Full Job Description
The Mental Health Engagement, Navigation, and Delivery (MEND) Service is seeking an experienced and collaborative Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) to serve as the inaugural Lead Advanced Practice Provider (Lead APP). This newly created leadership role offers a unique opportunity for an APP leader to help define, develop, and advance APP practice within the MEND Service while continuing to provide high-quality patient care.
The Mental Health Engagement Navigation and Delivery (MEND) Team is comprised of psychiatrists, APPs, and a social worker and provides proactive psychiatric screening, intervention, and interdisciplinary support for patients admitted to MEND units. The team identifies patients at risk for psychological barriers to recovery or disruptive, aggressive, or self-injurious behavior. Interventions include psychiatric consultation, behavioral care planning, psychosocial and psychotherapeutic support, curbside consultation, patient advocacy, care coordination, psychiatric disposition planning, and team education for nurses, physicians, APPs, social work, and rehabilitation staff.
The Lead APP will provide clinical leadership, operational coordination, mentorship, and professional support for APPs within the service line. Working in close partnership with physician leadership, operational leadership, and Advanced Practice leadership, the Lead APP will help optimize care delivery, strengthen APP integration, and support the continued growth and success of the MEND program.
Key Responsibilities:
APP Leadership & Service Line Support
- Serve as a clinical and operational leader for APPs within the MEND Service
- Provide daily leadership, mentorship, and support to promote APP engagement, professional growth, and clinical excellence
- Help establish and advance APP workflows, practice standards, and models of care
- Partner with physician and operational leadership to identify opportunities for program development, process improvement, and enhanced patient care delivery
- Develop and maintain effective APP staffing approaches and schedules to support service needs
- Support onboarding, orientation, and integration of new APP team members
- Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement
Clinical Practice
- Provide direct patient care as an integral member of the MEND team
- Manage and coordinate care for patients within scope of practice and clinical privileges
- Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for APP colleagues and interdisciplinary team members
- Demonstrate advanced clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, and commitment to exceptional patient outcomes
Professional Development & Operational Excellence
- Support APP performance development, ongoing feedback, annual education requirements, and professional growth opportunities
- Collaborate with physician leadership and operational partners on implementation of quality initiatives, performance measures, and best practices
- Participate in local credentialing processes and ensure compliance with institutional standards
- Collaborate with entity and system Advanced Practice leadership on APP initiatives, professional practice advancement, and strategic priorities
- Represent APP perspectives in service line planning, operational discussions, and programmatic growth opportunities
Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program
- Current certification and licensure as an NP or PA
- Clinical experience relevant to the MEND Service
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams
- Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Commitment to advancing APP practice, team-based care, and patient-centered outcomes
- BLS Required
Opportunity Highlights
- Be the inaugural Lead APP for the MEND Service and help shape the future of the program
- Build and advance APP practice models in collaboration with physician and operational leaders
- Influence culture, workflow, and professional development opportunities for APPs
- Combine clinical excellence with meaningful leadership and program development responsibilities
- Join a collaborative environment committed to innovation, growth, and high-quality care
We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.
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