Location: Worcester, MA
Facility: UMass Memorial Health - UMass Memorial Children s Medical Center
Department: Department of Surgery
Specialty: Pediatric Surgery
Schedule: Full Time

UMass Memorial Health is seeking an experienced Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to join our Pediatric Surgery team and provide clinical and program leadership for the Pediatric Trauma Program.

This role combines direct pediatric surgical care with leadership of the Pediatric Trauma Program, including program development, quality and performance improvement, regulatory readiness, education, injury prevention, and continuous improvement initiatives. The APP will collaborate with pediatric surgeons, nursing, EMS, residents, hospital leadership, and multidisciplinary partners to advance program goals, support high-quality family-centered care, and maintain a high-performing pediatric trauma program.

Key Responsibilities

Inpatient Care

• Provide inpatient rounding and ongoing management for pediatric surgery and trauma patients.
• Provide clinical coverage and continuity of care when surgical residents/interns are in the operating room.
• Perform assessments, develop treatment plans, order and interpret diagnostic studies, and monitor patient progress in collaboration with the surgical team.
• Identify changes in clinical condition and initiate appropriate interventions.
• Assist with bedside procedures and perioperative management.
• Coordinate discharge planning and transitions of care.

Outpatient/Ambulatory Care

• Evaluate and manage pediatric surgical patients in the outpatient setting.
• Conduct preoperative assessments and postoperative follow-up visits.
• Manage acute and chronic surgical conditions and prescribe medications, therapies, and interventions within scope of practice.
• Coordinate referrals and follow-up care.

Patient & Family Communication and Education

• Triage and respond to patient and parent phone calls and EHR messages.
• Communicate treatment plans, clinical updates, and next steps to patients and families.
• Provide education on diagnoses, surgical procedures, recovery, medications, G-tube care, wound care, postoperative care, and individualized home-care needs.
• Develop and maintain patient and family educational resources.
• Support families in understanding treatment options and participating in informed decision-making.

Pediatric Trauma Program Leadership

• Ensure compliance and readiness with American College of Surgeons, state, and regulatory trauma standards and verification requirements.
• Lead Pediatric Performance Improvement and Patient Safety activities, including case review, quality monitoring, corrective action planning, and analysis of trauma outcomes and TQIP data.
• Support trauma registry operations, benchmarking, reporting, and regulatory submissions.
• Coordinate trauma education, competency validation, simulation, and continuing education for clinical staff and trainees.
• Lead injury-prevention initiatives in partnership with community organizations, schools, EMS agencies, and public health partners.
• Monitor and communicate program performance, outcomes, and improvement initiatives to leadership.

Key Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner program.
• Current Massachusetts PA or NP license, national certification (NCCPA, AANP, or ANCC), DEA registration, and Massachusetts Controlled Substance Registration (CSR) required.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification required.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in pediatric trauma, emergency medicine, critical care, surgery, or trauma program management.
• Experience with quality improvement, regulatory compliance, trauma registries, performance improvement, and data analysis preferred.
• Relevant trauma, emergency, critical care, or quality-focused certifications preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, community stakeholders, and regulatory agencies in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Top Tier Benefits to Reflect Your Values and Needs

• Retirement plans including pension plan and 401-k
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement benefit
• Paid family and medical leave; short-term and long-term disability programs
• Hospital liability insurance
• Relocation assistance, if applicable
• Organization-wide commitment to formal Clinician Wellness Program

Visit UMass Memorial Medical Group to learn more about our organization

Qualified candidates may contact Carmen Sanderson, Provider Recruiter, at Carmen.Sanderson@umassmemorial.org .