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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CHRISTUS South New Mexico Bone & Joint in Alamogordo, NM, is seeking a Board‑Eligible or Board‑Certified Orthopedic Surgeon to join our multispecialty team of orthopedic and podiatry providers.
CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico is a community-based, not-for-profit health system anchored by a Level III Trauma Center in Alamogordo. Serving the diverse population of the Tularosa Basin, including Mescalero Apache communities, Holloman Air Force Base families, and residents across Southern New Mexico, we are a trusted full-service healthcare provider for the region. The hospital features 99 beds, including ICU, Med/Surg, Progressive Care, and a dedicated Joint Care unit, supported by a 24-room emergency department with helicopter transport capabilities. Through the hospital and our CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico Bone & Joint clinics in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and Ruidoso, we deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care with a strong focus on clinical excellence and community partnership.
The Team:
Our orthopedic surgeons, six podiatrists, and advanced practice clinicians provide high-quality, comprehensive musculoskeletal care across a broad range of conditions. Areas of expertise include total joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, trauma and fracture care, hand and upper extremity procedures, and general orthopedics. We treat conditions involving the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot, supported by an onsite ambulatory surgery center equipped with an up-to-date C-arm. The podiatry team additionally provides extensive foot and ankle reconstruction, diabetic wound care, and limb preservation services, contributing to a collaborative and well-integrated service line.
As a collaborative and mission-driven group, we emphasize evidence-based care, efficiency, and personalized patient treatment. Our broad catchment area and established referral network ensure timely access to orthopedic care and consistent surgical volume.
Position:
We are seeking a dedicated Orthopedic Surgeon to join our growing practice and support expanding community needs. This full-time role offers a balanced schedule of clinic and ASC-based surgical care within a supportive multispecialty environment. The incoming surgeon will manage a wide range of orthopedic conditions with opportunities to focus on joint replacement, arthroscopy, trauma, and sports medicine.
Responsibilities include:
- Evaluating and treating pre-operative and post-operative patients in a high-volume clinic setting (approximately 4,000 patient visits / year)
- Performing orthopedic surgical procedures, including total joint replacement, fracture care, arthroscopy, revision surgeries, and hand/upper extremity operations
- Developing individualized care plans including pre-op preparation, postoperative care, rehabilitation, and patient education
- Collaborating with podiatry, physical therapy partners, pain management, and primary care providers
- Maintaining accurate and detailed clinical documentation
- Utilizing Epic EMR across all clinical settings
- Working across clinics in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and Ruidoso as needed
- Providing occasional teaching opportunities for family medicine residents
- Receiving referrals from internal CHRISTUS providers, urgent care centers, emergency departments, and community partners throughout Southern New Mexico
BENEFITS
- Competitive compensation with productivity incentive opportunities
- Employed position with a mission-focused, not-for-profit health system
- Immediate access to surgical and clinic volume
- Generous sign-on bonus
- CME and licensure allowance
- Employer-paid medical malpractice coverage
- Full benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement
REQUIREMENTS
- Medical Degree (MD or DO)
- Board-Certified or Board-Eligible in Orthopedic Surgery
- Eligible for New Mexico medical license
- 3–5 years of experience preferred
- Proficiency in general orthopedic surgery, including joint replacement, arthroscopy, and fracture care
- Strong communication skills and dedication to patient-centered care
- Collaborative, team-oriented mindset
Description
CHRISTUS South New Mexico Bone & Joint in Alamogordo, NM, is seeking a Board‑Eligible or Board‑Certified Orthopedic Surgeon to join our multispecialty team of orthopedic and podiatry providers.
CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico is a community-based, not-for-profit health system anchored by a Level III Trauma Center in Alamogordo. Serving the diverse population of the Tularosa Basin, including Mescalero Apache communities, Holloman Air Force Base families, and residents across Southern New Mexico, we are a trusted full-service healthcare provider for the region. The hospital features 99 beds, including ICU, Med/Surg, Progressive Care, and a dedicated Joint Care unit, supported by a 24-room emergency department with helicopter transport capabilities. Through the hospital and our CHRISTUS Southern New Mexico Bone & Joint clinics in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and Ruidoso, we deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care with a strong focus on clinical excellence and community partnership.
The Team:
Our orthopedic surgeons, six podiatrists, and advanced practice clinicians provide high-quality, comprehensive musculoskeletal care across a broad range of conditions. Areas of expertise include total joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, trauma and fracture care, hand and upper extremity procedures, and general orthopedics. We treat conditions involving the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot, supported by an onsite ambulatory surgery center equipped with an up-to-date C-arm. The podiatry team additionally provides extensive foot and ankle reconstruction, diabetic wound care, and limb preservation services, contributing to a collaborative and well-integrated service line.
As a collaborative and mission-driven group, we emphasize evidence-based care, efficiency, and personalized patient treatment. Our broad catchment area and established referral network ensure timely access to orthopedic care and consistent surgical volume.
Position:
We are seeking a dedicated Orthopedic Surgeon to join our growing practice and support expanding community needs. This full-time role offers a balanced schedule of clinic and ASC-based surgical care within a supportive multispecialty environment. The incoming surgeon will manage a wide range of orthopedic conditions with opportunities to focus on joint replacement, arthroscopy, trauma, and sports medicine.
Responsibilities include:
- Evaluating and treating pre-operative and post-operative patients in a high-volume clinic setting (approximately 4,000 patient visits / year)
- Performing orthopedic surgical procedures, including total joint replacement, fracture care, arthroscopy, revision surgeries, and hand/upper extremity operations
- Developing individualized care plans including pre-op preparation, postoperative care, rehabilitation, and patient education
- Collaborating with podiatry, physical therapy partners, pain management, and primary care providers
- Maintaining accurate and detailed clinical documentation
- Utilizing Epic EMR across all clinical settings
- Working across clinics in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and Ruidoso as needed
- Providing occasional teaching opportunities for family medicine residents
- Receiving referrals from internal CHRISTUS providers, urgent care centers, emergency departments, and community partners throughout Southern New Mexico
BENEFITS
- Competitive compensation with productivity incentive opportunities
- Employed position with a mission-focused, not-for-profit health system
- Immediate access to surgical and clinic volume
- Generous sign-on bonus
- CME and licensure allowance
- Employer-paid medical malpractice coverage
- Full benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement
REQUIREMENTS
- Medical Degree (MD or DO)
- Board-Certified or Board-Eligible in Orthopedic Surgery
- Eligible for New Mexico medical license
- 3–5 years of experience preferred
- Proficiency in general orthopedic surgery, including joint replacement, arthroscopy, and fracture care
- Strong communication skills and dedication to patient-centered care
- Collaborative, team-oriented mindset
See all 35+ 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.