Surgical PA | San Francisco, CA

Surgical Physician Assistant | Plastic & Gender-Affirming Surgery

San Francisco, CA

Practice Highlights

• Advanced Surgical Practice: Join an internationally recognized private surgical practice specializing in facial gender-affirming surgery and highly individualized patient care.
• Full-Spectrum Perioperative Care: This Surgical Physician Assistant participates in the complete patient journeyfrom initial consultation and medical screening through pre-operative education, surgical first assist, wound care and post-operative follow-up. The PA often independently manages the patient's first post-operative appointment.
• Complex Surgical Experience: First assist in highly specialized facial procedures, with operations averaging approximately 6-6.5 hours. Most patients undergo outpatient surgery followed by an overnight stay with dedicated nursing support.
• Meaningful Patient Relationships: Practice in a highly personalized model where the Surgical Physician Assistant becomes a familiar and trusted member of each patient's care team. This is distinctly different from a large institutional environment where care may be fragmented among multiple providers.
• LGBTQ+ & Gender-Affirming Care: Serve a predominantly transgender and gender-diverse patient population seeking facial gender-affirming surgery. Candidates should demonstrate a genuine commitment to respectful, compassionate, affirming care for LGBTQ+ patients.
• Close Physician Collaboration: Work closely with one internationally recognized surgeon rather than rotating among a large surgical group, allowing the PA to develop strong clinical rapport, trust and surgical expertise.
• Small, Collaborative Team: Join a close-knit practice where initiative, communication and teamwork matter. With two PAs working closely together, interpersonal fit and collaboration are important components of long-term success.
• Structured Surgical Schedule: PAs alternate surgical coverage Monday through Thursday and share Friday surgical coverage. OR days generally run approximately 7:00 AM-4:30 PM, while clinic days typically run approximately 9:00 AM-6:00 PM.
• Manageable Patient Volume: Clinic responsibilities include consultations, pre-operative appointments, and post-operative care. Thursday afternoons typically include approximately four to five second post-operative appointments depending on surgical volume.
• Patient-Centered Communication: Provide extensive education and reassurance to patients preparing for complex surgery while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries. The successful PA will combine empathy with confident clinical communication.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: $180,000-$230,000 base salary, based on experience.
• Relocation Support: Sign-on and/or relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate.
• Professional Protection: Malpractice insurance with tail coverage.
• Comprehensive Benefits: W-2 employment with comprehensive employee benefits and retirement plan.
• Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO package supporting time away from practice.

Qualifications

• Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
• Active California license or ability to obtain
• Surgical first-assist experience strongly preferred
• Experience does not need to be specific to plastic, craniofacial or gender-affirming surgery; candidates with strong surgical backgrounds are encouraged to apply
• Comfortable participating in surgeries averaging 6-6.5 hours
• Strong clinical judgment and patient education skills
• Excellent interpersonal and team communication
• Comfortable providing highly personalized care to patients who may require significant education, reassurance and support surrounding surgery
• Demonstrated respect for and commitment to LGBTQ+, transgender and gender-diverse patients
• Desire to build long-term expertise within a highly specialized surgical practice

Ideal Surgical Backgrounds

Candidates may come from:

• Plastic Surgery
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• ENT / Facial Plastics
• Craniofacial Surgery
• General Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Other specialties providing substantial first-assist experience

The current PA specifically transitioned successfully from cardiac surgery, reinforcing that strong surgical fundamentals are more important than previous facial gender surgery experience.

Community Highlights

• San Francisco Location: Live and practice in one of the country's most distinctive metropolitan areas with renowned dining, culture, arts and entertainment.
• Northern California Access: Enjoy convenient access to the Pacific Coast, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and year-round outdoor recreation.
• Transportation Options: Extensive public transit provides convenient transportation throughout the city, including between the current clinic and surgery center.
• International Connectivity: Convenient access to major domestic and international travel.

Job Reference #: PA 26872