Pediatric Plastic Surgeon - Cleft Lip and Palate Lead

Shriners Children’s Hospital; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Tuition assistance

Retirement matching

Job summary

Shriners Children’s Chicago is seeking an experienced full-time Pediatric Plastic Surgeon to serve as the Cleft Lip & Palate Lead, guiding one of the state’s top CLP programs and collaborating with APPs, plastic and oral maxillofacial surgeons, otolaryngologists, and speech language pathologists.

The ideal candidate has at least five years post-fellowship in pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgery, with leadership experience preferred.

Qualifications

• MD or DO from an accredited medical school.
• Completed ACGME Plastic Surgery residency.
• Fellowship in Craniofacial Surgery or equivalent clinical experience.
• Minimum 5 years post-fellowship in pediatric cleft lip & palate surgery.
• Board certification or eligibility in Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
• Eligibility for active medical licensure in the state; DEA eligibility.
• BLS and PALS certification; Credentialing and privileging.

Responsibilities

• Lead the cleft lip & palate program: develop strategy, monitor outcomes, ensure quality and safety.
• Perform a broad range of pediatric plastic surgical procedures for CLP: primary repairs, revisions, orthognathic surgery, nasal reconstructions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members: speech therapists, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, dentists, social work.
• Supervise and mentor fellows, residents, and other surgical staff; lead educational initiatives.
• Participate in clinical research and quality improvement; track program metrics.
• Contribute to outreach: community engagement, referrals, family education; ensure equitable access.
• Administrative responsibilities: scheduling, protocol creation/refinement, guideline implementation.

Skills

Pediatric plastic surgery

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical leadership

Communication with families

Education

MD/DO degree

ACGME Plastic Surgery Residency

Craniofacial Fellowship

Tools

Epic EMR

Surgical case management software

Job description

Company Overview Shriners Children’s is an organization that respects, supports, and values each other. Named as the 2025 best mid-sized employer by Forbes, we are engaged in providing excellence in patient care, embracing multi-disciplinary education, and research with global impact. We foster a learning environment that values evidenced based practice, experience, innovation, and critical thinking. Our compassion, integrity, accountability, and resilience define us as leaders in pediatric specialty care for our children and their families. With 20+ hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers and outreach locations across the globe, we provide excellent care to children up to age 18 regardless of their family’s ability to pay or insurance status. Please click here to learn more about our locations.

Job Description

Job Overview Shriners Children’s Chicago is seeking an experienced full-time Pediatric Plastic Surgeon to serve as the Cleft Lip & Palate (CLP) Lead. This position offers the opportunity to guide and grow one of the state’s top cleft lip & palate programs, providing high-quality surgical care and multidisciplinary leadership within a mission-driven environment. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five (5) years of post-fellowship experience in pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgery, with previous service line or program leadership being highly preferred. The CLP Lead will oversee the full continuum of cleft care, from primary repairs to complex secondary and orthognathic procedures, while collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary team of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), plastic and oral maxillofacial surgeons, otolaryngologists, and speech language pathologists. This position entails a 1.0 FTE commitment with no nights, weekends or holidays. Home call is taken on a 1 in 8 rotating basis with no ER coverage expectations. Compensation is determined by years of post-fellowship experience and departmental equity.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the cleft lip & palate program: develop strategy, monitor outcomes, ensure quality and safety.
• Perform a broad range of pediatric plastic surgical procedures for CLP: primary repairs, revisions, alveolar bone grafting, orthognathic surgery, nasal reconstructions, speech-related surgical interventions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members: speech therapists, plastic surgeons, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, dentists, social work, psychology, and care managers.
• Supervise and mentor fellows, residents, and other surgical staff; lead educational initiatives and training.
• Participate in clinical research and quality improvement projects; track program metrics (e.g., surgical outcomes, speech outcomes, patient satisfaction).
• Contribute to outreach: community engagement, referrals, family education, ensuring equitable access to care.
• Administrative responsibilities associated with CLP Lead: scheduling, protocol creation or refinement, guideline implementation.

Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited medical school
• Successful completion of an ACGME accredited residency in Plastic Surgery
• Successful completion of fellowship training in Craniofacial Surgery or equivalent clinical experience
• Substantial experience (e.g., minimum of 5 years post-fellowship) in pediatric cleft lip & palate surgery.
• Board certification or eligibility in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
• Must possess eligibility for active and unrestricted medical licensure in the state of practice
• Must possess eligibility for active DEA
• Must possess Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS for HCP) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
• Credentialing and privileging by the medical staff in accordance with hospital bylaws
• Specialized knowledge in pediatric reconstructive procedures, growth and developmental anatomy, and wound healing
• Skilled in microsurgery, craniofacial surgery, cleft repair, and pediatric soft tissue reconstruction
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and multidisciplinary care teams
• Proficient in operative planning, intraoperative decision-making, and post-surgical care specific to pediatric patients
• Familiarity with electronic medical records (Epic) and surgical case management software
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior service line or program leadership experience highly preferred.

Benefits

• Eligible Shriners Children’s employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance, retirement matching and so much more!
• Compensation is determined by years of post-fellowship experience and departmental equity.
• Compensation is determined based on years of relevant experience and departmental equity.

Every day, we provide innovative, compassionate care and conduct leading research that enhances the quality of life for children and their families. We invite you to explore the many rewarding career paths at Shriners Children's, from clinical and non-clinical positions to education and research opportunities. We’re always looking for driven, compassionate professionals to join our team as nurses, physical therapists, medical assistants, administrative staff and much more. No matter where you're located, you'll find openings at our Shriners Children’s facilities across the U.S., in Canada and Mexico and at our corporate headquarters in Tampa, Florida.