Neonatal Physician Assistant Fellowship

University of Pittsburgh Physicians are seeking Full-Time Physician Assistants for our Advanced Practice Provider Neonatology Fellowship program!

Fellowship Candidates will be jointly interviewed for core positions at either UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh or UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. The selection process will balance candidate experience and interests with clinical site needs to determine the best fit for each candidate. This role includes rotating shifts of varying length, covering both days and nights, 7 days per week.

Application Process:

Submit both a resume or CV and a cover letter or personal statement explaining your interest in Neonatology and our fellowship program. Interviews will be conducted in late 2024 for a late Spring 2025 cohort start date.

For additional information on the fellowship program please click here: Advanced Practice Provider Neonatology Fellowship Program

Why Join Us?

• Fellowship Program: Physician Assistant (PA) applicants without one year of prior NICU experience will participate in our APP Neonatology Fellowship Program. The fellowship offers a comprehensive year-long curriculum that includes didactic lectures, hands-on clinical rotations, procedural simulations, and opportunities to gain experience in neonatal medicine and general pediatrics, all while working closely with a broad faculty from the medical team.
• Generous Sign-On Bonus: This position is eligible for a $30,000 sign-on bonus! Please apply for details.
• Relocation Assistance: Financial support for candidates relocating to join our team.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuing education and career advancement through our APP Career Ladder and Pediatric APP Fellowship Program.

The UPMC Pediatric Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship Program is dedicated to advancing UPMC as the premier educational setting for producing excellence in patient care delivery through an innovative and world-class clinical curriculum specifically tailored to prepare the physician assistant and nurse practitioner to practice in an evolving and increasingly complex health care market.

The UPMC Pediatric APP Fellowship Program cultivates a mastery of pediatric fundamentals including acute care, ambulatory care, procedure performance, and principles of pediatric subspecialty medicine. The Pediatric APP Fellows are employed, paid learners with the goal to provide the manual skill, fundamental knowledge, and critical thinking skills needed to make sound clinical judgments on a daily basis. Pediatric APP Fellows are being trained to provide autonomous comprehensive pediatric care, within the scope of their license and in collaboration with their supervising physician.

The first one year of employment will consist of the UPMC Pediatric APP Fellowship Program. Candidates with greater than or equal to 3 (three) years’ experience within Neonatology will have the option of foregoing the Fellowship Program but are encouraged to enroll for the most comprehensive onboarding experience possible.

The Neonatal APP is responsible for providing inpatient care services in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This includes evaluation and management of neonatal patients and performing procedures as needed. The Neonatal APP-Staff is expected to follow established standards and practices when performing these duties. The Neonatal APP-Staff is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The Neonatal APP has responsibility and accountability for the provision of care through supervision by and collaboration with a physician. The Neonatal APP manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members. The role of the Neonatal APP encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision. The Neonatal APP establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. The Neonatal APP demonstrates a commitment to the community and to their healthcare profession. 

The successful candidate will be placed according to years and months of experience for employment purposes.

Responsibilities:

• Perform comprehensive physical assessment of the newborn/infant, order and interpret laboratory, radiographic and clinical data in planning and documenting the course of management and discusses the plan with Neonatology Faculty, Fellows and consultants.
• Initiate emergency evaluation and treatment.
• Regularly perform high level invasive procedures such as umbilical line placement.
• Serve as a member of Nursing and Medical committees as indicated.
• Make appropriate referrals in consultation with the attending physician for medical consultations, supportive services and regulatory reporting of patient safety issues.
• Provide support as well as information regarding the infant’s condition, progress, and plan for care to parents/family, referring and consulting physician.
• Contribute to the body of medical and nursing knowledge through collaborative and independent research and publication.
• Participate in determining conditions, resources, and policies basic to sound health care of the high-risk newborn.
• Participate in Neonatal transports from referral hospital by ground and/or air.
• Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures necessary for the care of the patient. Such procedures are carried out in accordance with established protocols and after verifying patient name and birthdate.
• Serve as a resource outside the hospital system in areas where his/her expertise can provide a community service.
• Maintain clinical competency and keep informed of current trends and developments in neonatal nursing and related medical progress through continuing education and review of the literature.
• Elicit, record, and interpret a complete health history, including past medical, obstetrical, family and psychosocial aspects.
• Record and dictate interim, discharge, and transfer summaries.
• Participate in the planning and presentation of continuing education programs for in-house medical and nursing personnel, referral hospital personnel and future RN’s and Neonatal CRNP’s.
• Coordinate plan of care and procedure with the patient’s primary nurse.

Education, Licensure, and Clearances:

Neonatal Physician Assistant

• Graduate of a Physician Assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is required.
• 1 year of Neonatal Physician experience or completion of a Neonatal fellowship program is strongly preferred.
• Staff Level: less than 3 years of Physician Assistant level III or level IV NICU experience
• Senior Level: 3+ years of Physician Assistant level III or level IV NICU experience or completion of a neonatology residency/fellowship program
• BS required; MS preferred.
• Physician Assistant PA State Licensure
• NCCPA
• NRP required, or completed within 30 days of start
• Basic Life Support OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• Act 33
• Act 34
• Act 73 FBI Clearance

Special Skills and Abilities Required:

• Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families.
• Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment.
• Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care.
• Good clinical judgment.
• Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and to lead others in application of acceptable standards of practice.
• Mobility and visual manual dexterity. Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients.

This position is dependent upon successful attainment and maintenance of hospital privileges, if applicable to the Business Unit practice.

UPMC has a Center for Engagement and Inclusion that is charged with executing leading-edge and next-generation diversity strategies to advance the organization’s diversity management capability and its national presence as a diversity leader. This includes having Employee Resource Groups, such as PRIDE Health or UPMC ENABLED (Empowering Abilities and Leveraging Differences) Network, which support the implementation of our diversity strategy.

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

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