Cardiac Surgery First Assist - Physician Assistant
MedStar Health · Washington, DC
Posted October 17, 2026
MedStar Washington Hospital Center · 110 Irving St NW, Washington, DC, US, 20010
- Pay: $115,003 – $190,000 per year
- Schedule: Full Time, Day/Evening/Night (Rotating Weekends)
- Location: MedStar Washington Hospital Center
- MedStar Job ID: 160031
General Summary of Position
Works as first or second assistant during open heart and other vascular and thoracic surgical procedures under the direction of the attending physician. This provider will assist with the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care of the cardiac surgical patient within the operating room.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Reviews and interprets, as appropriate, the patient chart, medical history, and clinical imaging as it for preoperative planning
- Recognizes abnormalities of electrocardiogram in the OR and ICU settings and takes appropriate action to assist in the correction and stabilization of the arrhythmias and hemodynamic parameters of the patient.
- Primary role is to assist in the cardiac surgery operating room. Roles include but are not limited to:
- Opening the sternum utilizing mid-line sternotomy technique.
- Preparing the patient for arterial and venous cannulation.
- First assisting cardiac surgeon in cases including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repair/replacement (open and robotic approach), aortic arch repair, mechanical circulatory support, and heart transplant.
- Assist in percutaneous insertion of devices.
- Harvesting and preparing conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting, including internal mammary artery, greater saphenous vein, and radial artery.
- Place epicardial pacing wires and mediastinal/pleural drains.
- Closing the mid-line sternotomy.
- Teaching/mentoring less experienced staff.
Education
- Graduation from Accredited program (PA or ACNP)
- RN First Assistant program required for nurse practitioners
Experience
- 2 years' operating room experience required
- 5 years' experience cardiac surgery care preferred
Licenses and Certifications
Licensed Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner + RN First Assist in the District of Columbia required
The total compensation for this position is a combination of base salary, a first assist adjuster, and an off-shift adjuster.
Employer
MedStar Health
MedStar Health is the largest health system and the largest provider of healthcare services in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore region. A non-profit organization, MedStar brings together 30,000 associates working at 10 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care sites, more than 700 access points of care across more than 225 zip codes in 17 counties in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
The MedStar system includes:
- Hospitals including MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Union Memorial, MedStar Franklin Square, MedStar Good Samaritan, MedStar Harbor, MedStar Montgomery, MedStar Southern Maryland and MedStar St. Mary's
- MedStar Medical Group, one of the nation's 15 largest medical groups, plus ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care and primary care practices across the region
- One of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country, with major research and innovation platforms
Why physicians and advanced practice providers choose MedStar:
- Published hiring ranges on every position
- The largest employed anesthesia group in the region, with MDAs, CRNAs and CAAs employed directly by the health system
- Productivity and quality incentives, paid malpractice, CME time and allowance, and 403(b), 457(b) and 457(f) retirement plans on many roles
- Student loan forgiveness eligibility as a non-profit employer
Recognition: MedStar Health has been named one of "America's Greatest Workplaces" by Newsweek (including Inclusion and Diversity, Women, Parents and Families, Mental Wellbeing and Healthcare) and one of "America's Best Employers" by Forbes. MedStar is committed to equity for all people and communities.