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Meritus Health
Hagerstown, Maryland

Physician Assistant - General & Thoracic Surgery

Physician AssistantIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$124k-$145k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Location: Meritus General Surgery – Hagerstown, MD
  • Schedule: Full Time
  • Salary: $124,000–$145,000 annually

Take Your Surgical Career to the Next Level

Are you a Physician Assistant who thrives in a fast-paced surgical environment and enjoys working as part of a collaborative, high-performing team?

Meritus Health is seeking a Physician Assistant to join our General Surgery team, supporting both General and Thoracic Surgery. This is an exciting opportunity to work directly alongside experienced surgeons and APPs while providing comprehensive care throughout the surgical journey.

From preoperative evaluation to the operating room and postoperative recovery, you’ll play an essential role in delivering exceptional patient care.

If you’re looking for a position that combines hands-on surgical experience, teamwork, clinical autonomy, and professional growth, this could be the opportunity for you.

Your Role in Surgical Care

As a Physician Assistant on the General and Thoracic Surgery team, you’ll work closely with surgeons, APPs, nurses, and other members of the multidisciplinary care team.

Key Responsibilities

  • Evaluate patients and develop appropriate treatment and care plans
  • Provide comprehensive preoperative and postoperative management
  • Assist General and Thoracic Surgeons in the operating room
  • Participate in surgical procedures and scheduled OR block days
  • Perform patient consultations, assessments, and follow-up visits
  • Manage postoperative patients and monitor for potential complications
  • Conduct hospital rounds and coordinate ongoing patient care
  • Educate patients and families regarding procedures, treatment plans, and recovery
  • Collaborate with physicians and multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of care
  • Participate in call coverage as part of the surgical team
  • Support the continued growth and development of the General and Thoracic Surgery service

A Diverse Surgical Practice

This position provides exposure to a broad range of General and Thoracic Surgery, giving you the opportunity to expand your clinical expertise and develop your surgical skill set.

You’ll be involved in the care of patients across the continuum—from initial surgical evaluation and preparation through operative care and postoperative recovery.

Whether you’re an experienced surgical PA or looking to build your career in surgery, Meritus offers the resources, mentorship, and clinical environment to help you grow.

Why Join Meritus Health?

At Meritus Health, we’re creating a healthcare environment focused on exceptional patient care, innovation, education, and professional development.

What You Can Expect

  • Competitive salary of $124,000–$145,000
  • Direct collaboration with experienced General and Thoracic Surgeons
  • Meaningful operating room and procedural experience
  • Diverse surgical patient population
  • Supportive physician and APP team
  • Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
  • Access to advanced technology and modern surgical techniques
  • Teaching and academic opportunities as medical education programs continue to expand
  • A mission-driven health system with a strong commitment to the community

Growing Our Future

Meritus Health continues to expand its medical education and residency programs, creating opportunities for providers who enjoy teaching, mentoring, and contributing to the future of healthcare.

With the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine and expanding residency programs, our organization is developing a growing academic environment where clinical practice, education, and innovation intersect.

Why Hagerstown?

Located in Washington County, Maryland, Hagerstown offers an excellent balance of community living, outdoor recreation, history, and easy access to major metropolitan areas.

Enjoy the Appalachian Trail, nearby national and state parks, historic sites, arts and entertainment at the Maryland Theatre, and a variety of local restaurants and community events.

When you’re ready for a larger-city experience, Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia are all within easy reach.

Benefits That Support You

Meritus Health offers a comprehensive, team-member-focused benefits package designed to support you both personally and professionally.

Benefits Include

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Multiple medical plan options
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
  • Paid Time Off beginning accrual on day one
  • Company-paid life insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability coverage
  • Access to financial planning resources
  • And more

Health, dental, and vision coverage is available beginning the first of the month after 30 days of employment for eligible team members working at least 16 hours per week.

Happy to Help

At Meritus Health, we believe every interaction is an opportunity to learn, listen, support, and make a difference.

Our culture is built around collaboration, compassion, and a commitment to helping one another succeed. From our patients to our providers and every team member in between, we strive to create an environment where people feel welcomed, valued, and supported.

Ready to expand your surgical career? Join Meritus Health and become part of a growing General and Thoracic Surgery team where your expertise can make a meaningful impact.

Requirements

The position requires a qualified Physician Assistant capable of working in a fast-paced surgical environment. Candidates must be prepared to participate in call coverage and support the growth of the general and thoracic surgery service.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Surgical assistancePatient consultationClinical assessmentPatient educationMultidisciplinary collaboration

Surgery — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 47 active Surgery listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 81% have no call, 89% require no weekends.

Surgery pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$135k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $128k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

32 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution32 jobs · 18 employers

12
<$135k
5
$135k-155k
5
$155k-175k
8
$175k-195k
2
$195k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs · 18 employers

CME allowance
76%
401k / retirement match
69% this job
Sign-on bonus
66%
Relocation assistance
14%
Loan repayment
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physician Assistant- Dr. Fealy

Hospital for Special Surgery · New York, New York

$195k-$212k
#2

Pain Management Physician Assistant

Health and Life Organization · Sacramento, California

$171k-$198k
#3

Physician Assistant FLOAT

$175k-$190k
#4

Physician Assistant OR Nurse Practitioner Columbia MD

compensation $165k-$180k
+ 30 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 1.9this job 1.5
Better work-life than 20% of Surgery (PA) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 369 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call

Living in Hagerstown

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$295k≈ 2.4× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,407/mo≈ 14% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
94.2
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Meritus Health logo

About Meritus Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Hagerstown, Maryland
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid Time Off beginning accrual on day one
Company-paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Access to financial planning resources