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.

The Role

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.

Your average day will combine autonomous clinical care, diagnostic decision-making, patient education, and coordination of an assigned surgeon's operative workflow. The expected clinical pace is approximately nine patients per session or 18 patients during a full clinic day.

• 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. A cover letter is required for consideration.

Advanced Practice Provider Scope of Practice:

Clinical

• 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

Leadership

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

Administration

• 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

https://app.uvahs.org/

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.

Why UVA Health

At UVA Health, APPs are integral members of interdisciplinary teams and are empowered to contribute through patient care, consultation, education, and clinical innovation. In this position, you will join a collaborative spine practice built around a one-to-one physician and APP partnership model, giving you the continuity and clinical depth to become a highly effective partner in peri-operative orthopedic spine care.

• 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.

http://app.uvahs.org/

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

Why People Love Living in Charlottesville

Charlottesville offers a distinctive combination of natural beauty, cultural energy, and community connection. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area provides easy access to hiking, scenic drives, vineyards, and year-round outdoor recreation. The pedestrian-friendly Downtown Mall, independent restaurants, live music venues, theaters, galleries, and University events create the amenities of a larger cultural center while surrounding city and county neighborhoods offer varied housing and lifestyle choices. For healthcare professionals and their families, Charlottesville provides an inviting setting in which to build both a rewarding career and a full life beyond the clinic.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Graduate of an accredited graduate school of nursing or physician assistant program with a master's degree.

Experience: Department and unit specific.

Licensure: License or license eligible as an Advance Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner, Physician Associate, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and Certified Nurse Midwife) as set forth by the state of Virginia. If Nurse Practitioner, license to Practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia is required. Must demonstrate and maintain all credentialing and licensing requirements of UVA Health System, the Virginia Board of Medicine or the Virginia Board of Nursing, and appropriate certifying bodies. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required. Current PALS/NRP, as required, specific to position. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) as required, specific to position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Job requires standing for prolonged periods, frequently bending/stooping, reaching (overhead, extensive, and repetitive); Repetitive motion: computer keyboard. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull 50 - 100lbs. May be exposed to noise, radiation, radioactive materials, blood/body fluids and infectious disease.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Paid Time Off, Long-term and Short-term Disability, Retirement Savings

• Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Certification and education support

• Generous Paid Time Off

UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as "High Performing" in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children's is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.