Physician Assistant Advanced Practice - California
Position Highlights:
Surgical Physician Assistant | Plastic & Gender-Affirming Surgery
San Francisco, CA
Practice Highlights
- Advanced Surgical Practice: Join an internationally recognized private surgical practice specializing in facial gender-affirming surgery and highly individualized patient care.
- Full-Spectrum Perioperative Care: This Surgical Physician Assistant participates in the complete patient journey—from initial consultation and medical screening through pre-operative education, surgical first assist, wound care and post-operative follow-up. The PA often independently manages the patient's first post-operative appointment.
- Complex Surgical Experience: First assist in highly specialized facial procedures, with operations averaging approximately 6–6.5 hours. Most patients undergo outpatient surgery followed by an overnight stay with dedicated nursing support.
- Meaningful Patient Relationships: Practice in a highly personalized model where the Surgical Physician Assistant becomes a familiar and trusted member of each patient's care team. This is distinctly different from a large institutional environment where care may be fragmented among multiple providers.
- LGBTQ+ & Gender-Affirming Care: Serve a predominantly transgender and gender-diverse patient population seeking facial gender-affirming surgery. Candidates should demonstrate a genuine commitment to respectful, compassionate, affirming care for LGBTQ+ patients.
- Close Physician Collaboration: Work closely with one internationally recognized surgeon rather than rotating among a large surgical group, allowing the PA to develop strong clinical rapport, trust and surgical expertise.
- Small, Collaborative Team: Join a close-knit practice where initiative, communication and teamwork matter. With two PAs working closely together, interpersonal fit and collaboration are important components of long-term success.
- Structured Surgical Schedule: PAs alternate surgical coverage Monday through Thursday and share Friday surgical coverage. OR days generally run approximately 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, while clinic days typically run approximately 9:00 AM–6:00 PM.
- Manageable Patient Volume: Clinic responsibilities include consultations, pre-operative appointments, and post-operative care. Thursday afternoons typically include approximately four to five second post-operative appointments depending on surgical volume.
- Patient-Centered Communication: Provide extensive education and reassurance to patients preparing for complex surgery while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries. The successful PA will combine empathy with confident clinical communication.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive Compensation: $180,000–$230,000 base salary, based on experience.
- Relocation Support: Sign-on and/or relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate.
- Professional Protection: Malpractice insurance with tail coverage.
- Comprehensive Benefits: W-2 employment with comprehensive employee benefits and retirement plan.
- Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO package supporting time away from practice.
Qualifications
- Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
- Active California license or ability to obtain
- Surgical first-assist experience strongly preferred
- Experience does not need to be specific to plastic, craniofacial or gender-affirming surgery; candidates with strong surgical backgrounds are encouraged to apply
- Comfortable participating in surgeries averaging 6–6.5 hours
- Strong clinical judgment and patient education skills
- Excellent interpersonal and team communication
- Comfortable providing highly personalized care to patients who may require significant education, reassurance and support surrounding surgery
- Demonstrated respect for and commitment to LGBTQ+, transgender and gender-diverse patients
- Desire to build long-term expertise within a highly specialized surgical practice
Ideal Surgical Backgrounds
Candidates may come from:
- Plastic Surgery
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- ENT / Facial Plastics
- Craniofacial Surgery
- General Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Other specialties providing substantial first-assist experience
The current PA specifically transitioned successfully from cardiac surgery, reinforcing that strong surgical fundamentals are more important than previous facial gender surgery experience.
Community Highlights
- San Francisco Location: Live and practice in one of the country's most distinctive metropolitan areas with renowned dining, culture, arts and entertainment.
- Northern California Access: Enjoy convenient access to the Pacific Coast, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and year-round outdoor recreation.
- Transportation Options: Extensive public transit provides convenient transportation throughout the city, including between the current clinic and surgery center.
- International Connectivity: Convenient access to major domestic and international travel.
Job Reference #: PA 26872
About the Community
Surgical Physician Assistant | Plastic & Gender-Affirming Surgery
San Francisco, CA
Practice Highlights
- Advanced Surgical Practice: Join an internationally recognized private surgical practice specializing in facial gender-affirming surgery and highly individualized patient care.
- Full-Spectrum Perioperative Care: This Surgical Physician Assistant participates in the complete patient journey—from initial consultation and medical screening through pre-operative education, surgical first assist, wound care and post-operative follow-up. The PA often independently manages the patient's first post-operative appointment.
- Complex Surgical Experience: First assist in highly specialized facial procedures, with operations averaging approximately 6–6.5 hours. Most patients undergo outpatient surgery followed by an overnight stay with dedicated nursing support.
- Meaningful Patient Relationships: Practice in a highly personalized model where the Surgical Physician Assistant becomes a familiar and trusted member of each patient's care team. This is distinctly different from a large institutional environment where care may be fragmented among multiple providers.
- LGBTQ+ & Gender-Affirming Care: Serve a predominantly transgender and gender-diverse patient population seeking facial gender-affirming surgery. Candidates should demonstrate a genuine commitment to respectful, compassionate, affirming care for LGBTQ+ patients.
