Physician Assistant 1, Transplant Surgery - Multiple Positions

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a qualified Teaching Hospital Physician Assistant 1 to provide high-quality, patient-centered care as a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Job Summary

The Physician Assistant (PA) collaborates with physicians, residents, nursing professionals, and other healthcare providers to assess, diagnose, treat, monitor, and coordinate patient care in the clinical setting assigned to the position. The incumbent performs clinical assessments, develops and implements treatment plans, orders and evaluates diagnostic studies, documents care, and supports safe transitions of care, consistent with applicable New York State law, physician supervision requirements, institutional policies, and authorized scope of practice. The PA contributes to patient safety, clinical efficiency, quality improvement, and the University’s teaching mission.

Core Responsibilities & Duties

• Obtain and document patient histories; conduct comprehensive and focused physical examinations; assess symptoms and clinical findings.
• Evaluate and manage acute and chronic conditions within the assigned clinical service and authorized scope of practice, in collaboration with supervising physicians.
• Develop, implement, and reassess individualized plans of care in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
• Order, review, and interpret laboratory tests, imaging studies, and other diagnostic evaluations as authorized; coordinate appropriate follow-up.
• Order, prescribe, and monitor medications and therapeutic interventions as authorized by applicable law and institutional policy.
• Monitor patient progress, evaluate response to treatment, identify changes in condition, and promptly escalate concerns or initiate appropriate interventions.
• Participate in clinical rounds, consultations, interdisciplinary conferences, and care coordination activities as applicable.
• Collaborate with physicians, residents, nursing staff, pharmacy, rehabilitation, social work, case management, and ancillary services to support timely and coordinated care.
• Perform authorized clinical procedures and assist with diagnostic or therapeutic interventions consistent with competency and applicable institutional authorization.
• Coordinate patient consultations, referrals, testing, admissions, transfers, and discharge planning as applicable to the assigned service.
• Provide patient and family education regarding diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, preventive care, and follow-up needs.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely electronic medical records, including assessments, progress notes, orders, and discharge documentation as applicable.
• Communicate significant findings, changes in clinical status, and recommendations to the supervising physician and appropriate care team members.
• Support clinical education of students, residents, and other healthcare personnel as appropriate to the assigned service and the University’s academic mission.
• Participate in patient safety, quality improvement, infection prevention, and departmental performance improvement initiatives.
• Comply with applicable laws, professional standards, confidentiality requirements, institutional policies, and patient safety protocols.
• Perform other related duties as assigned consistent with professional qualifications, scope of practice, and operational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from a Physician Assistant educational program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), a predecessor accrediting body, or another pathway recognized by the New York State Education Department for Physician Assistant licensure.
• New York State Physician Assistant Licensure.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Demonstrated knowledge of clinical assessment, diagnostic evaluation, treatment planning, and patient management principles.
• Ability to exercise sound clinical judgment, communicate effectively, maintain accurate documentation, and collaborate within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Or, a satisfactory equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in primary medical care or 3+ years in general practice.
• Current national certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), if not otherwise required by approved institutional policy.
• Previous Physician Assistant experience in a hospital, academic medical center, or comparable clinical environment.
• Experience in the clinical specialty or with the patient population served by the hiring department.
• Experience with electronic health records and interdisciplinary care coordination.