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UW Health
Rockford, Illinois

Physician, Thoracic Surgery

SurgeryFull-Time

Listed compensation

$912k-$1105k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 40m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Cardiothoracic Surgeon – Thoracic Surgery Focus

UW Health in northern Illinois is recruiting an exceptional, board-certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon with a primary interest in thoracic surgery to join our growing cardiovascular surgery team. This position offers the opportunity to develop and expand a comprehensive thoracic surgery practice while maintaining involvement in select adult cardiac surgery procedures.

We are seeking a surgeon with expertise and enthusiasm for the surgical management of lung cancer, esophageal disease, mediastinal pathology, chest wall disorders, and minimally invasive thoracic procedures. The ideal candidate will be passionate about advancing thoracic surgical services and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

As a member of our medical group with more than 370 employed providers, including comprehensive cardiology, pulmonary, oncology, and primary care teams, you will benefit from a strong, built-in referral network from the region's preferred healthcare provider. You will also enjoy the support of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health as we continue to grow our cardiothoracic service line.

As a valued member of the SwedishAmerican Medical Group, your community-based practice will flourish with the following support and benefits:

  • Opportunity to build and lead a growing thoracic surgery practice with support from established cardiac surgery and cardiovascular teams
  • Collaboration with a robust multidisciplinary lung cancer program and Carbone Cancer Center Rockford
  • Providing care to cardiothoracic surgery patients at UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital, working closely with advanced practice providers who streamline workflow and patient management
  • Practicing at the region's only designated Heart Hospital, serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin
  • Access to state-of-the-art equipment and operating rooms, including a brand-new hybrid room, 15 modern surgical suites, and 3 Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical systems
  • 30-bed ICU with dedicated 24-hour coverage by in-house intensivists
  • Established cardiovascular program, including TAVR and structural heart services
  • 12-county regional referral area in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, serving a catchment area of more than 500,000 residents
  • Academic appointment and teaching opportunities with the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Qualifications

  • MD, DO, or equivalent degree with completion of residency in General Surgery and fellowship training in Cardiothoracic Surgery, or completion of an Integrated-6 or 4-3 Early Specialization Cardiothoracic Surgery residency program
  • Board certified or board eligible in Thoracic Surgery
  • Demonstrated interest and expertise in thoracic surgery, including minimally invasive and robotic approaches
  • Active Illinois medical license and DEA registration, or the ability to obtain such credentials prior to employment

Benefits

UW Health offers a highly competitive salary guarantee with wRVU production and other incentives. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

  • Competitive salary range based on experience: o $911,757 - $1,104,538
  • Generous vacation and CME benefits
  • Potential opportunity for additional compensation
  • Professional society dues, credentialing expenses & hospital dues covered
  • Interview and relocation expenses paid
  • Flexible insurance package with health, dental, vision, disability and life
  • Retirement Plan match and contribution
  • Malpractice with tail coverage
  • Generous provider referral bonus

About the Greater Rockford Area

Recently named the number one housing market in America by The Wall Street Journal, Rockford and northern Illinois offer world-class attractions — all at a cost of living significantly below those of most metropolitan areas.

The greater Rockford area offers superb cultural, recreational, and outdoor amenities along with an eclectic arts community of theater, symphony, museums and dance.

With an award-winning park district, Rockford has unrivaled outdoor opportunities, including Golf Digest-ranked golf courses, endless bike trails and extensive indoor and outdoor sports centers.

We have excellent private, parochial and public-school options, including the Gifted Academy with graduates ranked in the top 5% nationally. Our proximity to Chicago O’Hare International Airport opens up countless travel possibilities, and Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison are each just 90 minutes away or less.

Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging

UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day.

It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Key Responsibilities

The surgeon will lead and expand a comprehensive thoracic surgery practice while performing select adult cardiac surgery procedures. They will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality care for patients with lung cancer, esophageal disease, and other thoracic conditions.

Qualifications

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

Certifications

DEA LicenseBoard Certification

Key Skills

Minimally invasive surgeryRobotic surgeryLung cancer managementEsophageal disease treatmentMultidisciplinary collaboration

Surgery — Physician Career Context

Surgery pay on WeekdayDoc is down 11.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

For production-based offers, this specialty runs a typical 9,000 wRVUs per year (derived from CMS CPT-frequency data), and WeekdayDoc listings compensate a median of about $48 per wRVU — implying roughly $432k in production-based pay. For reference, the 2026 CMS Medicare conversion factor is $33.40 per RVU.

Top Surgeon Jobs

14 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution14 jobs · 12 employers

3
<$580k
1
$588k
5
$650k
4
$700k-760k
1
$773k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks11 jobs

Relocation assistance
82% this job
Sign-on bonus
64%
401k / retirement match
45% this job
CME allowance
18% this job
Loan repayment
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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+ 12 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.5this job 1.5
Below most Surgery listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,103 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Rockford

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$193k≈ 0.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,195/mo≈ 2% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.2
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Rockford, IL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

UW Health logo

About UW Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Madison, WI
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive salary guarantee with wRVU production
Generous vacation and CME benefits
Professional society dues covered
Credentialing expenses covered
Hospital dues covered
Interview expenses paid
Relocation expenses paid
Health insurance