Physician Assistant (General Surgery, Acute Care Service)

University Health Network; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

HOOPP pension

Transit access

Flexible work environment

Career development

Discounts

Job summary

The Physician Assistant (PA) at University Health Network (UHN) will support Toronto General and Toronto Western within the General Surgery team, collaborating with physicians, nurses and learners to improve patient care.

Responsibilities include rounds, exams, orders, discharge planning and education, with opportunities for research and policy development. Applicants should be graduates of the McMaster PA program or equivalent and be eligible for certification.

Qualifications

• Graduate of McMaster PA program or equivalent and eligible for certification.
• Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) or eligible for PACCC certification.
• Current Basic Life Support required.
• Experience in General Surgery Acute Care Surgery or related areas preferred.

Responsibilities

• Inpatient rounds and daily progress documentation with the surgical team.
• Perform focused exams and interpret lab/imaging results.
• Coordinate urgent investigations and liaise with other teams.
• Assist with bedside procedures and post-operative care.
• Discharge planning, referrals, and patient education.

Skills

Communication

Critical thinking

Teamwork

Clinical assessment

Problem solving

Education

Graduate of McMaster PA program or equivalent

Certified PA (CCPA) or eligible for PACCC

Job description

UHN is Canada's No. 1 hospital and the world's No. 1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members. UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN's vision is to build A Healthier World and its only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

The Physician Assistant (PA) will support both Toronto General and Toronto Western sites, working within the General Surgery healthcare team of physicians, nurses, trainees and other allied health professionals (in accordance with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario's policy on delegation). The Physician Assistant will function as a consistent member of the Acute Care Surgery team, helping improve continuity of care, patient flow, and communication across the inpatient surgical service.

Principal responsibilities include utilizing and demonstrating a theoretical knowledge and advanced level of clinical competence and excellence in caring for General Surgery patients. This involves collecting and interpreting data regarding the health of patients, symptom management, developing a medical diagnosis and management plan – in a collaborative team environment. The PA will play a vital role in the interprofessional team and will have quality improvement, research and administrative responsibilities. There will also be opportunities to participate in policy or clinical pathway development as well as education and professional development. The PA will perform other duties consistent with the job classification, as required.

Accountabilities

• Conducting patient interviews and taking medical histories
• Performing physical examinations and interpret findings
• Organizing laboratory and diagnostic investigations
• Performing certain controlled acts under medical directives delegated to you by a physician
• In consultation with a supervising physician, formulate and implement treatment plans and monitor patient’s progress
• Counselling patients on preventive health care
• Organizing patient follow-up
• Provide health maintenance education
• May participate in research activities
• Performing other duties within your competencies as a physician assistant

Primary Responsibilities

• Inpatient Care
• Conduct rounds with the surgical team, assisting with documentation of daily progress notes
• Perform focused physical exams and interpret laboratory and imaging results
• Assist with emergency department consultations.
• Monitor post-operative patients for complications and elevate concerns appropriately in a timely manner
• Coordinate urgent investigations and liaise with other medical teams when further consultation is required
• Assist with bedside procedures (e.g., wound care, drain removal, dressing changes)
• Complete discharge summaries, discharge prescriptions, and coordinate safe discharge plans, including sending referrals and ordering tests for follow up
• Communicate effectively with nursing and allied health teams in patient care and discharge optimization
• Liaise with patients and their families/caregivers to ensure timely communication and elevate any concerns in a timely manner
• Administrative & Coordination Duties
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds with nursing and allied health teams
• Collaborate with nursing staff to standardize care protocols
• Track patient outcomes and contribute to quality improvement initiatives
• Serve as liaison between surgical team and other hospital departments
• Participate in the education of learners, including students, residents and fellows

• 2026 Graduate of the McMaster University or Consortium of PA Education program and must be eligible for certification through the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada.
• Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) or eligible for certification through the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC)
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support required
• Experience working in with General Surgery Acute Care Surgery, General Surgery, emergency medicine, critical care, trauma or hospital medicine preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and with respect in both a verbal and written format with patients, public, colleagues and other health disciplines.
• Demonstrated competency to perform complete and appropriate clinical assessment and development of a treatment plan in accordance with medical directives.
• Proven problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative medical model of care with all members of the health care team.
• A team player with the ability to develop and maintain partnerships with multiple, diverse stakeholders.
• Flexible, organized, and self-directed within scope of practice, has initiative and independent judgement.

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly.At University Health Network (UHN), artificial intelligence technologies may be used to assist in the screening, assessment, and selection of candidates for this position.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.