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Ascension
Carmel, Indiana

Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician

SurgeryIncludes callFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 33m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Your future role at a glance
  • Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Facility Name: Ascension St. Vincent
  • Schedule: Full-Time
  • Productivity incentives: RVU / Quality
  • CME allowance + 5 dedicated CME days
  • Malpractice coverage with tail

This job location is not currently located in a Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and/or Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) Shortage Designation Type.

How you’ll make an impact in this role

The Ascension St. Vincent Heart Failure Program, the largest Transplant & VAD program in the state is seeking an experienced Surgical Director of VAD & Transplant to lead and grow our advanced heart failure surgical services.

Our program is a recognized Center of Excellence and is certified by The Joint Commission. As a quaternary medical center, Ascension Indianapolis Hospital is a destination cardiac program with a focused commitment to advanced heart failure therapies and regional referral excellence.

  • Largest Transplant & VAD program in Indiana
  • Accredited Center of Excellence
  • Joint Commission certified
  • 30+ cardiac transplants annually
  • 60+ short- and long-term mechanical circulatory assist devices implanted annually
  • Active cardiac surgery research program, including DCD donor trials utilizing the TransMedics Organ Care SystemJoin a team of 6 cardiac surgeons, including 2 transplant surgeons
  • Evenly distributed call schedule: 1:3 transplant call/1:7 primary surgical call

Perform and oversee: Durable and temporary VAD implantation, Heart transplantation (including protocols), Advanced mechanical circulatory support, Complex cardiac surgical procedures

Leadership & Strategy: Provide strategic vision and operational oversight for VAD & Transplant services, Advance growth in mechanical circulatory support and transplant volumes, Maintain superior clinical outcomes and regulatory excellence, Strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration with Heart Failure cardiology, intensivists, and the Heart Center, Expand regional referral relationships across St. Vincent’s hospitals

Research & Innovation: Lead and participate in transplant and MCS clinical trials, Expand DCD donor utilization, Drive innovation in advanced heart failure therapies

Our Vision: As a Quaternary Medical Center, Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital is committed to building a true destination cardiac program centered on advanced heart failure excellence.

Through close collaboration across cardiac sub-specialties and the Heart Center, we deliver exceptional outcomes across the full cardiovascular spectrum.

By leveraging our strengths in mechanical circulatory support, complex surgical interventions, and transplant readiness, we provide a seamless continuum of care serving as the regional referral hub for patients with advanced cardiac disease while driving growth of the overall cardiovascular service line.

Qualifications: Board-certified CardioThoracic Surgeon, Demonstrated expertise in: Ventricular Assist Device implantation and management, Heart transplantation, Advanced mechanical circulatory support systems, Leadership experience in program development or medical directorship preferred, Commitment to quality, research, and team-based care

  • Employed position within a nonprofit health system
  • Fellowship training Thoracic Surgery
  • Eligible for Indiana state medical licensure and DEA registration

About the Facility

  • 840 bed hospital
  • Level one trauma center
  • Serving a population of approximately one million
  • Integrated referral network
  • Part of Ascension, a national nonprofit Catholic health system
  • Why Physicians Choose Ascension
  • Physician-led, collaborative culture
  • Long-term practice stability
  • National network with local autonomy
  • Mission-centered care rooted in service
  • What minimum requirements you’ll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration

Physician MD/DO credentialed from the Indiana Medical Licensing Board obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date required.

Advanced Life Support preferred. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.

Education

Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) required.

#LI-DC1

  • Benefits that help you thrive
  • Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
  • Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
  • Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays

Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning

Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources

  • Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
  • Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
  • Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

Fraud Prevention Notice

Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees.

To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.

E-Verify Statement

Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.

Key Responsibilities

The Surgical Director will lead and grow the advanced heart failure surgical services, including VAD and transplant programs. Responsibilities include performing complex cardiac surgeries, overseeing clinical outcomes, and driving innovation through research and strategic program development.

Requirements

Candidates must be board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons with fellowship training and expertise in heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree and eligibility for Indiana state medical licensure are required.

Qualifications

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

Certifications

DEA LicenseBoard Certification (preferred)

Key Skills

Cardiothoracic surgerySurgical leadershipClinical researchTransplant protocolsComplex cardiac surgeryRegulatory complianceAdvanced heart failure therapy

Surgery — Physician Career Context

Of the 50 active Physician listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 90% have no call, 82% require no weekends.

Physician pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Indiana is 93.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.4% of Indiana clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

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Annual compensation range

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Work-life snapshot

median 3.9this job 2.4
Better work-life than 30% of Surgery listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 928 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call

Living in Carmel

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$460k
Typical market rent
$1,838/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
State income tax
Up to 3.1%
Sources & methodology

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

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

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About Ascension

Hospitals and Health Care
St. Louis, MO
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
Employer-matched 403(b)
Disability and life insurance
Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
CME allowance + 5 dedicated CME days
Malpractice coverage with tail
Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare)
Employee Assistance Program