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Sutter Health
Sacramento, California

Physician, Pediatric Critical Care Medical Director (Sacramento, CA)

Critical Care Medicine Above average in Critical Care MedicineFull-Time

Listed compensation

$375K - $400K

Listing transparency3 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Includes call
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Opportunity Information

Sutter Medical Group seeks to hire a highly qualified and passionate Pediatric Critical Care Medical Director for Sutter Medical Center Sacramento Children’s Center to lead and oversee the clinical operations and strategic programmatic growth of the PICU/CVICU. This role partners closely with hospital administration and multidisciplinary teams to advance patient safety, clinical quality, operational effectiveness, and the strategic vision of pediatric inpatient services.

Practice Setting

Our pediatric intensivists provide care for a diverse and medically complex pediatric population including a robust complex congenital heart disease cardiovascular surgery division and award winning ECMO program within a 20-bed general PICU/CVICU located in a tertiary care children’s center.

The center also includes

  • 40-bed general pediatric unit
  • Northern California’s largest NICU
  • Robust newborn nursery service
  • Dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department

Physicians work closely with a comprehensive complement of pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists, supported by a multidisciplinary team including social work, integrative medicine, pediatric pharmacy, and other pediatric-focused services.

Leadership & Program Oversight

  • Communication & Collaboration
  • Foster strong, trusting relationships with physicians, nursing leadership, hospital staff, and administration
  • Serve as a liaison across specialties to ensure coordinated, patient‑centered care
  • Quality & Safety
  • Champion clinical quality initiatives and patient safety efforts
  • Lead quality improvement activities and support regulatory readiness

Clinical Operations

  • Provide medical leadership and oversight to ensure high standards of care delivery
  • Support clinical protocols, coverage models, and operational efficiency

Education & Training

Promote education, mentoring, and professional development of medical staff, fellows, residents, and medical students

  • Support a culture of learning and continuous improvement
  • Outreach & Strategic Growth
  • Contribute to strategic planning for the growth and evolution of pediatric inpatient services
  • Interface with community regional partners to improve care and access
  • Represent the PICU within the organization and community when appropriate

Qualifications

  • Qualifications
  • MD or DO with board certification in Pediatric Critical Care
  • Eligibility for medical licensure in California.
  • Cardiac ICU and ECMO experience
  • Minimum 5 years of post-fellowship clinical and/or leadership experience preferred.
  • Proven leadership in clinical program development, quality improvement, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
  • Strong commitment to patient/family care, quality, and teaching.
  • Leadership Competencies & Skills
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
  • Collaborative leadership style with physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary teams
  • Strong consensus‑building and team‑development abilities
  • Experience in negotiation and conflict resolution
  • Strategic thinking and problem‑solving capabilities
  • Join Us and Enjoy
  • Join Us and Enjoy
  • Generous compensation package
  • 0.45 protected administrative/leadership time
  • Productivity bonus
  • Sign-on bonus up to $20,000
  • Relocation assistance up to $20,000
  • Shareholder track
  • COG Member Institution
  • Flexible schedule options available
  • PSLF eligible
  • Excellent benefits, including zero-cost medical insurance
  • CME allowance
  • Award-winning, 100% 401(k) match
  • Advanced practice technology, including EPIC
  • A positive work-life balance and Northern California's natural beauty and lifestyle
  • Organization Details

Sutter Medical Group (SMG) is a vibrant and talented community committed to delivering safe, affordable and high-quality care. Our multi-specialty medical group is comprised of over 1,600 clinicians practicing in seven counties in northern California, most within a 50-mile radius of Sacramento. SMG contains primary care and specialty Physicians and Advanced Practice Clinicians -- nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, licensed clinical social workers and licensed marriage and family therapists, who make up about 20% of our group. Our clinicians not only excel in clinical practice but are also actively engaged in teaching, research, leadership, community outreach, and volunteer work. SMG has earned both local and national recognition for excellence in patient care and experience.

Community Information

Sacramento, the capital city of California, offers an exceptional quality of life that makes it a great place to live. One of the standout features of Sacramento is its vibrant food scene. Known as the "Farm-to-Fork Capital," the city boasts a plethora of restaurants, farmers' markets, and food festivals that celebrate fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. This culinary richness is complemented by a strong sense of community, where residents enjoy a variety of local events, cultural festivals, and community activities that foster a warm and inclusive atmosphere. Additionally, Sacramento's strategic location provides easy access to some of California's most popular destinations. Just a short drive away, you can find yourself in the bustling city of San Francisco, enjoying the world-class wine country of Napa Valley, or experiencing the stunning natural beauty of Lake Tahoe, which offers both winter sports and summer recreational activities. The city's proximity to diverse landscapes means residents can easily enjoy the snow-capped mountains, scenic coastlines, and lush forests. Sports enthusiasts in Sacramento also have much to cheer about. The city is home to the Sacramento Kings, an NBA team that brings exciting basketball action to the Golden 1 Center. Moreover, the recent relocation of the Oakland A's to Sacramento has added another layer of excitement for baseball fans. With its rich cultural scene, convenient location, and passionate sports culture, Sacramento truly stands out as a dynamic and desirable place to live.

Equal Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Sutter Health and its partners to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of basis of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, registered domestic partner status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin (including possession of a driver's license issued to individuals who did not present proof of authorized presence in the U. S.), age, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or protected veteran status, political affiliation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition, genetic information or any other characteristic made unlawful by local, state or federal law, ordinance or regulation. We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within each medical group, company, hospital, department, and service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of Sutter's employment policies and practices.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and oversee clinical operations and strategic growth of the PICU/CVICU at Sutter Medical Center Sacramento Children’s Center. Partner with administration and multidisciplinary teams to advance patient safety, clinical quality, and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Clinical LeadershipMedical EducationCardiac ICU ManagementECMO OversightInterpersonal Communication

Critical Care Medicine — Physician Career Context

Of the 40 active Physician listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 80% have no call, 43% require no weekends.

Physician pay on WeekdayDoc is up 11.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

For production-based offers, this specialty runs a typical 5,000 wRVUs per year (derived from CMS CPT-frequency data), and WeekdayDoc listings compensate a median of about $50 per wRVU — implying roughly $250k in production-based pay. For reference, the 2026 CMS Medicare conversion factor is $33.40 per RVU.

Top Critical Care Medicine Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 11 employers

3
<$305k
4
$305k-350k
12
$350k
1
$400k
3
$440k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks22 jobs · 11 employers

401k / retirement match
91% this job
Sign-on bonus
32% this job
Loan repayment
23% this job
CME allowance
18% this job
Relocation assistance
14% this job

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Work-life snapshot

4.8/ 10
Listing-based score

Above average in Critical Care Medicine

A signal to investigate—not a guarantee about the workplace.

  • Includes call

Living in Sacramento

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$455k
Typical market rent
$2,056/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
106.7
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Sutter Health logo

About Sutter Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Sacramento, California
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Productivity Bonus
Sign-on Bonus ($20,000)
Relocation Assistance ($20,000)
Shareholder Track
Flexible Schedule
PSLF Eligible
Zero-Cost Medical Insurance
CME Allowance