Surgical Director of Abdominal Transplant - St. Joseph's Hospital - Tampa, Florida

BayCare Medical Group•Tampa, FL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

BayCare Health System is seeking an accomplished abdominal transplant surgeon to serve as Surgical Director of Abdominal Transplant Surgery for its developing kidney and kidney–pancreas transplant program at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. In partnership with Northwestern Medicine, BayCare is launching a new solid organ transplant program, with kidney transplants anticipated to begin in 2027—offering a rare opportunity to shape a high‑quality transplant service from the ground up. As Surgical Director, you will provide strategic and clinical leadership for the surgical transplant program while serving as the primary kidney and kidney–pancreas transplant surgeon, as defined by OPTN and UNOS requirements. This role is ideal for a surgeon who thrives in collaborative leadership, values quality and regulatory excellence, and is motivated to build a sustainable transplant program within a community‑based academic health system. You will work in a close dyad partnership with transplant nephrology leadership and administrative leaders at both BayCare and Northwestern Medicine to ensure complete surgical coverage, regulatory compliance, quality outcomes, and long-term program sustainability.

Requirements

MD or DO with completion of an ACGME‑accredited residency in General Surgery or Urology.
Board Certification in General Surgery or Urology.
Completion of an ASTS‑accredited abdominal transplant surgery fellowship (or equivalent experience).
ASTS Board Certification (or equivalent).
Meets eligibility requirements to serve as OPTN Primary Surgeon for kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant program, including required case logs.
Unrestricted Florida medical license, or ability to obtain prior to start.
Demonstrated excellence in clinical judgment, quality assessment, and surgical outcomes.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with providers, staff, patients, and families.

Responsibilities

Serve as the OPTN-designated Primary Surgeon for the kidney and kidney–pancreas transplant program, ensuring continuous, high-quality surgical coverage.
Provide leadership and oversight for all surgical aspects of the transplant program, ensuring full compliance with OPTN policies, CMS Conditions of Participation, UNOS requirements, and hospital governance standards.
Deliver comprehensive surgical care across the transplant continuum, including: Evaluation of transplant recipient and living donor candidates, Donor and recipient operative management, Peri‑operative decision-making and postoperative surgical follow‑up, Related general surgical procedures as needed.
Partner with multidisciplinary teams to advance patient safety, surgical quality, and outcomes.
Collaborate closely with nephrology, transplant coordinators, anesthesia, and hospital leadership to support program growth, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of clinical protocols, quality metrics, and readiness activities required for OPTN certification and ongoing compliance.
Foster a culture of excellence, teamwork, and accountability within a growing academic transplant program.