- Close Physician Collaboration: Work closely with one internationally recognized surgeon rather than rotating among a large surgical group, allowing the PA to develop strong clinical rapport, trust and surgical expertise.
- Small, Collaborative Team: Join a close-knit practice where initiative, communication and teamwork matter. With two PAs working closely together, interpersonal fit and collaboration are important components of long-term success.
- Structured Surgical Schedule: PAs alternate surgical coverage Monday through Thursday and share Friday surgical coverage. OR days generally run approximately 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, while clinic days typically run approximately 9:00 AM–6:00 PM.
- Manageable Patient Volume: Clinic responsibilities include consultations, pre-operative appointments, and post-operative care. Thursday afternoons typically include approximately four to five second post-operative appointments depending on surgical volume.
- Patient-Centered Communication: Provide extensive education and reassurance to patients preparing for complex surgery while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries. The successful PA will combine empathy with confident clinical communication.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive Compensation: $180,000–$230,000 base salary, based on experience.
- Relocation Support: Sign-on and/or relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate.
- Professional Protection: Malpractice insurance with tail coverage.
- Comprehensive Benefits: W-2 employment with comprehensive employee benefits and retirement plan.
- Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO package supporting time away from practice.
Qualifications
- Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
- Active California license or ability to obtain
- Surgical first-assist experience strongly preferred
- Experience does not need to be specific to plastic, craniofacial or gender-affirming surgery; candidates with strong surgical backgrounds are encouraged to apply
- Comfortable participating in surgeries averaging 6–6.5 hours
- Strong clinical judgment and patient education skills
- Excellent interpersonal and team communication
- Comfortable providing highly personalized care to patients who may require significant education, reassurance and support surrounding surgery
- Demonstrated respect for and commitment to LGBTQ+, transgender and gender-diverse patients
- Desire to build long-term expertise within a highly specialized surgical practice
Ideal Surgical Backgrounds
Candidates may come from:
- Plastic Surgery
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- ENT / Facial Plastics
- Craniofacial Surgery
- General Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Other specialties providing substantial first-assist experience
The current PA specifically transitioned successfully from cardiac surgery, reinforcing that strong surgical fundamentals are more important than previous facial gender surgery experience.
Community Highlights
- San Francisco Location: Live and practice in one of the country's most distinctive metropolitan areas with renowned dining, culture, arts and entertainment.
- Northern California Access: Enjoy convenient access to the Pacific Coast, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and year-round outdoor recreation.
- Transportation Options: Extensive public transit provides convenient transportation throughout the city, including between the current clinic and surgery center.
- International Connectivity: Convenient access to major domestic and international travel.
Job Reference #: PA 26872
Meet the hiring team
Alexis Tannin
Director of Recruiting
- alexis.tannin@themedicusfirm.comEmail the recruiter
- (214) 272-2854Call the recruiter
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San Francisco, CA Community Resources
San Francisco is a city that captures the imagination from the moment you arrive—iconic, innovative, and endlessly inspiring. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, this world-class city blends natural beauty with a vibrant cultural scene unlike anywhere else in the world. From its famous hills to its colorful neighborhoods, San Francisco offers a lifestyle filled with possibility, energy, and breathtaking views at every turn.
Outdoor adventure is a way of life here. Residents enjoy year-round access to scenic waterfront parks, coastal trails, and some of the most recognizable outdoor landmarks in America. Whether you’re biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, picnicking in Golden Gate Park, exploring Land’s End, or watching the sunset from Baker Beach, San Francisco makes it easy to enjoy the outdoors without ever leaving the city. The mild climate ensures you can stay active in every season.
San Francisco’s culture is rich, eclectic, and deeply engaging. Food lovers revel in everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to historic neighborhood eateries serving world-class cuisine. The arts scene is equally impressive, with renowned theaters, galleries, museums, and live music venues shaping the city’s creative heartbeat. Add in bustling farmer’s markets, waterfront festivals, and unique cultural districts like Chinatown, North Beach, and the Mission, and you have a city filled with experiences that never get old.
Professionals and families benefit from the city’s dynamic economy and spirit of innovation. San Francisco is home to major employers in technology, healthcare, finance, biotech, and the arts, drawing talented individuals from around the globe. Its neighborhoods are walkable, distinct, and full of character, offering something for every lifestyle—from quiet residential enclaves to lively cultural hubs. World-class universities and outstanding healthcare systems round out the foundation of a thriving, forward-thinking community.
With its unmatched scenery, vibrant urban life, and status as one of the most influential cities in the world, San Francisco offers a living experience that’s both exhilarating and deeply rewarding. It’s a place where ambition meets beauty, where diversity fuels creativity, and where every neighborhood tells a story you’ll want to be a part of.
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Alexis Tannin
Director of Recruiting
- alexis.tannin@themedicusfirm.comEmail the recruiter
- (214) 272-2854Call the recruiter
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