Physician Assistant, Cardiothoracic Surgery (Oakland, CA)

Opportunity Information

Assesses, diagnoses, plans and implements the medical care of patients in collaboration with a physician. Functions within the full scope of licensure; accountable for the assessment, coordination delivery and evaluation of care, including direct patient care, patient/family education and transitions of care. Provides medical consultation including the performance of therapeutic procedures delegated by the supervising physician, assist with various procedures, provides patient education, treatment and follow-up, may complete daily rounds and as needed using an organized multi-disciplinary team approach to provide continuity of care throughout the care continuum. The Physician Assistant's responsibilities may include managing patients in an office, hospital, emergency and/or perioperative setting. Follows ambulatory care and inpatient standardized procedures, protocols, policy and procedures regulated by the State of California Physician Assistant Practice Act.

PATIENT CARE
? Performs patient assessments to include: obtaining basic medical information and history, reviewing patient's medical record, performing physical exam, documenting findings into patient medical record, and reporting deviations from normal findings to attending physician.
? Provides health care services to patients under the direction and responsibility of physician.
? Examines patient, performs comprehensive physical examination, and compiles patient medical data, including health history and results of physical examination.
? Administers or orders diagnostic tests, and interprets test results for deviations from normal.
? Develops and implements patient management plans, records progress notes, and assists in provision of continuity of care.
? Instructs and counsels patients regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
? Performs therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, and managing infection.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSABILITIES
? Communicates orally and in writing with patients, physicians and staff as indicated.
? Provides health education and counseling to patients.
? Accurately documents patient encounter data.
? Provides relevant quality assessment and reports.
? Establishes and maintains effective and seamless communication between the practice and patients? medical providers in order to provide continuity of care.
? Serves as coordinator for patients to access community and other resources necessary for appropriate management of medical and psychosocial factors.

PERFORMANCE AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
? Identifies, reports and contributes to performance improvement activities
? Seeks process improvements consistent with organizational priorities and goals
? Contributes to the development of clinical pathways, updating/maintaining physician order sets and physician preference cards
? Collects and tracks targeted performance improvement data for projects
? Assists with clinical effectiveness studies and projects
SPECIALITY SPECIFIC DUTIES
? PERIOPERATIVE:
? Performs first/second assistant responsibilities in accordance with state scope of practice requirements.
? Demonstrated knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, and operative technique relative to operative procedures wherein the PA assists.
? Provides care for different types of patients with varying complexity.
? Assists in the positioning, skin preparation, and draping of the patient.
? Provides hemostasis and wound exposure, handles tissue appropriately to reduce the potential for injury, sutures tissue, and applies dressings to the wound under the direction of the surgeon.
? Uses surgical instruments skillfully in ways consistent with their design and purpose.

These Principal Accountabilities, Requirements and Qualifications are not exhaustive, but are merely the most descriptive of the current job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, staff changes, workload, or technical development).

Requirements

EDUCATION:

Graduate from an accredited Physician Assistant program

LICENSURES & CERTIFICATIONS :

PA-Physician Assistant

CSRC-Controlled Substance Registered Certification (DEA)

BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider

TYPICAL EXPERIENCE:

1 year in Cardiac Surgical Experience.

1 year of Vein Harvesting Surgical Experience.

2 years of recent relevant experience.

DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC LICENSURES AND CERTIFICATIONS :

Memorial Hospital Los Banos;200-Sutter Central Valley Hospitals-Surgical Services: ACLS-Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Menlo Park Surgical Hospital;378-Palo Alto Med Fdn-Hlth,Res&Ed-Surgical Services: ACLS-Advanced Cardiac Life Support

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

Demonstrates knowledge of patient care guidelines/policy as evidenced by quality of documentation.

Medical knowledge and skills applicable to perform within the scope of practice.

Thorough knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.

Working knowledge of electronic health records such as EPIC.

Critical thinking skills as it relates to specialized departments this may include the ability to complete age-appropriate assessments

Communication skills (verbal, written and listening) with ability to work effectively across the organization, especially in situations requiring instructing, persuading, negotiating, consulting and advising.

Technical and analytical skills for analysis and interpretation of test procedures and results in order to determine appropriate correction actions

Interpersonal skills with the ability to work with and collaborate across the organization and with patients and their families as needed

Ability to effectively lead, mentor and/or develop others

Ability to maintain composure during challenging interpersonal interactions

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS:
See required physical demands, mental components, visual activities & working conditions at the following link: Job Requirements

We Offer / Join Us and Enjoy

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package!

