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UTHealth Houston
United States

Physician Assistant - ACTAT Surgery

Physician Assistant

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 5mo ago

Job Description

Join our dynamic Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery team as a dedicated Physician Assistant. In this vital role, you will be involved in a variety of critical surgical procedures, including vein harvesting, venous lines, drive lines, arterial lines, and suturing.

As a first assist in surgery, you will play an integral role in managing wound care and closures, including LVAD dressings for heart failure patients. A strong understanding of hemodialysis, hemodynamics, and cardiothoracic surgery is essential to ensure optimal patient care.

Your responsibilities will also include managing patient care both pre-and post-operatively, contributing to a smooth recovery and the best possible outcomes. Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team will be key to delivering high-quality care to our patients.

We prefer candidates with two years of experience in cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgery and one year in transplant experience.

Position Summary

Provides advanced medical care to patients, in a surgical setting, in one or more specialized surgical areas under the direction of a surgeon.

Position Key Accountabilities

1. Conducts complex, standardized patient care procedures which require experience and specialized training which would otherwise be performed by a physician but which do not constitute the practice of medicine.

2. Assesses patient’s medical complaints and provides appropriate treatment.

3. Performs minor surgical procedures as delegated by the supervising physician.

4. Manages pre-operative and post-operative patients in coordination with the faculty supervising physician.

5. Utilizes advanced assessment skills to anticipate complex patient problems specific to surgery while communicating information to supervising / attending physician.

6. Assists in collecting patient histories.

7. Performs physical examinations and provides episodic care or problem oriented care under the supervision of a physician.

8. Orders appropriate laboratory tests and interprets the laboratory data such as blood and urine samples.

9. Monitors the treatment program of the patient to inform the attending physician of pertinent medical/surgical information.

10. Provides guidance and instruction to patients on preventive health care or postsurgical care.

11. Assists physicians in formulating therapeutic decisions.

12. Enters chart documentation for review and counter signature by the physician.

13. Prepares and cares for supplies and equipment.

14. Responds to emergency situations.

15. Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills

Current Texas Licensure as a Physician Assistant

  • Current Physician Assistant certification issued by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) certified or specialty required by department
  • Proficient in the use of medical and surgical instruments and equipment required by work.

Minimum Education

Master’s degree as Physician Assistant. Bachelor’s degree as Physician Assistant with at least two years of professional experience in the role is acceptable based on terminal degree requirements at the time of graduation.

Minimum Experience

None; previous experience in a surgical specialty preferred.

Physical Requirements

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.

Key Responsibilities

Provide advanced medical and surgical care for cardiovascular and thoracic patients, serving as a first assist in critical procedures. Manage comprehensive pre- and post-operative patient care and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure optimal recovery.

Requirements

Requires a Master's degree as a Physician Assistant, current Texas licensure, and NCCPA certification. Preference is given to candidates with two years of cardiothoracic surgery experience and one year of transplant experience.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Pre-operative CarePost-operative CarePatient AssessmentLaboratory Data Interpretation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physician Assistant - ACTAT Surgery at UTHealth Houston a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 10% in Surgery (PA) — ranked against 370 active Surgery (PA) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Surgery — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active Surgery listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 82% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

Surgery pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.4% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Surgery by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.6 / 10 · top 10% in surgery (pa)ranked against 370 Surgery (PA) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedSurgery median $126k (middle half $110k–$155k)37 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 82% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Surgery pay trend+3.4% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (370 Surgery (PA) listings); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

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Salary Distribution33 jobs · 26 employers

7
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks30 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
80%
CME allowance
73%
Sign-on bonus
63%
Relocation assistance
20%
Loan repayment
10%

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Work-life snapshot

median 2.3this job 6.6
Among the best 10% of Surgery (PA) listings for work-life

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