OPT Orthopedic Surgeon Jobs
Orthopedic surgeon roles are among the most competitive and heavily credentialed positions in U.S. medicine. F-1 OPT students who have completed a U.S. residency or fellowship can pursue these roles, but employer sponsorship for H-1B visa or J-1 visa waiver positions is essential. STEM OPT extension does not apply to medical degrees.
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Get Access To All JobsWhy Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other care provider according to U.S. News & World Report. As we work together to put the needs of the patient first, we are also dedicated to our employees, investing in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit plans – to take care of you and your family, now and in the future. And with continuing education and advancement opportunities at every turn, you can build a long, successful career with Mayo Clinic.
Benefits Highlights
- Medical: Multiple plan options.
- Dental: Delta Dental or reimbursement account for flexible coverage.
- Vision: Affordable plan with national network.
- Pre-Tax Savings: HSA and FSAs for eligible expenses.
- Retirement: Competitive retirement package to secure your future.
Responsibilities
The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, is seeking a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in Orthopedic Trauma, Foot and Ankle, or Adult Reconstruction to join our new Orthopedic Acute Care Service. This position will work in close partnership with the Orthopedic Surgery Chief Resident Service and report to the Department Chair.
The Orthopedic Acute Care Service at Mayo Clinic Arizona provides specialized care for acute fractures, musculoskeletal injuries and infections at our hospital in Phoenix. The ideal candidate will deliver exceptional, high-acuity orthopedic care and contribute to the advancement of the department's clinical, research, and educational missions.
A strong commitment to integrated clinical research and orthopedic education is expected. This is a full-time clinical/surgical position (1.0 FTE), with the expectation that the candidate will also develop a robust clinical research and educational portfolio. The primary focus is delivering outstanding care to patients with skeletal trauma and related conditions. The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary team, including junior and senior residents and advanced practice providers, and participate in shared call responsibilities.
Clinical Service Expectations:
- Provide on-site orthopedic care Monday through Friday, managing both operative and non-operative acute musculoskeletal problems.
- Maintain a consistent hospital presence, including early morning rounding and discharge planning beginning at 7:00 AM, with flexibility for surgical cases later in the day, as needed.
- Participate actively in a shared night, weekend, and holiday call schedule with 13 other attending surgeons.
- Opportunity to develop a “cold trauma” practice for patients with complex fractures, mal-unions, non-unions and sequelae of acute injuries.
Qualifications
- Board-certified or board-eligible in Orthopedic Surgery.
- Fellowship training in Orthopedic Trauma, Foot and Ankle, or Adult Reconstruction.
- Eligible for medical licensure in the State of Arizona.
- Demonstrated excellence in clinical care, teaching, and experience or strong interest in basic, clinical, or translational research.
Exemption Status
Exempt
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Schedule
Full Time
Hours/Pay Period
80
Schedule Details
1.0 FTE
International Assignment
No
Site Description
Just as our reputation has spread beyond our Minnesota roots, so have our locations. Today, our employees are located at our three major campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, Jacksonville, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, and at Mayo Clinic Health System campuses throughout Midwestern communities, and at our international locations. Each Mayo Clinic location is a special place where our employees thrive in both their work and personal lives. Learn more about what each unique Mayo Clinic campus has to offer, and where your best fit is.
Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or disability status. Learn more about the "EOE is the Law". Mayo Clinic participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Recruiter
Mariano Vassallo
Why Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other care provider according to U.S. News & World Report. As we work together to put the needs of the patient first, we are also dedicated to our employees, investing in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit plans – to take care of you and your family, now and in the future. And with continuing education and advancement opportunities at every turn, you can build a long, successful career with Mayo Clinic.
Benefits Highlights
- Medical: Multiple plan options.
- Dental: Delta Dental or reimbursement account for flexible coverage.
- Vision: Affordable plan with national network.
- Pre-Tax Savings: HSA and FSAs for eligible expenses.
- Retirement: Competitive retirement package to secure your future.
Responsibilities
The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, is seeking a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in Orthopedic Trauma, Foot and Ankle, or Adult Reconstruction to join our new Orthopedic Acute Care Service. This position will work in close partnership with the Orthopedic Surgery Chief Resident Service and report to the Department Chair.
The Orthopedic Acute Care Service at Mayo Clinic Arizona provides specialized care for acute fractures, musculoskeletal injuries and infections at our hospital in Phoenix. The ideal candidate will deliver exceptional, high-acuity orthopedic care and contribute to the advancement of the department's clinical, research, and educational missions.
A strong commitment to integrated clinical research and orthopedic education is expected. This is a full-time clinical/surgical position (1.0 FTE), with the expectation that the candidate will also develop a robust clinical research and educational portfolio. The primary focus is delivering outstanding care to patients with skeletal trauma and related conditions. The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary team, including junior and senior residents and advanced practice providers, and participate in shared call responsibilities.
Clinical Service Expectations:
- Provide on-site orthopedic care Monday through Friday, managing both operative and non-operative acute musculoskeletal problems.
- Maintain a consistent hospital presence, including early morning rounding and discharge planning beginning at 7:00 AM, with flexibility for surgical cases later in the day, as needed.