Medical Group Details

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland is nationally recognized for clinical excellence, patient safety and a legacy of compassionate care that spans more than a century. Ranked among America?s 50 Best Hospitals and California?s Best-in-State Hospitals , we?re proud to set the standard for quality healthcare in the East Bay.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center is home to top-performing programs in heart and vascular care, cancer treatment, women?s health and orthopedic surgery. At the Summit Campus, a dedicated cardiac intensive care unit, robotic-assisted abdominal wall procedures and designation as a certified bariatric surgery center make our hospital a destination for patients seeking advanced, multidisciplinary care. Our Carol Ann Read Breast Center is recognized for its personalized, leading-edge breast care delivered in a supportive, patient-centered environment.

As one of Northern California?s most experienced joint replacement programs, we perform nearly 400 hip and knee replacements each year and offer next-generation options like robotic-assisted procedures. A 58-bed acute rehabilitation unit makes it easy to move seamlessly from surgery to recovery, with comprehensive support all under one roof. Our pre-op clinic helps you prepare for surgery with confidence, and our private rooms and specialized units ensure comfort and expertise in every experience.

Why Choose Us?

• Recognized by Healthgrades in 2025 as Top 100 in the nation for cardiac care, critical care and joint replacement
• Awarded Best Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in areas such as heart bypass surgery, stroke care, colon cancer surgery and hip replacement.
• Earned an "A" grade in hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group (2024)
• Among Newsweek?s Best Weight Loss Clinics & Centers in America (2025) and one of the top 25 in California

Looking ahead, we?re expanding to meet the evolving needs of our community. In 2026, the Stanford Medicine Sutter Health Cancer Center will open on our campus, bringing advanced outpatient cancer care closer to home for Bay Area residents.

Through partnerships with local clinics and support for community events throughout Oakland, we?re deeply invested in the health and well-being of the East Bay. It?s all part of our promise to stand by families - today and for generations to come.

Community Information

Oakland's landscape is a picturesque mix of lovely hillside neighborhoods; exciting and diverse architecture; a bustling waterfront; two shimmering lakes; 19 miles of shoreline along the San Francisco Bay; unparalleled Bay views; and more parks and open space per capita than any other city in the Bay Area. Everyone loves our year round vacation weather with temperatures in the gentle 50's and 60's in the winter and spring, and 70's throughout summer and fall. A city on the move, Oakland has emerged as a major economic force in the region. Long a center for international trade, the Port of Oakland is the nation's fourth busiest container port in the Bay Area. The Oakland International Airport is served by 12 major domestic and international airlines. Getting around is easy by train, automobile, BART, bus and ferry. The arts are alive in Oakland. Oakland has one of the largest visual and performing arts communities on the West Coast, and the arts are celebrated on every level here, from acclaimed symphony and ballet to museums, galleries, and small arts organizations. Oakland is just 3 hours from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and hours drive to the Napa Valley wine country. The BART metro system makes it easy to get around without a car. For sports fans, Oakland is home to professional sports team, Oakland A's.

Equal Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Sutter Health and its partners to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of basis of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, registered domestic partner status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin (including possession of a driver's license issued to individuals who did not present proof of authorized presence in the U.S.), age, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or protected veteran status, political affiliation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition, genetic information or any other characteristic made unlawful by local, state or federal law, ordinance or regulation. We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within each medical group, company, hospital, department, and service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of Sutter's employment policies and practices.

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About Sutter Health

Sutter Health is one of the nation’s leading community-based, not-for-profit healthcare systems, delivering comprehensive care through hospitals, medical groups, ambulatory centers, and home health and hospice services. Guided by a mission-driven commitment to improving community health, Sutter fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth for more than 57,000 clinicians and employees across Northern California and the Central Coast. Its integrated network spans communities from urban centers to rural regions—reaching from the Oregon border to the San Joaquin Valley, from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra foothills, and south to Santa Barbara. These locations place physicians and care teams near many of California’s most desirable destinations, including San Francisco, Sacramento, Napa Valley, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, the coastal redwoods, and the beaches of Santa Barbara. In 2026, Sutter Health was recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers, in addition to being named among the Best-in-State Employers and one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s Top Places to Work in Healthcare. These recognitions reflect a sustained commitment to supporting ... physicians and care teams with the resources, leadership, and work-life balance needed to thrive. Sutter’s affiliated medical groups include Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group, Sutter East Bay Medical Group, Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods, Sutter West Bay Medical Group, Sutter Medical Group, Sutter North Medical Group, and Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Clinic. Together, these organizations form a physician-led, patient-centered system of care focused on excellence and the future of healthcare.

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