CVOR Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Lead

Inova • Fairfax, VA

20d

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, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a postgraduate cardiac surgery APP first assistant fellowship program. The director will lead the program’s operational and educational activities and is expected to pursue, obtain, and maintain APP fellowship accreditation, with an anticipated timeline of 3–5 years from hire.

The role combines fellowship leadership and clinical practice, with a stated 90/10 clinical and administrative split. The lead maintains an active practice as an expert first assistant on the cardiac surgery APP team. Night and weekend call are required. The role also serves as an ambassador for the fellowship and participates in regional and national educational initiatives related to cardiothoracic surgery APP education.

Inova Heart and Vascular describes its cardiac surgery program as performing thousands of procedures, with a national STS 3-star composite score for CABG and isolated AVR, top 2% national TAVR volume, a mitral valve repair center of excellence, a Platinum-level ELSO award, and a busy heart and lung transplant program that performed 100 total transplants in 2022.

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.
• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
• 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 to evaluate technical and clinical competency; directly observe operative performance; maintain procedural logs and competency documentation; and ensure fellows demonstrate competency before independent practice.
• Coordinate remediation plans when necessary.
• Collaborate with physician faculty, system and departmental APP leadership, nursing leadership, and simulation educators.
• Participate with the CVOR APP lead in strategic planning for APP education and workforce development.
• Assist system APP leadership and surgery service line leaders 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 and complex aortic surgery; mechanical circulatory support, including 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 with the CVOR APP lead 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 the clinical competencies necessary for their privileges.
• Maintain an active clinical practice as an expert first assistant in cardiac surgery, with a stated 90/10 clinical and administrative split.
• Take night and weekend call.
• Serve as an ambassador for 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

• Market-competitive base salary, performance incentive plan, and productivity-based RVU compensation structure.
• Opportunities for sign-on, retention, and relocation.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Team member wellness program.
• Inova matches the first 5% of eligible retirement contributions, starting on the first day.
• Up to $5,250 per year in education assistance and up to $10,000 for student loans.
• Mental health coaching or therapy sessions at no cost for team members and their spouses or partners and children: 25 sessions per person per year.
• 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