JOB SUMMARY
The Lead APP, Thoracic Surgery provides clinical and administrative leadership for a team of approximately 11 Advanced Practice Providers supporting Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology services at UT Southwestern. This role maintains an active clinical practice while partnering with physician and operational leadership to support staffing, scheduling, APP development, quality initiatives, and day-to-day operations across the service line.

This is a highly engaged team of experienced APPs supporting care across inpatient, outpatient, and affiliated practice locations. As the service line continues to grow and expand into additional sites, the Lead APP will play a key role in supporting team operations, workforce planning, and maintaining a collaborative clinical environment.

We are seeking a strong leader who can effectively support a high-performing team while balancing clinical excellence with operational responsibilities. The ideal candidate is collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable leading within a fast-paced surgical specialty.

Schedule: Approximately 80% clinical and 20% administrative.

Clinical coverage includes a combination of:

• Inpatient and outpatient responsibilities
• Hospital shifts: 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Clinic shifts: Four 10-hour shifts
• Rotating weekends and holidays
• Approximately 1 in every 5 weekends

This team is known for its strong APP culture, collaborative physician partnerships, and commitment to delivering exceptional patient care while supporting continued growth across the Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology programs

BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Required

• Education
  Master's Degree in nursing, documentation of completion of accredited Advanced Practice Education Program and
  Graduate education and related Texas Board of Nursing authorization must be consistent with clinical practice area and patient population. or
  Graduate of a master's degree or higher Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician, inc. (ARC-PA) accredited Physician Assistant program.

• Experience
  3 years experience in advanced practice provider role required, with demonstrated increasing responsibility.

• Licenses and Certifications
  (ANP) ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER Licensure as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by Texas State Board of Nursing. Authorization for prescriptive authority by the Texas Board of Nursing Upon Hire or
  (NCCPA) NAT COMM ON CRFT PHY ASST Certification by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certification required. Licensed by the Texas Physician Assistant Board, with registered supervisor and delegation to prescribe Upon Hire
  Current applicable American Heart Association Life Support certification(s) based on UT Southwestern policy for Advanced Practice Providers Upon Hire

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience

• Two years of APP leadership experience preferred
• Two years of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS) experience preferred
• A combination of leadership and CVTS experience totaling two or more years is highly desirable. Candidates with strengths in either area, or a blend of both, are encouraged to apply.

JOB DUTIES

• Oversees and manages coverage schedules for both inpatient and outpatient Advanced Practice Provider (APP), as appropriate/ applicable. Generate APP specific data surrounding the performance and productivity of supervised staff. Reviews current deployment of APP staff, and identifies opportunities for future optimization.
• Conducts annual performance evaluations of assigned APP staff, in conjunction with division chief or medical director, faculty, and Office of Advanced Practice.
• Reviews safety events or issues related to APP clinical practice quality and safety for assigned team, and as designated by leadership.
• Reports observed APP events affecting access, productivity, and/or clinical practice. Discusses any identified barriers to providing optimal care. Supports collaborative correction or remediation, where appropriate.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement initiatives pertaining to the APPs and within the assigned clinical program(s).
• Conducts regular team meetings with APP staff to identify barriers to patient care, and lead discussions to develop resolutions to such barriers. Reviews meeting results with advanced practice leadership, division chief, medical director, and/or faculty, as appropriate.
• Promotes APP participation in departmental and institutional continuing medical education opportunities.
• In the clinical setting, will provide diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients within their scope of practice, licensure, and privileges.
• Conducts and documents comprehensive initial and ongoing physical examinations based on age and diagnosis, including psychological status.
• Synthesizes data and utilizes evidence to develop, implement, and evaluate the patient plan of care, including ordering and interpreting laboratory, radiology, and other diagnostic studies/results.
• Demonstrates proficiency in technical/procedural skills, as appropriate and based on specialty and training.
• Provides relevant management, referrals, counseling, and education to patients, families, and caregivers related to current care and preventive health measures.
• Facilitates/participates in quality related initiatives and/or clinical research protocols through planned group processes, workshops, seminars, and staff meetings, to improve clinical and system practice performance.
• Collaborates in research projects and protocols, as appropriate; and routinely applies evidence based best practices to patient care
• Performs other duties as assigned.