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Job description
Surgical Physician Assistant Plastic & Gender-Affirming Surgery San Francisco, CA Practice Highlights Advanced Surgical Practice: Join an internationally recognized private surgical practice specializing in facial gender-affirming surgery and highly individualized patient care.
Full-Spectrum Perioperative Care: This Surgical Physician Assistant participates in the complete patient journey-from initial consultation and medical screening through pre-operative education, surgical first assist, wound care and post-operative follow-up. The PA often independently manages the patient's first post-operative appointment.
Complex Surgical Experience: First assist in highly specialized facial procedures, with operations averaging approximately 6-6.5 hours. Most patients undergo outpatient surgery followed by an overnight stay with dedicated nursing support.
Meaningful Patient Relationships: Practice in a highly personalized model where the Surgical Physician Assistant becomes a familiar and trusted member of each patient's care team. This is distinctly different from a large institutional environment where care may be fragmented among multiple providers.
LGBTQ+ & Gender-Affirming Care: Serve a predominantly transgender and gender-diverse patient population seeking facial gender-affirming surgery. Candidates should demonstrate a genuine commitment to respectful, compassionate, affirming care for LGBTQ+ patients.
Close Physician Collaboration: Work closely with one internationally recognized surgeon rather than rotating among a large surgical group, allowing the PA to develop strong clinical rapport, trust and surgical expertise.
Small, Collaborative Team: Join a close-knit practice where initiative, communication and teamwork matter. With two PAs working closely together, interpersonal fit and collaboration are important components of long-term success.
Structured Surgical Schedule: PAs alternate surgical coverage Monday through Thursday and share Friday surgical coverage. OR days generally run approximately 7:00 AM-4:30 PM, while clinic days typically run approximately 9:00 AM-6:00 PM.
Manageable Patient Volume: Clinic responsibilities include consultations, pre-operative appointments, and post-operative care. Thursday afternoons typically include approximately four to five second post-operative appointments depending on surgical volume.
Patient-Centered Communication: Provide extensive education and reassurance to patients preparing for complex surgery while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries. The successful PA will combine empathy with confident clinical communication.
Compensation & Benefits Competitive Compensation: $180,000-$230,000 base salary, based on experience.
Relocation Support: Sign-on and/or relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate.
Professional Protection: Malpractice insurance with tail coverage.
Comprehensive Benefits: W-2 employment with comprehensive employee benefits and retirement plan.
Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO package supporting time away from practice.
Qualifications Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
Active California license or ability to obtain
Surgical first-assist experience strongly preferred
Experience does not need to be specific to plastic, craniofacial or gender-affirming surgery; candidates with strong surgical backgrounds are encouraged to apply
Comfortable participating in surgeries averaging 6-6.5 hours
Strong clinical judgment and patient education skills
Excellent interpersonal and team communication
Comfortable providing highly personalized care to patients who may require significant education, reassurance and support surrounding surgery
Demonstrated respect for and commitment to LGBTQ+, transgender and gender-diverse patients
Desire to build long-term expertise within a highly specialized surgical practice
Ideal Surgical Backgrounds Candidates may come from:
Plastic Surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery
ENT / Facial Plastics
Craniofacial Surgery
General Surgery
Neurosurgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Other specialties providing substantial first-assist experience
The current PA specifically transitioned successfully from cardiac surgery, reinforcing that strong surgical fundamentals are more important than previous facial gender surgery experience.
Community Highlights San Francisco Location: Live and practice in one of the country's most distinctive metropolitan areas with renowned dining, culture, arts and entertainment.
Northern California Access: Enjoy convenient access to the Pacific Coast, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and year-round outdoor recreation.
Transportation Options: Extensive public transit provides convenient transportation throughout the city, including between the current clinic and surgery center.
International Connectivity: Convenient access to major domestic and international travel.
Job Reference #: PA 26872
Worksite address
san francisco, CA, 94101, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.