CVOR Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Lead

Inova • Fairfax, VA

21d

About The Position

Inova Heart and Vascular is seeking a full-time cardiac surgery advanced practice provider (APP) first assistant fellowship director to provide strategic oversight, develop and implement a postgraduate cardiac surgery APP first assistant fellowship program, and support its continuous improvement. The director will oversee program operations and pursue, obtain, and maintain APP fellowship accreditation, with an expected accreditation timeline of 3–5 years from hire. In collaboration with the CVOR APP lead and other institutional partners, the director will develop and evaluate educational curricula, establish competency and outcome measures, maintain program documentation, assess fellows’ technical and clinical competency, and coordinate remediation as needed.

The position also includes APP faculty leadership, mentorship, onboarding, and workforce-development planning. The successful candidate will maintain an active clinical practice on the cardiac surgery APP team and function as an expert first assistant in cardiac surgery, with a 90/10 clinical and administrative split. Night and weekend call are required. The fellowship provides instruction across cardiac surgical procedures and related areas, including CABG, valve and complex aortic surgery, mechanical circulatory support, transplantation, conduit harvesting, perioperative critical care, and operative techniques.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner program.
• Board-certified Physician Assistant, or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with RNFA certification; employees must maintain certification requirements.
• ACLS certification for physician assistants; ACLS and BLS certification for nurse practitioners.
• Current Virginia medical license.
• Current DEA number and National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants credential, as stated in the posting.
• At least 5 years of experience as a first assistant in cardiac surgery and current practice as a first assistant.
• Experience developing educational curricula, evaluating procedural competency, teaching didactic and procedural content, and using simulation-based training.
• Leadership or management experience within a cardiac surgery, APP, or postgraduate fellowship program.

Nice To Haves

• Participation in clinical research and quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Direct all operational aspects of the Cardiac Surgery APP First Assistant Fellowship Program and pursue, obtain, and maintain fellowship accreditation.
• In conjunction with the CVOR APP lead, develop, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve the fellowship’s didactic, simulation, and operative curriculum.
• Ensure educational activities align with institutional goals, cardiac surgery service line priorities, evidence-based practices, and fellowship objectives.
• Establish annual educational goals, competency milestones, and program outcome measures.
• Maintain fellowship policies, procedures, and educational documentation.
• Develop and use educational materials, individualized learning plans, procedure manuals, competency checklists, and evaluation tools.
• Develop objective methods for evaluating technical and clinical competency; directly observe operative performance and maintain procedural logs and competency documentation.
• Ensure fellows demonstrate competency before independent practice and coordinate remediation plans when necessary.
• Collaborate with physician faculty, system and departmental APP leadership, nursing leadership, and simulation educators.
• Participate in strategic planning for expansion of APP education and workforce development.
• Assist with development and management of fellowship budgets and educational resources.
• Coordinate simulation-based training for cardiac surgical procedures, emergency management, and technical skills as needed.
• Provide oversight and instruction in CABG, valve surgery, complex aortic surgery, ECMO and VAD, heart transplantation, endoscopic conduit harvesting, temporary mechanical circulatory support, chest closure and reopening, emergent re-sternotomy, perioperative critical care, hemodynamic monitoring, surgical exposure and tissue handling, cardiopulmonary bypass principles, operative efficiency, and sterile technique.
• Serve as a clinical resource for fellows and APP faculty and promote patient safety, professionalism, teamwork, and psychological safety.
• Mentor APP faculty participating in fellowship education and assist with onboarding and orientation of new fellowship faculty.
• Collaborate with the CVOR APP lead regarding staffing, educational priorities, and faculty development.
• Provide strategic recommendations regarding APP workforce development and future educational initiatives.
• Ensure fellowship faculty maintain clinical competencies required for their privileges.
• Maintain an active clinical practice within the cardiac surgery APP team and function as an expert first assistant in cardiac surgery.
• Work a 90/10 clinical and administrative split and participate in required night and weekend call.
• Represent the fellowship program internally and externally and participate in regional and national educational initiatives related to cardiothoracic surgery APP education.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package with a market-competitive base salary, performance incentive plan, and productivity-based RVU compensation structure.
• Opportunities for sign-on, retention, and relocation incentives.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Team member wellness program.
• Retirement plan with Inova matching the first 5% of eligible contributions, starting on the first day.
• Education assistance up to $5,250 per year and student loan assistance up to $10,000.
• Up to 25 mental health coaching or therapy sessions per person per year at no cost for team members, their spouses or partners, and their children.
• Paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Flexible work schedules and remote and hybrid career opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior