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Sanford Health
Fargo, North Dakota

APP - Physician Assistant | CV Surgery

Physician AssistantNo nightsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 3mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

  • Work Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America) Scheduled
  • Weekly Hours: 40
  • Compensation: Union
  • Position: No Department Details

Summary The Physician Assistant (PA) is a licensed medical professional who practices medicine in collaboration with physicians and other care team members.

The PA evaluates, diagnoses, and manages patient health concerns across the lifespan, provides preventive services, and coordinates care to promote optimal health outcomes. Job Description Perform patient assessments, including medical histories and physical examinations.

Diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions within scope of practice. Order, review, and interpret diagnostic tests and imaging studies. Prescribe medications, therapies, and other treatments in compliance with regulations.

Educate and counsel patients and families on health maintenance, disease prevention, and treatment plans. May perform procedures & treatments within scope of practice & assist with procedures & treatments when indicated. Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure continuity of care.

Maintain accurate, timely, and thorough documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR). Participate in quality, safety, and performance improvement activities.

Qualifications Completion of a Physician Assistant program accredited by the ARC-PA or equivalent accrediting program accepted by the state licensing board. Clinical experience in specialty area is preferred but not required. Current licensure as a Physician Assistant in each state of practice.

Current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit to prescribe controlled substances in each state of practice. State Controlled Substance License (if required by State) Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Privileging documents and related credentialing requirements will supersede this job description in defining minimum qualifications, criteria, and scope of practice, if variation between documents exists Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.

The Sanford organization owns and manages multiple distinct brands, including Sanford Health, Marshfield Clinic, and Good Samaritan, as well as Lewis Drug, Sanford Health Equip, Solutions by Sanford, Great Shots, and Blue Rock Bar & Grill.

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 53,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 56 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies.

The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

Good Samaritan, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior care and services, is committed to transforming the aging experience through innovation, compassion and personalized care.

As part of Sanford Health, an integrated nonprofit health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Good Samaritan serves 10,000 seniors and offers access to a full continuum of care, including 94 rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers, 56 assisted living and memory care facilities, 44 independent living locations and 37 home health and hospice agencies.

The senior care provider delivers services across the upper Midwest, with 70% of residents living in rural communities. Learn more about Good Samaritan’s mission and commitment to delivering high quality senior care in rural America at good-sam.com.

Key Responsibilities

The Physician Assistant evaluates, diagnoses, and manages patient health concerns while providing preventive services and coordinating care. Key duties include performing physical exams, ordering diagnostic tests, and maintaining thorough electronic medical records.

Requirements

Candidates must have completed an ARC-PA accredited Physician Assistant program and hold current NCCPA certification. Valid state licensure and a DEA permit to prescribe controlled substances are required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

Patient AssessmentDiagnosisChronic Condition ManagementDiagnostic InterpretationPrescription ManagementPatient EducationClinical ProceduresInterdisciplinary CollaborationEMR DocumentationQuality Improvement

Surgery — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active Physician Assistant listings this role was benchmarked against, 6% are remote, 76% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for North Dakota is 89.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.8% of North Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Physician Assistant by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score5.1 / 10 · above average in surgery (pa)ranked against 370 Surgery (PA) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedPhysician Assistant median $126k (middle half $110k–$155k)36 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost of livingNorth Dakota index 89.0US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physician Assistant listings in North Dakota8 active4,641 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 6% remote · 76% no call · 74% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (370 Surgery (PA) listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

35 jobs · 28 employers
7
<$140k
4
$140k-160k
12
$160k-180k
10
$180k-200k
2
$200k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

32 jobs · 28 employers
401k / retirement match
78% this job
CME allowance
69% this job
Sign-on bonus
50%
Relocation assistance
19%
Loan repayment
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Family Nurse Practitioner - NP/PA

CVS Health · Gaithersburg, Maryland

$50.22-$108.15/hr
#2

Physician Assistant- Dr. Fealy

Hospital for Special Surgery · New York, New York

$195k-$212k
#3

Urgent Care Advanced Practice Clinician (PA-C or ARNP)

$92-$96/hr
#4

Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP)

$95/hr
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.3this job 5.1
Better work-life than 70% of Surgery (PA) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 370 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
Sanford Health logo

About Sanford Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Sioux Falls, SD
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Retirement Plan
CME Allowance
Malpractice Coverage

Living in Fargo

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$295k
Typical market rent
$1,079/mo
Residents’ average commute
16 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
90.9
State income tax
Up to 2.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Fargo, ND-MN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.