Surgery - Cardiovascular Physician Assistant

Locum-to-Perm - Fort Wayne, Indiana NP/PA Cardiothoracic Surgery Opportunity

Clinical Role

Join an established cardiothoracic surgery program in Fort Wayne, Indiana, providing comprehensive inpatient management and surgical support for a high-acuity cardiovascular, thoracic, vascular, and heart failure patient population. This locum-to-permanent opportunity is seeking experienced Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants with cardiothoracic surgery experience to join a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.

Assignment Details

Start Date:

August 1, 2026

Contract Length:

Ongoing with locum-to-permanent opportunity

Coverage Requirements:

Multiple providers will be considered

Preferred schedule is seven days on/seven days off

Alternative availability patterns will also be considered

Schedule:

Monday through Friday:

7:00 AM - 7:00 PM onsite coverage

All providers begin at 7:00 AM to participate in the daily cardiovascular surgery meeting

Saturday:

24-hour coverage with approximately four hours onsite beginning at 6:00 AM for inpatient rounding

Sunday:

24-hour coverage with approximately four hours onsite beginning at 6:00 AM for inpatient rounding

Call Schedule:

Weekday call:

4:30 PM - 6:00 AM

Weekend call:

5:00 PM - 5:00 AM

Call ratio:

Approximately 1:3

Call response time:

20 minutes

Call coverage includes assigned patients, emergency department consultations, and transfers from outside hospitals

Night PA coverage may reduce evening call coverage hours on certain days

Position Highlights

Locum-to-permanent opportunity

Seven-on/seven-off schedule preferred

High-acuity cardiothoracic surgery practice

Multiple providers accepted

Strong clinical support staff

Potential operating room opportunities

Comprehensive cardiovascular, thoracic, vascular, and heart failure program

Cerner EMR system

Clinical Details & Responsibilities

Practice Setting:

Hospital-based cardiothoracic surgery service

Inpatient rounding

Critical care and stepdown units

Call coverage

Potential operating room participation

Patient Volume:

Approximately 8-10 patients per shift

Approximately five phone consultations per call period

Approximately three admissions during call coverage

Clinical Responsibilities:

Daily rounding on all inpatient cardiovascular surgery patients

Management of ICU and stepdown patients

New inpatient consultations

Patient discharges

Medical management and call coverage

Emergency department consultations

Transfer evaluations from referring hospitals

Participation in weekend and overnight call coverage

Training of new APPs in vein harvesting techniques

First assisting on selected surgical procedures after orientation

Procedures & Surgical Experience:

Endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) experience required for Physician Assistants

Minimum approximately 500 EVH cases and 10 years of experience preferred for PAs

Hemapro 2 EVH experience preferred

Open vein harvesting as needed

Endoscopic vein harvesting for vascular procedures

Potential first assist responsibilities

Possible emergency OR call coverage while on weekend call

Clinical Specialties Include:

Adult cardiac surgery:

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Valve surgery

Aortic dissections

Thoracic surgery:

Robotic thoracic procedures

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

Thoracotomies

Lobectomies

Wedge resections

Decortications

Mediastinal mass procedures

Vascular surgery:

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA)

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair

Lower extremity revascularization procedures

Heart failure services:

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD)

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Impella support devices

Support & Technology

Support Staff:

Dedicated rounding nurse available weekends from 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Cardiothoracic surgeons participate in weekend rounds

Night PA coverage available on select evenings

Collaborative multidisciplinary team

EMR System:

Cerner

Additional Information:

Providers must bring a laptop for call coverage responsibilities

Requirements

Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Required

Cardiothoracic surgery experience - Required

Board Certification - Required

Active Indiana License - Required

Compact License - Accepted

ACLS Certification - Required

BLS Certification - Required

Physician Assistants must possess endoscopic vein harvesting experience - Required

Organization & Team

Established cardiothoracic surgery program

High-acuity tertiary care practice

Level II Trauma Center

Stroke-certified hospital

Collaborative physician and APP team

Comprehensive cardiovascular and thoracic services

Locum-to-permanent opportunity with ongoing staffing needs

About Fort Wayne, Indiana

Location & Access: Fort Wayne is Indiana's second-largest city and offers convenient access to Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and other major Midwest metropolitan areas.

Lifestyle & Community: Fort Wayne provides an affordable cost of living, excellent schools, family-friendly neighborhoods, and a thriving downtown community.

Outdoor Recreation: Residents enjoy extensive parks, rivers, trails, golf courses, boating, fishing, and numerous outdoor recreational activities.

Attractions: The city features museums, performing arts venues, professional sports, festivals, shopping, dining, and a growing cultural scene.

Quality of Life: Fort Wayne consistently ranks highly for affordability, healthcare access, economic opportunity, and overall quality of life.

What RecruitWell Provides

A+ rated malpractice coverage

Weekly direct deposit

24/7 dedicated recruiter support

Professional onboarding and credentialing assistance

Prepaid travel and lodging

RecruitWell's Core Values

Open communication

Sense of urgency

Teamwork

Accountability

Driven to win

Higher consciousness