- Participate actively in a shared night, weekend, and holiday call schedule with 13 other attending surgeons.
- Opportunity to develop a “cold trauma” practice for patients with complex fractures, mal-unions, non-unions and sequelae of acute injuries.
Qualifications
- Board-certified or board-eligible in Orthopedic Surgery.
- Fellowship training in Orthopedic Trauma, Foot and Ankle, or Adult Reconstruction.
- Eligible for medical licensure in the State of Arizona.
- Demonstrated excellence in clinical care, teaching, and experience or strong interest in basic, clinical, or translational research.
Exemption Status
Exempt
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Schedule
Full Time
Hours/Pay Period
80
Schedule Details
1.0 FTE
International Assignment
No
Site Description
Just as our reputation has spread beyond our Minnesota roots, so have our locations. Today, our employees are located at our three major campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, Jacksonville, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, and at Mayo Clinic Health System campuses throughout Midwestern communities, and at our international locations. Each Mayo Clinic location is a special place where our employees thrive in both their work and personal lives. Learn more about what each unique Mayo Clinic campus has to offer, and where your best fit is.
Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or disability status. Learn more about the "EOE is the Law". Mayo Clinic participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Recruiter
Mariano Vassallo
See all 43+ OPT Orthopedic Surgeon Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Orthopedic Surgeon
Target teaching hospitals and academic medical centers
Academic medical centers like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins routinely sponsor foreign-trained physicians. They have established immigration infrastructure and are far more likely to support H-1B visa petitions than private practices or smaller community hospitals.
Understand your OPT timeline relative to residency completion
OPT begins after your degree program ends, not after residency. Most orthopedic surgeons will have transitioned to J-1 visa or H-1B during training. Confirm your current work authorization status before applying to attending-level positions to avoid authorization gaps.
Ask about J-1 waiver sponsorship in underserved areas
Orthopedic surgeons who completed residency on a J-1 visa may qualify for Conrad 30 waivers by committing to work in federally designated underserved areas. Many hospitals in rural or shortage areas actively recruit international physicians specifically for this pathway.
Confirm your ECFMG certification and state medical license are current
No hospital will begin H-1B sponsorship without valid ECFMG certification and an active state medical license. Delays in either document directly stall the sponsorship process, so have both in order before reaching the offer stage with employers.
Work with an immigration attorney alongside your hospital's legal team
Hospital credentialing and visa sponsorship involve separate legal processes that often run in parallel. Having your own immigration attorney review the H-1B petition terms protects your interests, even when the employer covers filing costs through their in-house legal team.
Negotiate H-1B premium processing into your offer
Standard H-1B processing can take three to six months. If your OPT expiration is approaching, negotiating premium processing into your employment offer gives you a 15-business-day adjudication window and significantly reduces the risk of a work authorization gap at your start date.
Orthopedic Surgeon OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an orthopedic surgeon on F-1 OPT?
Yes, but the path is narrow. OPT authorizes work directly related to your degree program, so this only applies if your degree is in medicine and your OPT was activated after completing that program. Most orthopedic surgeons in residency or fellowship are on J-1 or H-1B status, not OPT. If you are on OPT and have completed your MD, you can work in a qualifying orthopedic role, but you'll need an employer willing to sponsor your next visa before OPT expires.
Does the STEM OPT 24-month extension apply to orthopedic surgery?
No. STEM OPT extension applies only to degrees classified under the Department of Homeland Security's STEM Designated Degree Program List. Medical degrees, including MD and DO programs, are not on that list. Orthopedic surgery graduates do not qualify for the 24-month extension, which means the standard 12-month OPT window applies. Planning your H-1B or J-1 waiver transition well before that deadline is critical.
Which employers are most likely to sponsor an orthopedic surgeon on H-1B?
Teaching hospitals, academic medical centers, and large health systems are the strongest candidates. Institutions like university-affiliated hospitals and multispecialty group practices have dedicated immigration teams and a track record of H-1B sponsorship for physicians. Smaller private practices rarely have the legal infrastructure to manage physician sponsorship. Browse orthopedic surgery roles with visa sponsorship on Migrate Mate to identify employers actively hiring international candidates.
What is the J-1 waiver and how does it apply to orthopedic surgeons?
If you completed residency or fellowship on a J-1 exchange visitor visa, you're subject to a two-year home residency requirement before you can change to H-1B or green card status. A J-1 waiver removes that requirement. Orthopedic surgeons can pursue waivers through the Conrad 30 program by committing to work in a health professional shortage area for a minimum of three years. State health departments administer Conrad 30 applications, and slots fill quickly each year.
How long does H-1B sponsorship take for a physician role, and will it align with my OPT end date?
Standard H-1B processing takes three to six months after filing. H-1B cap-subject petitions can only be filed once per year, with the fiscal year starting October 1. If your OPT expires before your H-1B takes effect, you may face a gap in work authorization. Many hospitals filing for physicians use cap-exempt status under INA provisions for nonprofit or educational institutions, which allows filing year-round and avoids the lottery. Confirm cap-exempt eligibility with your employer early in the hiring process.