Physician: Cardiac Surgeon - Palos Heights, IL
Listed compensation
$765k-$1M
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Company Description
Northwestern Medicine is the premier provider of healthcare services in Chicago’s metro area, with more than 700 primary care physicians and specialists. Our team works together to provide excellent patient care and exceptional patient experiences, using models that follow best practices in outpatient and inpatient settings.
Northwestern Medicine is a growing, nationally recognized health system that provides world-class care at 11 hospitals and more than 200 locations in communities throughout Chicago, the suburbs and northern Illinois.
Together with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, we are pushing boundaries in our research labs, training the next generation of physicians and scientists, and pursuing excellence in patient care. Our vision and values are deeply rooted in the idea that patients come first in all we do.
We value building relationships with our patients and their families, listening to their unique needs while providing individualized primary, specialty and hospital-based care. Our recent affiliations and ongoing growth make it possible for us to serve more patients, closer to where they live and work.
While each of our locations has a unique story, Northwestern Medicine is unified under one mission – Patients First.
Job Description
Northwestern Medicine is seeking an ACGME fellowship trained, board-certified/board-eligible Cardiac Surgeon to join the growing Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute (BCVI) South Region team at Palos Hospital in Palos Heights, IL located in the south suburbs. This role offers the opportunity to deliver exceptional surgical care in a community hospital setting while benefiting from the clinical resources, reputation, and collaborative network of Northwestern Medicine.
Responsibilities of this position include performing a broad range of adult cardiac surgical procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repair and replacement, aortic and structural heart procedures.
Partnering closely with community cardiologists, hospitalists, intensivists, and APPs to deliver coordinated care
- Building and maintaining strong referral relationships within the local community
- Participating in program growth, outreach initiatives, and quality improvement efforts
- Supporting streamlined, efficient care delivery focused on access, outcomes, and patient experience
Collaborating with Tertiary/quaternary Academic Teams
The ideal candidate is a patient-focused surgeon who values strong relationships with referring providers, efficient clinical operations, and high-quality outcomes in a community environment.
Cardiothoracic surgeons in this position may participate in academic programs of the Feinberg School of Medicine, including educational programs (e. g., teaching service, training, preceptorship, mentoring, etc.) or research programs (e. g., participation in clinical trials, referring patients for clinical trials, etc.). Salary is commensurate with experience.
BCVI is a full service, fully integrated institute across the system. The six clinical centers comprising BCVI are the Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders, Center for Coronary Disease, Center for Vascular Disease, Center for Valve Disease, Center for Heart Failure and the Center for Preventive Cardiology.
Qualifications
- ACGME fellowship trained
- BE/BC
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.
Background Check
Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers.
If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.
Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
Benefits
In addition to competitive compensation, we offer an excellent benefits package. This includes a continuing medical education allowance, paid time off, well-being fund, 401k, paid parental leave, malpractice insurance and much more. Moreover, we will provide financial stability and administrative support so you can focus on your passion – practicing medicine. Please click here to learn more about benefits.
- Job Shift: Day Job (1st)
- Salary Range Minimum: $765,000.00
- Salary Range Maximum: $1,000,000
- Compensation: USD 765000 - USD 1000000 - yearly
Key Responsibilities
The cardiac surgeon will perform a broad range of adult cardiac surgical procedures and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver coordinated patient care. Additionally, the role involves building referral relationships, participating in program growth, and contributing to quality improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 10+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physician: Cardiac Surgeon - Palos Heights, IL at Northwestern Memorial Healthcare a 6.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Surgery — ranked against 1,267 active Surgery listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no night shifts.
Surgery — Physician Career Context
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 71/100, 5 active listings.
Surgery pay on WeekdayDoc is down 11.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.9 / 10 · above average in surgery | ranked against 1,267 Surgery listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $765k–$1000k | Surgery median $675k (middle half $488k–$725k)15 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$883k in purchasing power | Illinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Surgery listings in Illinois | 37 active | 1,267 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Illinois Physician listings: 24% state a sign-on bonus (median $100k) · 24% offer loan repayment992 active listings, Oct 2026 |
| Surgery hiring demand | #10 of 26 specialties | postings stay open a median 42 days · 18% state a sign-on bonusWeekdayDoc Hiring Index, September 2026 · 329 postings, 188 closed |
| New Surgery listings | 820 in the last 30 days | 489 the 30 days before (+68%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Surgery pay trend | −11.1% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
| Northwestern Memorial Healthcare | silver tier, 71/100 | Top Employers work-life index5 active listings |
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