Accountable for timely, complete, and accurate documentation for all surgical procedures within the electronic medical record.
• Supports compliance with CMS, OPTN, and FDA standards and all medical/legal requirements of LifeSource.
• Engages in activities, meetings, and initiatives with professional associations such as United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN), Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), obtaining required continuing medical education/units per regulatory agency.

Requirements

• Completion of American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) transplant fellowship preferred or currently licensed Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) with 5 years’ experience in organ recovery.
• Detail oriented and highly organized with a desire to improve processes, take initiative and solve problems.
• Excellent critical thinking and analytical skills to confidently execute reasonable and sound decision making.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills including effective written correspondence, active listening, and professional customer service response at all levels.
• Must maintain a valid driver license and have reliable personal automobile to be used with company reimbursement using IRS guidelines.
• Available a minimum of 20 on-call days each 4-week period, including every other weekend. When on call, must be available to surgically recover organs at any time set by LifeSource team members.
• Extensive travel within Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota both by vehicle and small aircraft. Some national travel may also be required based on availability.
• Ability to lift/push/pull packages up to 50 pounds.
• Manual dexterity to perform organ procurement surgery for transplant.
• Keyboard literacy and/or dexterity sufficient to type, and ability to safely operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to concentrate on technical details with constant interruptions.
• Ability to frequently understand and relate to ideas, concepts and theories behind several related concepts as well as constantly remember multiple tasks and assignments given over time periods from immediate to several months.
• Must be able to successfully complete a background check.

Pay

Projected offer range: $300k–$350k, based on relevant experience.

Benefits

• Comprehensive on-boarding, as well as on-going personal and career development.
• Health, vision, dental, and life insurance.
• Generous PTO.
• 401k matching.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Resiliency coaching.
• HSA employer contributions.