Position DescriptionThe Hospital for Sick ChilThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenSickKids is one of the largest children's hospitals in North America and a paediatric academic health sciences centre with a longstanding reputation for clinical care, research, and education. Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is located near the university campus, specialty hospitals, and biomedical research institutes. The organization is advancing a campus redevelopment project that includes a new acute care hospital tower.
Physician Assistants work as part of multidisciplinary health-care teams and can develop specialized expertise within a defined clinical service. SickKids values the contribution of Physician Assistants to clinical care, education, and innovation and provides an environment in which staff can develop their practice.
Toronto
Toronto is a multicultural and rapidly growing city. More than 51% of residents were born outside Canada, and more than 230 ethnic groups are represented across the city. Toronto has established life sciences, finance, information and communications technology, sports, and arts sectors. It is the fourth-largest city in North America and offers access to housing, schools, universities, outdoor recreation, and two major airports.
Practice Setting Practice Description The position is based in the General and Thoracic Surgery Program at SickKids. The Physician Assistant will work within the multidisciplinary inpatient team alongside paediatric surgeons, surgical trainees, nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, child life specialists, social workers, support clerks, and patient support services. The program provides continuous 24-hour service from Monday to Sunday and works closely with the SickKids Emergency Department, which cares for approximately 75,000 children annually, including more than 7,000 inpatient admissions.
Clinical Area and Patient Population.
The Physician Assistant will care predominantly for infants and children with general and thoracic surgical needs, including gastrointestinal conditions, colorectal cancer and surgical oncology presentations, perforated colon cancers, foreign bodies, wound infections, organ transplantation, short bowel syndrome, bowel obstruction, bowel ischemia, appendicitis, hernias, and trauma.
Position Summary The Physician Assistant will provide inpatient and consultation support across a range of shift types. The role includes assessment and management of surgical inpatients, response to Emergency Department and inpatient consultations and trauma activations, initiation and follow-up of investigations, procedural first-assist responsibilities, pre- and post-procedural care, clinical documentation, family communication, discharge planning, and participation in quality, safety, education, and research-informed practice. The Physician Assistant will provide continuity for the service and serve as an accessible clinical resource for nursing staff when residents, fellows, or staff surgeons are in the operating room.
Key Responsibilities - Function as part of the General and Thoracic Surgery inpatient team and manage inpatients on the service.
- Respond to surgical consultations from the Emergency Department and inpatient paediatric services and respond to trauma activations.
- Obtain focused histories and physical examinations and review laboratory and imaging results with fellows and faculty, with support as needed.
- Assess patient status, develop preliminary care plans, and review each patient with the staff surgeon, including overnight events and pre- or post-operative care needs.
- Initiate common investigations, including bloodwork, urinalysis, and routine radiological studies, and follow up on results.
- Assess and troubleshoot clinical issues as they arise and liaise with the most responsible physician as appropriate.
- Complete clinical documentation and reports in the electronic medical record.
- Review procedural plans; confirm required pre-procedural testing and communication; prepare pre-procedural assessment summaries and post-procedural reports; and support procedural first-assist activities.
- Support inpatient, ward, and consultation management, including family meetings, home-care or rehabilitation forms, and discharge planning.
- Guide children and families through treatment plans and provide health education tailored to family needs, learning styles, and developmental stage.
- Identify appropriate community resources and services, support linkages, and assist with acquiring specialized equipment when required.
- Use existing templates to develop medical directives that reflect the Physician Assistant scope of practice and support progression toward a model in which supervising physician co-signature is no longer required.
- Contribute to clinical practice quality, safe care, and team development, including the Caring Safely initiative and strategies to reduce hospital-acquired conditions in the surgical population.
- Identify, integrate, and evaluate research-informed innovations that improve patient care.
- Attend weekly General and Thoracic Surgery educational and case review conferences and monthly quality conferences.
- Participate in a customized paediatric Physician Assistant clinical curriculum and pursue continued learning through internal programs and external academic and conference supports.
- Create, use, and disseminate new knowledge through formal and informal channels, mentor team members, and contribute to ongoing projects, with access to research training and career development through the SickKids Research Training Centre.
Reporting Structure The Physician Assistant will report to the Associate Program Director, General and Thoracic Surgery. Clinical work will be undertaken with General and Thoracic Surgery staff surgeons, residents, fellows, and the inpatient unit team. The Physician Assistant will practise with indirect physician supervision and will recognize situations that require urgent review by the staff physician or another team member.
Education and Qualifications Required Education and Registration - 2026 graduate of the McMaster University Physician Assistant Education Program or the Consortium of Physician Assistant Education Program.
- Eligible for the 2026 Ontario Physician Assistant Career Start Program.
- Registration with the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants.
Required Qualifications - Ability to work effectively in a busy clinical environment and highly technical procedural setting.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage effectively with children, families, and multidisciplinary team members.
- Commitment to working in accordance with hospital policies and practice guidelines.
- Ability to support patient care with a focus on quality and safety.
- Respect for patient confidentiality and awareness of consent-related considerations.
- Ability to recognize clinical scenarios requiring urgent attention from the staff physician or another team member.
- Willingness to perform cross-functional responsibilities as required.
- Availability and willingness to work days, nights, weekends, and statutory holidays based on the monthly service schedule.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Here's what you'll love - This position is eligible for employee benefits coverage including but not limited to; health, dental and life insurance. The full benefits package will be discussed at the time of offer.
- A focus on employee wellness with our new Staff Health and Well-being Strategy. Self-care helps us support others.
- A hospital that welcomes and focuses on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion .
- The opportunity to make an impact. Regardless of your role or professional interest, you will be making a difference at SickKids and contributing to our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
Employment Type: - Temporary Contact (24 months)
- In-Person
- 37.50 hours/week
