Physcian Assistant Per Diem, Cardiac Surgery Hybrid Operative/Inpatient

UCI group; California; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Irvine seeks a physician assistant to join the Cardiovascular Institute, focusing on advanced surgical assistance in cardiac procedures and EVH. You will work with a team of surgeons, ICU clinicians, and nurses to support patient care.

The role emphasizes independent clinical practice, ongoing skill development, and participation in a call rotation. A California PA license and NCCPA certification are required.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program.
• Must be a current, active, and unrestricted licensed Physician Assistant in the State of California.
• NCCPA certified at time of hire and maintained throughout career.
• Current BLS and ACLS certification.
• Must have a National Provider Identifier (NPI) or obtain one prior to employment start date.
• Must have a current DEA number.

Responsibilities

• Perform endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) and assist in cardiac surgeries, including vascular exposures and ECMO cannulation.
• Advance surgical skills under leadership of cardiac surgeons and collaborate with ICU staff.
• Work 12-hour shifts with call rotation and on-floor patient care support in a high-demand environment.
• Assist in acute-care procedures and ensure patient safety and documentation quality.

Skills

Clear medical communication

Verbal and written communication

Attention to detail

Independent work

Team collaboration

Medical reporting

Education

ARC-PA accredited PA program

CA PA license

NCCPA certification

BLS and ACLS certification

DEA number

NPI requirement

Tools

EPIC EMR

Job description

Overview

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Department of Surgery emphasizes postgraduate education in surgery and has 11 specialty divisions with opportunities to develop clinical and research skills.

Responsibilities

Role and Responsibilities: We are looking for candidates with a strong work ethic, technical proficiency, and a passion for surgical skill development. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, independent, and thrive in a collaborative, mentorship-driven environment. Key responsibilities include:

• Performing endoscopic vein harvesting with experience or interest in endoscopic radial artery harvest.
• First assisting in cardiac surgeries, including gaining experience in large vessel exposure, femoral artery and vein access, sternotomy procedures, and ECMO cannulation.
• Advancing surgical skills under the guidance of dedicated cardiac surgeons committed to PA skill development.
• Working closely with attending cardiac surgeons, ICU physicians, and cardiac nurse practitioners who oversee patient care on the floors.
• Assisting in acute-care procedures such as ECMO management and performing surgical interventions in the ICU and on the floor.

This position reports to cardiac surgery leadership, including the Division Chief and Co-Directors of the Cardiovascular Institute, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and best practices. Surgical PAs in this role will work 12-hour shifts, balancing time in the operating room and other hospital areas where acute and procedural support is needed. The per diem position also includes participation in the call rotation, with call requirements determined by service needs. This position provides an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on experience in complex cardiac procedures beyond the traditional PA scope.

Qualifications

Required:

• Skill at clearly communicating medical information to broad variety of people, both in person and on the telephone.
• Maintains clinical competence in the delivery of patient care in the specialty area. Corrections of treatment modalities.
• Ability to be trained in the use of specialized medical equipment and procedures. Ability to perform various medical procedures.
• Knowledge of applicable billing practices for PA services.
• Applicants are expected to meet the legal requirements to practice as a PA as determined by graduation from a training program approved by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California; to be certified by the State Board of Medical Examiners or the National Board of Medical Examiners.
• HIPPA and other training completion as required by Medical Center Annual TB screening and any applicable test to meet JCAHO requirements. Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and procedures related to Protected Health Information (PHI) or other sensitive and personal information.
• Must possess the skill, knowledge, and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties. Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the program and UCI Health System.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the organization. Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job.
• Ability to exercise diplomacy and flexibility in interacting with physicians, nurses, other paramedical personnel, administrators, emergency and law enforcement officers.
• Skill to clearly communicate medical information to a broad variety of people, both in person and over the telephone.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Writing skills to prepare clear medical reports, laboratory data and progress notes. Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload.
• Ability to be trained in the use of specialized medical equipment and procedures.
• Graduate from an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program.
• Must be a current, active, and unrestricted licensed Physician Assistant in the State of California.
• California State Physician Assistant License, issued by Physician Assistant Board under Medical Board of California by date of hire. Must be a current, active, and unrestricted license.
• NCCPA certified at time of hire and maintained throughout career at UCI. Current BLS and ACLS certification.
• Must have a National Provider Identifier (NPI), or obtain an NPI, prior to employment start date and meet current Medicare requirements for billing.
• Must have a current DEA number.
• Minimum of five years of previous experience in cardiothoracic surgery with independent competency in endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH).

Preferred:

• Willingness to contribute to quality improvement projects and initiatives as well as research, education and training when appropriate.
• Familiar with EPIC Electronic Medical Record.

Special Conditions:

• Ability to obtain UCIMC Allied Health Professional Privileges prior to hire.
• Practice agreements completed and on file in Department.

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].