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Catholic Health
West Islip, New York

Lead Physician Assistant - Surgical Services

Physician AssistantIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$97.35 /Hr

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

Job Description

Lead Surgical Physician Assistant (PA)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Lead Surgical Physician Assistant (PA) to oversee and support a team of PAs within a dynamic surgical program at a leading hospital in New York. This role combines advanced clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, offering the opportunity to shape care delivery, mentor staff, and drive excellence across surgical services.

The Lead PA will partner closely with surgeons, administrative leadership, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality, efficient, and patient-centered surgical care across the continuum—from pre-operative assessment through post-operative recovery.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Oversight

  • Serve as a clinical leader and resource for Surgical PAs across multiple specialties
  • Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to PA staff, including onboarding and ongoing development
  • Assist in staffing coordination, scheduling, and workflow optimization

Pre-operative Care

  • Perform comprehensive patient evaluations, including history, physical exams, and risk assessments
  • Order and interpret diagnostic studies and prepare patients for surgery
  • Educate patients and families on procedures and expectations

Intra-operative Care

  • First or second assist in a wide range of surgical procedures
  • Perform advanced surgical tasks including suturing, retraction, hemostasis, and specimen handling

Post-operative Care

  • Manage post-surgical recovery, including pain control, wound care, and complication management
  • Coordinate discharge planning and follow-up care

Program Development & Quality

  • Collaborate with leadership to improve clinical protocols, efficiency, and patient outcomes
  • Support quality initiatives, performance improvement efforts, and best practice implementation

Collaboration & Communication

  • Work closely with surgeons, nurses, residents, and administrative teams
  • Serve as a liaison between PA staff and leadership

Documentation & Compliance

  • Ensure accurate, timely documentation in the electronic health record (EHR)
  • Maintain compliance with institutional, state, and regulatory standards

On-Call Responsibilities

Participate in call coverage as required and support team coverage needs

Qualifications

  • Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant program
  • Current New York State PA license
  • NCCPA certification required
  • BLS and ACLS by AHA
  • Minimum of 3–5 years of surgical PA experience preferred
  • Prior leadership, supervisory, or precepting experience strongly preferred
  • Demonstrated clinical excellence and strong decision-making skills

Salary Range

USD $73.01 - USD $97.35 /Hr.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Surgical AssistancePatient EvaluationStaff MentorshipRisk AssessmentDiagnostic InterpretationQuality ImprovementSurgical ProtocolsTeam CollaborationRegulatory Compliance

General Surgery — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active General Surgery listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 80% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution34 jobs · 29 employers

9
<$150k
9
$150k-170k
10
$170k-190k
3
$190k-210k
3
$210k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs

401k / retirement match
86%
CME allowance
61%
Sign-on bonus
46%
Loan repayment
18%
Relocation assistance
18%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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+ 32 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 1.5
Below most Physician Assistant roles listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,546 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call

Living in West Islip

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$747k
Median resident rent
$2,765/mo
Residents’ average commute
30 min
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

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

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