Chief of Surgery

Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY) seeks a nationally recognized surgeon to serve as Chief of Surgery at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem.  Harlem Hospital is the largest hospital in Central Harlem and the only Safety Net Hospital in Northern Manhattan. It is a 268-bed hospital that provides a broad array of preventive, primary, and acute care services including General Medicine and Medical subspecialties, General Surgery and Surgical subspecialties, Infectious Disease, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Neonatology, Critical Care, Imaging, Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine, Psychiatry and substance abuse services, Dental and Oral Surgery, and physical, speech, and occupational therapies. Harlem Hospital is recognized as an Area-Wide Burn Center and Level II Trauma Center, with Centers of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery, Breast Imaging, and Sexual Assault Forensics.

The hospital maintains a strong academic affiliation with Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, supporting excellence in patient care, medical education, and research.

The mission of NYC Health + Hospitals is to extend equally to all New Yorkers, regardless of the ability to pay, comprehensive health services of the highest quality in an atmosphere of humane care, dignity, and respect. Their Values are built on a foundation of social and racial equity and has established the ICARE standards for all staff.  

NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation’s largest municipal health care delivery system in the United States. Dedicated to providing the highest quality health care services to all New Yorkers with compassion, dignity and respect, and regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. 

Position Overview:

The Chief of Surgery will provide strategic, clinical, academic, and operational leadership for a large multi-specialty Department of Surgery, comprising of more than 80 surgeons, advanced practice providers, and support staff. The Chief will oversee a broad range of surgical specialties, while advancing excellence in patient care, medical education, research, quality, and innovation.

Opportunity Details:

Departmental Leadership

• Lead and manage all aspects of the Department of Surgery, including clinical operations, education, research, and faculty development. 
• Provide oversight across multiple surgical divisions, including Emergency General Surgery, Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Breast Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Urology, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Surgery, Hand and Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology, and Ophthalmology. 
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement. 

Strategic and Operational Management

• Direct Departmental strategic planning, budgeting, capital planning, resource allocation, and operational performance. 
• Partner with Chiefs of Service, nursing leadership, and administrative teams to achieve organizational objectives and optimize service line performance. 
• Develop initiatives that enhance clinical efficiency, patient outcomes, access to care, and financial sustainability. 

Education and Academic Programs

• Ensure excellence in graduate and continuing medical education programs.
• Provide oversight of the ACGME-accredited General Surgery Residency Program, including three categorical residents per year and eight preliminary residency positions. 
• Support and strengthen the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program and educational experiences for rotating residents in Urology, Orthopedics, and Otolaryngology. 
• Promote faculty engagement in teaching, scholarship, and academic advancement. 

Clinical Program Development

• Lead the growth and advancement of innovative surgical services, including robotic, minimally invasive, and hybrid approaches to complex surgical disease. 
• Support clinical research initiatives and the adoption of evidence-based surgical practices. 
• Identify opportunities to expand programs and strengthen the Department's regional reputation.

Health System Leadership

• Serve as a key member of hospital and health system leadership teams. 
• Represent the Department of Surgery on institutional committees and enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Collaborate across disciplines to support organizational growth, quality, safety, and patient-centered care.

Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, federal, and accreditation requirements, as well as hospital policies and procedures.
• Champion patient safety, quality improvement, and performance excellence initiatives. 
• Promote effective communication, interdisciplinary teamwork, and a culture of high reliability throughout the Department.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be an accomplished surgical leader with demonstrated expertise in departmental administration, physician leadership, academic medicine, clinical program development, and strategic planning. They will possess a strong commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and quality and innovation while fostering a collaborative and high-performing surgical culture.

• Board Certification in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery. 
• Active and Unrestricted New York State Physician License. 
• Active DEA registration. 
• Demonstrated experience in Departmental leadership and oversight of clinical operations, education, research, budgeting, and personnel. 
• Proven track record of mentoring faculty, medical education, and strategic Departmental growth. 
• Experience in managing surgical quality improvement initiatives and clinical excellence programs (e.g., NSQIP, STS, UNOS, VQUI).
• Strong communication, collaboration, and change-management skills aligned with institutional goals.
• Commitment to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in both clinical and academic settings. 

Wages and Benefits include:

Annual Base Salary: $480,000* based on 40-hour work week.

The annual total value of compensation package is estimated at $556,000**, which includes the baseline salary, 401(k) contribution, and other factors as set forth below:

• Projected bonus of up to $40,000 (based on previous year’s average), contingent upon meeting quality and productivity targets. 
• 401(k) Company Contribution (subject to IRS contribution limits):
  • Employees are immediately vested in a 3% company contribution of base earnings. No employee match is required.
  • After one year of service, employees receive an additional 7% company contribution of base earnings. No employee match is required.
• Annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) Reimbursement. 
• Generous Annual Paid Time Off (PTO): Vacation, Sick, Holiday, and CME days. 
• Medical, Prescription, and Dental Coverage: Top-tier plans with employee contributions significantly below market rates. 
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Coverage: Equal to 2x your salary (up to a maximum of $300,000) provided at no cost to you.
  • Additional employee-paid Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage is available for you and your family.
• Medical Malpractice Coverage (equivalent to occurrence-based): Provided at no cost to the employee. 
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Pre-tax employee-paid contributions for commuting expenses.

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) mission is to provide accountable, responsive, quality care with the highest degree of sensitivity to the needs of the diverse population that lives in our New York community. PAGNY is one of the largest physician groups in the country and directly employs nearly 4,000 physicians and allied health professionals who provide services to NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health care system in the nation, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually.  Our providers are highly skilled professionals with outstanding credentials who deliver the highest level of quality healthcare to patients throughout New York City.

Physician Affiliate Group of New York, P.C. (PAGNY) is an equal opportunity employer committed to equitable hiring practices and a supportive workplace.  All candidates are considered based on their individual qualifications, potential, and experience.  To learn more about our culture and ongoing workplace practices, please visit our Workplace Culture | PAGNY page. 

*Salary Disclosure Information: 

The salary listed for this position complies with New York City's Salary Transparency Law for Job Advertisements.  The salary applies specifically to the position being advertised and does not include potential bonuses, incentive compensation, or benefits.  Actual total compensation may vary based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, historical performance, and other relevant criteria. 

**The annual total value of the compensation package shown is provided as an illustration and is not guaranteed.