Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon - Program Leader at Banner Children's

Banner Health; Arizona; On-site; USD 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Paid time off

Malpractice and tail coverage

CME allowance

Retirement and financial well-being

Parental leave and family support

Well-being resources

Loan forgiveness programs

Job summary

Banner Health's Banner Children's at Banner Desert Medical Center in Arizona seeks a visionary Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon to lead the congenital heart surgery program in partnership with the Rady Children's Pediatric Heart Institute.

The incoming surgeon will shape clinical strategy, drive growth, and foster region-wide collaborations, with access to a strong pediatric cardiology base and robust institutional support.

Qualifications

• MD/DO or equivalent medical degree.
• Board Certified or Board Eligible in Thoracic Surgery and Congenital Heart Surgery.
• Eligible for an unrestricted medical license in Arizona.
• Proven track record of clinical excellence and leadership in congenital heart surgery.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and programmatic leadership for the congenital heart surgery program.
• Build and strengthen referral relationships across Arizona.
• Partner across Banner Health's integrated system to design a seamless continuum of care.
• Collaborate with Banner Health Foundation on philanthropic growth for the program.

Skills

Leadership in CHS

Clinical excellence

Education

MD/DO or equivalent

Job description

Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon – Program Leader

Institution: Banner Children's at Banner Desert Medical Center

Partnership: Rady Children's Pediatric Heart Institute

Opportunity Overview

Banner Children's, in partnership with the Rady Children's Pediatric Heart Institute, is seeking an exceptional, visionary Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon to provide clinical and programmatic leadership for the Congenital Heart Surgery program.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of pediatric congenital heart care in Arizona—one of the fastest-growing states in the nation.

The incoming surgeon will step into a program primed for exponential growth, backed by an established pediatric cardiology base, robust institutional support, and a built-in regional referral network.

• Programmatic Leadership: Serve as the clinical leader for congenital heart surgery at Banner Children's.
• Network Collaboration: Build and strengthen referral relationships with pediatricians, cardiologists, neonatologists, and community physicians across Arizona.
• System Integration: Partner across Banner Health's integrated medical group, ambulatory network, and acute care hospitals to design a seamless continuum of care.
• Philanthropic Engagement: Collaborate with the Banner Health Foundation to advance philanthropic investment for long-term program growth.

The Rady Children's Partnership

This position features a formal clinical partnership with Rady Children's Pediatric Heart Institute, one of the most respected pediatric cardiac programs in the United States. Dr. John Nigro at Rady Children's serves as a key collaborator in this relationship, providing mentorship, case collaboration, and strategic program development. This alliance is structured to accelerate program growth, implement world-class clinical best practices, and position the program for national recognition.

Clinical Infrastructure & Volume Opportunity

Banner Children's at Banner Desert Medical Center is a fully operational, expanding 206-bed state-of-the-art children's hospital serving as a quaternary hub. The program features a comprehensive infrastructure capable of supporting high-complexity congenital cases:

• High-Volume Pipeline: Banner Health delivers thousands of babies annually across its system, ensuring a natural, robust pipeline of neonatal and pediatric cardiac patients.
• Dedicated ICU Support: Access to a high-volume Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and one of the largest, most active Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in Arizona.
• Specialized Cardiac Care: Dedicated Cardiac Anesthesia capability alongside established programs in interventional/non-interventional cardiology and cardiac imaging.
• Full Subspecialty Depth: On-site teams across most major pediatric disciplines, including nephrology, neurology, and hematology/oncology.

Academic Affiliation & Research

Through Banner Health's longstanding partnership with the University of Arizona, this role offers a genuine pathway for academic identity and scholarly engagement:

• Faculty Appointment: Academic appointment through the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
• Scholarly Activity: Opportunities to engage in clinical research, medical education, and fellowship training.
• Peer Collaboration: Access to Banner's broader academic medicine infrastructure and a collaborative relationship with Banner’s adult cardiovascular surgery program.

About Banner Health

Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit hospital systems in the United States, operating 33 hospitals across six states. As Arizona's cornerstone healthcare provider, Banner reinvests more than $1 billion annually back into clinical care, medical education, research, and community health programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• MD/DO or equivalent foreign medical degree.
• Board Certified or Board Eligible in Thoracic Surgery and Congenital Heart Surgery.
• Eligible for an unrestricted medical license in the State of Arizona.
• Proven track record of clinical excellence and leadership in congenital heart surgery.

You take care of others. Let us take care of you.

At Banner, your benefits package is all about your well-being. But that’s more than just basic medical, dental and vision coverage — it’s everything that makes you uniquely you, from your emotional health, to your family, to your satisfaction at work. We design your benefits with you in mind, offering a wide variety of comprehensive benefits that give you peace of mind and provide security for you and your family.

Benefits Include

• Competitive benefits and compensation package
• Paid Sick Time & Personal Time Off
• Malpractice and Tail Coverage
• CME Allowance and Paid Time Off
• Legal, Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• Pet, Auto, and Home Insurance
• Adoption Assistance, Fertility Benefits, and Parental Leave
• Support Resources available for pet care, childcare, elder care, housekeeping, and tutoring
• 24/7 Confidential Mental Health Support, plus coordination of child and elder care
• Well-Being Program, including healthy-habit building, fitness challenges, nutrition guides, on-demand webinars, sleep guides, mindfulness, and more!
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Financial wellness resources, including retirement plans with matching, employee perks and discounts

As an equal opportunity employer, Banner Medical Group (BMG) values culture and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences and backgrounds. BMG is an EEO Employer.