Chief of Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Surgery
University of Miami

Current Employees:

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General Description (Purpose and Function):

The University of Miami is considered among the top-tier higher education institutions in the U.S. for its academic excellence, superior medical care, and cutting-edge research. The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine currently has strong clinical, research, and educational activities and sponsors a fully approved ACGME residency training program in Thoracic Surgery. This is the largest academic cardiothoracic training program in Southern Florida, comprising of the University of Miami Healthcare System, and additional sites of practice at Jackson Memorial Healthcare System - including the Holtz Children's Hospital - and the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center. Our Congenital Heart Surgery Program treats congenital heart and lung defects in children, including neonatal, infant, and adult congenital surgical procedures and pediatric heart transplantation. The section of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery consists of two surgeons. The Section Chief is integral to the practice, the hospital, and the health system's operations.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities (For-exempt Employees Include Percent of Effort):

The Chief of Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Surgery:

Performs the complete scope of surgical services, including consultations and surgical care for congenital heart problems, including a wide spectrum of defects in newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. Examples of heart operations include arterial switch, Norwood operations, closure of septal defects, repair of tetralogy of Fallot, staged palliation of single ventricle defects including Fontan Procedures, heart rhythm disorders, complex defects, ECMO/VAD, and transplantation. Inclusive of Neonatal, infant, and adult congenital surgical procedures.

• Working with the Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, leads the pediatric cardiology service line associated with the Children's Heart Center at Holtz Children's and Women's Hospital.

• Establishes and maintains quality standards and procedures for children undergoing cardiac surgery and heart transplant.

• Works with the leadership of the Holtz Children's Hospital to assure that the pediatric cardiovascular surgery progam meets or exceeds the criteria required for accreditation of the cardiac surgery/cardiology program by the State of Florida, as well as accreditation/certification of the neonatal intensive care unit as a Level III/Level IV center and accreditation/certification of the Level 1 pediatric trauma center.

• Works collaboratively to implement clinical effectiveness programs, including clinical pathways and other similar guidelines and protocols as needed.

• Performs and leads all pediatric and congenital cardiac surgeries and heart transplantation in neonates, infants, and adolescents.

• Oversees outcomes, quality, and patient experience for the program.

• Recruits, retains, and develops faculty and staff human resources talent for the program.

• Works closely and collaborates with the Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and all members of the Holtz' Heart Center.

• Coordinates and provide scheduling services for physicians to ensure coverage.

• Maintains administrative records pertaining to the scheduling of all physicians and ensures the hospital(s) has/have access to such records.

• Performs daily unit rounds on all assigned inpatients and performs all inpatient follow up.

• Provides outpatient professional medical services performed in all scheduled clinics related to the Program.

• Coordinates inpatient care and clinic care under the Program with the patient's primary physician

• Collaborates with other physicians and hospital personnel (including case managers) to reduce medically unnecessary use of resources and length of stay and coordinate interdepartmental patient care.

• Provides assistance as needed to bed control and other hospital personnel to facilitate patient throughput.

• Responds in a timely fashion to patients, other physicians or hospital personnel making patient care-related inquiries.

• Participates in all root cause analysis and related activities conducted for the Program at all service sites.

• Works collaboratively with hospital personnel to implement the quality goals of the Program and implement quality initiatives to address any identified deficiencies.

• Participates in periodic meetings with unit personnel at the hospital related to core measures, patient and physician satisfaction.

• Implements teaching activities related to residents and fellows rotating through the Program.

• Works with hospital personnel to obtain all mutually agreed upon program designations of distinction.

• Works with faculty, residents, and fellows to carry out programmatic research on childhood heart disease, (prevention, screening, mechanisms, clinical trials, innovative therapies).

• Works with the Chief and colleagues in the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery to grow a program in adult congenital heart disease.

• Assures that professional medical services are provided twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week for 365 days (or 366 as the case may be) a year to all inpatients/outpatients in the Program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Along with proper training and certification, pediatric cardiac surgeons must be keenly interested in and concerned for the needs of newborns, children, and adults with congenital cardiac anomalies. Pediatric cardiac surgery involves treating patients in various stages of development; therefore, a clear understanding of child physiology and pharmacology is essential to apply extreme precision in treatment. A high sensitivity is also important in interacting with families and patients.

Specific knowledge and skills needed include:

• Knowledge of and ability to apply professional medical principles, procedures, and techniques.

• Thorough knowledge of pharmacological agents used in patient treatments.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills, along with proper telephone etiquette.

• Performs duties in a tactful, collegial, and professional manner.

• Fluency in Spanish and/or Creole is greatly valued because of our local and regional demographics.

Education Requirements (Essential Requirements):

Bachelor's degree in pre-medicine or related field, followed by 4 years in medical school and additional residency and fellowship specialty training

• M.D. degree.

• Florida Medical License required.

• Successful completion of a fellowship in pediatric cardiac surgery.

• American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Congenital Heart Surgery Subspecialty Certification (or eligible) required.

• Obtaining and maintaining above certification is required.

Work Experience Requirements (Essential Requirements):

8-10 years of work-related experience in pediatric cardiac surgery is required to lead this program as the Chief of the Section.

Current Employees:

If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click here to log in to Workday to use the internal application process. To learn how to apply for a faculty or staff position using the Career worklet, please review this tip sheet.

Job Status:Full timeEmployee Type:Faculty-UMMG

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