Advanced Practice Provider; NP​/PA​/APP) Orthopedic Spine Surgery

Build a specialized spine practice where clinical autonomy, advanced diagnostic reasoning, and close surgical partnership come together to improve the lives of patients experiencing pain, mobility limitations, and complex spinal conditions.

UVA Health’s Orthopedic Spine Surgery team is seeking a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to manage an independent patient panel while partnering one-to-one with a dedicated spine surgeon. This opportunity offers broad exposure to routine and complex spine pathology, meaningful responsibility across the surgical continuum, and structured specialty development within a supportive academic healthcare environment.

As an Orthopedic Spine Surgery APP, you will evaluate patients presenting with neck and back pain, determine appropriate diagnostic and referral pathways, and recognize conditions requiring urgent intervention. You will practice with significant independence while remaining closely connected to an experienced multidisciplinary team of four attending spine surgeons, fellow APPs, and nurse coordinators.

• Maintain your own patient panel and clinic schedule, providing focused evaluations for a broad range of spinal conditions.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of neck and back pain, including presentations involving routine diagnoses, rare disorders, and spine trauma.
• Order and interpret appropriate diagnostic testing based on each patient’s symptoms and clinical presentation.
• Apply sound clinical judgment to differentiate urgent spine conditions from routine or non-spine-related concerns.
• Guide patients toward the appropriate specialty, ancillary service, or treatment pathway when additional care is needed.
• Manage and organize an assigned surgeon’s operating room schedule, supporting continuity from evaluation through surgical care.
• Collaborate closely with spine surgeons, APP colleagues, nurse coordinators, and other members of the care team.
• Provide compassionate, clear guidance to patients navigating pain, functional limitations, and potentially complex treatment decisions.

This position is well suited for an organized, empathetic clinician who can balance multiple priorities and values both independence and teamwork. Orthopedic, spine, neurosurgical, musculoskeletal, or related surgical specialty experience is preferred.

Motivated new graduate NPs and PAs will also be considered
, with on-the-job specialty training available.

• Provides expert evidence-based, top-of-scope care in their clinical practice
• Acts as part of a specialty team, collaborating with other clinicians as appropriate
• Provides health education to patients
• Maintains accurate, timely, and thorough documentation
• Ensures compliance with institutional and regulatory standards

• Supports development of best practices and protocols in specialty
• Serves on committees and work groups to enhance patient care
• Provides education to learners in the clinical space
• Mentors new team members

• Contributes to clinical quality improvement work
• Option to participate in professional governance through the APP Council
• Attends team development meetings at local and departmental levels, Adheres to ASPIRE values in all professional interactions
• Maintains appropriate licenses, certifications, and specialty training competencies
• Participates in local, state, and national professional organizations

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Background checks and pre-employment health screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment. All safety-sensitive positions with direct patient interaction also require a drug screen.

• Develop advanced spine expertise through exposure to a wide spectrum of pathology, from common neck and back conditions to highly complex disorders and trauma.
• Strengthen specialized physical examination, diagnostic reasoning, referral decision-making, and spine trauma management skills.
• Grow toward greater clinical independence while learning to distinguish spine-related conditions from presentations requiring other specialty services.
• Practice within UVA Health’s nationally recognized academic health system, where patient care, research, education, and innovation are closely connected.
• Work alongside orthopedic specialists within a program recognized among the top 10% nationally for orthopedic expertise by U.S. News & World Report.
• Benefit from the comprehensive resources of the UVA Orthopedic Center Ivy Road, which brings orthopedic specialty care, imaging, procedures, and rehabilitation together in one coordinated setting.
• Join a health system whose University Medical Center has earned Magnet recognition, the highest national honor for nursing excellence.
• Make a meaningful contribution to patient outcomes while building a long-term career in a highly specialized surgical field.

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Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

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