Physician Assistant - Thoracic Surgery

St. Luke’s University Health Network; Quakertown (Bucks County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Orientation program

Mentorship

Benefits package

Competitive compensation

CME reimbursement

Fitness center memberships

Malpractice insurance

Team-based care

Teaching opportunities

Job summary

St. Luke’s University Health Network seeks an Advanced Practitioner (NP or PA) to provide medical services under physician supervision in thoracic surgery. You will evaluate patients, perform exams, order tests, and contribute to care plans for surgical patients.

Packaging includes teaching, mentorship, and participation in ongoing quality initiatives, with a strong emphasis on patient advocacy and outcomes improvement.

Qualifications

• Board-eligible or board-certified NP or PA with current license in PA or NJ.
• Experience in surgical or thoracic settings preferred, new grads welcome.
• Excellent communication and patient-centered care required.

Responsibilities

• Assess, diagnose, and manage patients under physician supervision in thoracic care.
• Perform exams, order tests, interpret results, and develop treatment plans.
• Coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams and document for billing.
• Provide telehealth assessments via St. Luke’s platform when appropriate.
• Teach students and residents, contributing to academic at St. Luke’s.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Patient counseling

Care coordination

Physical examination

EMR proficient

Education

NP or PA certification

State licensure PA/NP

Tools

EMR/EHR systems

Job description

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care. The Advanced Practitioner (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) is responsible for providing healthcare services to patients under the supervision of, and/or in collaboration with, the attending physician. These services include, but not limited to, medical evaluation, treatment, counseling, and referrals. Consists of diagnostic evaluations, therapeutic remediation, surgical assistance, and pharmaceutical prescription As with any other health care professional, the Advanced Practitioner is charged with being a patient advocate. The Advanced Practitioner will participate in patient satisfaction, quality, and performance improvement initiatives. Thoracic Surgery: Surgical practice treating both benign and malignant thoracic conditions; includes outpatient care, inpatient care and surgical assist.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Competent in the assessment, treatment, counseling, and education of the patient, and their families, being provided medical services.
• Competency in evaluating patients and performing physical examinations including obtaining, studying, and updating medical histories.
• Demonstrates ability to determine abnormal conditions by administering or ordering diagnostic tests, such as radiologic and laboratory studies, and then accurately interpreting test results.
• Evaluates, develops, and implements appropriate patient management and treatment plans, based on assessment of needs.
• Coordinates and communicates patient care effectively with other healthcare professionals and institutions to meet patient’s healthcare needs.
• Provides high quality health care, based on best practice and/or evidenced based medicine.
• Performs therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, as appropriate, and aligned with granted clinical privileges.
• As requested, conduct virtual care services, described as live and interactive clinical assessments, diagnosis, and treatment of patients via St. Luke’s virtual care platform, assisting in care coordination and/or escalation of care, as appropriate.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Maintains required continuing medical education.
• Participates in the research, development, implementation, and tracking of clinical management guidelines.
• Participates in the teaching of multidisciplinary students (nursing, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, physician assistant, medical, etc.) and physician residents & fellows, ensuring a positive educational environment.
• Participates in AP student clinical rotation preceptorship, when assigned.
• Demonstrates performance improvement in the following areas as appropriate: clinical care/outcomes, customer/service improvement, operational system/process, and safety.
• Competent in utilizing electronic medical record, remains current with medical record documentation, and provides documentation that is for optimal for billing provided professional services.
• Demonstrates financial responsibility and accountability through the effective and efficient use of resources in daily procedures, processes and practices.
• Peri- operative (pre- & post-) assessment and management of assigned surgical patients.
• Ensures appropriate orders have been placed and completed.
• Assists surgeon in the intra-operative care of the surgical patient during scheduled and emergency procedures, as assigned.
• Examples include, but not limited to: First/second surgical assist, drain placement, wound closure and techniques for application of sterile dressings.
• Daily evaluations and rounding of post-operative patients, determining and ordering appropriate studies and therapeutic regimens.
• As assigned, assists in outpatient office hours, with both pre- and post-operative evaluation of patients, completion of associated documentation, and then effective communication with referring & family physician.
• Knowledge of and maintenance of pertinent surgical patient databases, in relation to performance and quality improvement.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER TO YOU?:

• Robust orientation program for all levels of experience including new grads
• AP Mentorship Program
• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Competitive Compensation Package
• CME plus Certification Cost Reimbursement
• Fitness and Sports Performance Center Memberships
• Malpractice Insurance
• Team-based care with well-educated, dedicated support staff
• Teaching, research, quality improvement and strategic development opportunities

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be board eligible or board-Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner or Medical Physician Assistant with current license to practice in the state of Pennsylvania or New Jersey, as determined by the job location.

Although one year experience in a surgical setting is preferred, new grads are encouraged to apply!

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Sit up to 8 hours per day; 3 hours at a time.
• Stand for up to 8 hours per day; 8 hours at a time.
• Walking for up to 6 hours per day.
• Frequently lifting, carrying and pushing objects up to 10 pounds.
• Rarely lifting, carrying and pushing objects up to 75 pounds.
• Frequently stooping and bending.
• Frequently reaching above shoulder level.
• Frequently handling, firm grasping and twisting & turning as it relates to performing procedures.
• Must be able to perceive attributes of an object through touch.
• Must be able to hear as it relates to normal conversation, high and low frequencies.
• Must be able to see as it relates to general, near, far, color and peripheral vision.
• Must be able to speak as it relates to normal conversation and projection as it relates to lectures and presentations.

CULTURE:

St. Luke’s is a thriving, integrated health network where more than 1,000 Advanced Practitioners are integral members of the health care team. Our employed providers benefit from a dedicated leadership structure, a professional organization, and a culture that puts patient care at the center. With an established department of advanced practice that has a dedicated leadership structure, and with room for advancement and growth within the Network.

St. Luke’s University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 23,000 employees providing services at 16 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue in excess of $4 billion, the Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital. SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. The Network’s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Premier 13 times total and eleven years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. In 2021, St. Luke’s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally. St. Luke’s is the ONLY health care institution in the Lehigh Valley to be named a Top Workplace regionally repeating the exclusive honor for the third year in a row. Also, for the third straight year, St. Luke’s has been a Top Workplaces in the Philadelphia Region by the Philadelphia Inquirer, ranking 9th in the large employer category for 2025 and the only health care system in PA to receive this award. In 2025, St. Luke’s was recognized as a national Top Workplaces by USA Today, three years in a row, including the 3rd best health care system in the nation in 2023 and 2024. Lastly, St. Luke’s was named a Top Workplace in New Jersey for the third year in a row. Learn More Here.