Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Medical Director

The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Penn State Health Golisano Children's Hospital, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and Penn State College of Medicine is seeking a  
** Medical Director of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU)
** to join our growing team of 11 board-certified pediatric intensivists.

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* Position Overview:

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* We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled physician with strong leadership abilities to serve as Medical Director of the PCICU within the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Candidates must be board-certified or board-eligible in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Additional advanced training-either completion of a one-year fellowship in Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care, a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology, or ≥10 years of PCICU experience-is required.

This is a hybrid clinical and leadership role designed to support the continued growth of a comprehensive pediatric cardiac critical care program within a collaborative, integrated PICU model.

The Medical Director will provide expert care for both pediatric cardiothoracic surgical patients and general pediatric critical care patients, reflecting our current model in which cardiac and general critical care services are aligned to ensure high-quality, efficient, and sustainable care delivery.

** Leadership Responsibilities*
* The Medical Director will provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU), guiding the ongoing development and growth of a high-quality cardiac critical care program. This individual will work in close partnership with leaders in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Anesthesia, Nursing, and hospital administration to ensure alignment of clinical, operational, and programmatic goals. The role includes leading the design and implementation of cardiac-specific clinical pathways, protocols, and quality initiatives, as well as collaborating with quality improvement and assurance teams to uphold the highest standards of patient care and safety.

The Medical Director will also represent the PCICU across institutional committees and participate in regional and national collaborations to advance the program's visibility and impact.

** Clinical Responsibilities*
* The Medical Director will deliver high-quality care within an integrated, team-based model that prioritizes the care of pediatric cardiac patients while maintaining involvement in general pediatric critical care. Clinical responsibilities will primarily focus on the management of cardiothoracic surgical and cardiac patients, with a smaller, complementary role in the care of general PICU patients.

The PICU operates with a dual-team structure, in which one team focuses on cardiac patients during daytime hours, while a parallel team manages general critical care patients. This model is designed to ensure appropriate expertise and patient-centered care while maintaining flexibility to adapt to daily census and acuity. The Medical Director will play a key role within this structure, including supporting care of additional patients as needed to ensure balanced workload and seamless unit operations.

In this role, the Medical Director will provide attending coverage in the PICU, managing a diverse population of critically ill children, including those with complex congenital and acquired heart disease. The position supports the continued development and growth of cardiac critical care services while maintaining excellence across the broader PICU. The Medical Director will also actively supervise and teach fellows, residents, and advanced practice providers in support of the institution's academic mission.

** Call Responsibilities*
* The Medical Director will participate in a shared call model with the Pediatric Critical Care physician group to ensure continuous, high-quality patient care. This includes providing night and weekend coverage within a system of mutual cross-coverage for both cardiac and general PICU patients. The role also involves close collaboration with cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical teams to ensure appropriate and timely escalation of care for complex cardiac patients, supporting a cohesive and responsive multidisciplinary care environment.

** Protected Time*
* Dedicated administrative time will be provided to support the Medical Director's leadership responsibilities, including program development, quality improvement initiatives, and strategic planning efforts essential to the growth and success of the PCICU.

** Clinical and Program Highlights:*
* Our critical care services are located within a high-acuity 18-bed multidisciplinary PICU, which includes an 8-bed integrated Pediatric Cardiac Care Unit. An adjacent 18-bed Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit offers flexibility for service expansion.

Our team includes 3 pediatric congenital cardiac surgeons, a comprehensive team of 13 pediatric cardiologists, 6 adult congenital heart disease…