OPT Pediatric Surgeon Jobs
Pediatric surgeon roles require board eligibility or certification, a completed fellowship, and an employer willing to sponsor H-1B visa after OPT. STEM OPT extension doesn't apply here, so your 12-month OPT window drives the hiring timeline. Academic medical centers and children's hospitals are your most realistic sponsorship targets.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.
Unit: School Of Medicine MBU
Department: Surgery
Duties & Responsibilities:
A. Mission or goal of unit: The mission of the Pediatric Surgery Division of the Department of Surgery is the advancement of science through research and the training of undergraduate and graduate students in our discipline. The Department fosters a level of research and professional activity essential to the graduate and to the professional growth of the faculty. The Division provides junior faculty with clinical and research experiences that prepare them for their professional careers. The Division is committed to its faculty, staff, and students. Finally, faculty have a responsibility to provide service to their profession and to the university community.
B. Chief purpose of this position in support of above mission or goal: This position is an open rank, collateral, non-tenure track faculty position in the area of Pediatric Surgery. The faculty member will also support the general surgical practice of the Division. The faculty member will also support the Division with teaching responsibilities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
C. Responsibilities:
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Teaching: Faculty member will have teaching responsibilities in all areas of Pediatric Surgery.
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Research: This position will require the establishment of a successful research program in partnership with other disciplines which will lead to independent funding as an investigator.
-
Clinical: Faculty will establish a successful clinical practice in the field of general pediatric surgery. Clinical responsibilities may also involve shared time between VCU and affiliated community hospitals.
-
Other (for instance administrative duties, etc.): Faculty member will serve on departmental, and/or University committees as necessary, as well as in a professional capacity in their field, e.g., reviewer, conference organizer, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be Board Certified/Board Eligible in General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery
- ACGME approved Fellowship in Pediatric Surgery
- Ability to work in a complex matrixed environment with high emotional intelligence
- Commitment to teaching and practice in an academic setting
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
Preferred Qualifications
- Board eligibility or Certification in pediatric critical care
Salary Range: Commensurate
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
ORP Eligible: No
Rank: Open
Tenure: Ineligible
Months: 12 months
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Mary Waite
Contact Email: Mary.Waite@vcuhealth.org
INTRODUCTION
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.
Unit: School Of Medicine MBU
Department: Surgery
Duties & Responsibilities:
A. Mission or goal of unit: The mission of the Pediatric Surgery Division of the Department of Surgery is the advancement of science through research and the training of undergraduate and graduate students in our discipline. The Department fosters a level of research and professional activity essential to the graduate and to the professional growth of the faculty. The Division provides junior faculty with clinical and research experiences that prepare them for their professional careers. The Division is committed to its faculty, staff, and students. Finally, faculty have a responsibility to provide service to their profession and to the university community.
B. Chief purpose of this position in support of above mission or goal: This position is an open rank, collateral, non-tenure track faculty position in the area of Pediatric Surgery. The faculty member will also support the general surgical practice of the Division. The faculty member will also support the Division with teaching responsibilities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
C. Responsibilities:
-
Teaching: Faculty member will have teaching responsibilities in all areas of Pediatric Surgery.
-
Research: This position will require the establishment of a successful research program in partnership with other disciplines which will lead to independent funding as an investigator.
-
Clinical: Faculty will establish a successful clinical practice in the field of general pediatric surgery. Clinical responsibilities may also involve shared time between VCU and affiliated community hospitals.
-
Other (for instance administrative duties, etc.): Faculty member will serve on departmental, and/or University committees as necessary, as well as in a professional capacity in their field, e.g., reviewer, conference organizer, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be Board Certified/Board Eligible in General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery
- ACGME approved Fellowship in Pediatric Surgery
- Ability to work in a complex matrixed environment with high emotional intelligence
- Commitment to teaching and practice in an academic setting
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
Preferred Qualifications
- Board eligibility or Certification in pediatric critical care
Salary Range: Commensurate
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
ORP Eligible: No
Rank: Open
Tenure: Ineligible
Months: 12 months
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Mary Waite
Contact Email: Mary.Waite@vcuhealth.org
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Pediatric Surgeon
Verify your ECFMG certification before applying
ECFMG certification is a prerequisite for residency and fellowship licensure in the U.S. Confirm it's active and matches your legal name before submitting applications, since discrepancies delay credentialing and push back your OPT start date.
Target children's hospitals with GME programs
Academic children's hospitals that run graduate medical education programs file H-1B petitions routinely and have dedicated immigration teams. Prioritize institutions with active cap-exempt status, which lets them file H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery window.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before signing contracts
Your OPT EAD requires your employer to be E-Verify enrolled. Ask the hospital's HR department for their E-Verify company ID before you countersign any offer letter, not after, to avoid authorization gaps at your start date.
Time your fellowship match around OPT expiration
Pediatric surgery fellowships run 12 to 24 months. Map your fellowship end date against your OPT expiration early. If the gap is under 60 days, your employer needs to file an H-1B petition before your EAD expires or you lose work authorization.
Use Migrate Mate to track employer H-1B filing history
Not every hospital publishes its sponsorship track record upfront. Use Migrate Mate to identify which academic medical centers have consistent H-1B petition histories for physician roles before you invest time in an application.
Request a J-1 waiver review if your visa history requires it
If you completed residency or fellowship on a J-1 visa, the two-year home residency requirement blocks H-1B transition. DOL and USCIS both process Conrad 30 waivers for physicians in underserved areas, and some children's hospitals in those areas actively recruit waiver-eligible candidates.
Pediatric Surgeon OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a pediatric surgeon on OPT before my H-1B is approved?
Yes, if your OPT EAD is valid and your employer is E-Verify enrolled, you can work during the period your H-1B petition is pending. Your employer should file before your EAD expires to trigger cap-gap protection if needed. Academic medical centers with cap-exempt status can file outside the lottery cycle, which gives more flexibility on timing.
Does STEM OPT apply to pediatric surgery roles?
No. STEM OPT extension requires your degree to be on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, which covers science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Medical degrees, including those leading to surgical specialties, are not on that list. You have a standard 12-month OPT window, which means your employer needs to move quickly on H-1B filing.
Which employer types are most likely to sponsor H-1B for pediatric surgeons?
Academic medical centers, children's hospitals affiliated with universities, and nonprofit hospital systems are your strongest options. Many qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers under INA Section 214(g)(5), meaning they can file petitions year-round without waiting for the annual lottery. You can browse employers with verified sponsorship history on Migrate Mate before applying.
What happens if my OPT expires before my fellowship program ends?
If your OPT EAD expires mid-fellowship, you lose authorization to work unless your employer has filed for a change of status or an H-1B petition is in process. Some J-1 visa physicians in this situation use their J-1 sponsoring institution to bridge the gap. Planning your OPT end date against your fellowship contract length at the offer stage prevents this problem.
How does the prevailing wage requirement affect pediatric surgeon hiring on OPT?
During OPT itself, there's no DOL prevailing wage requirement tied to your EAD. The prevailing wage requirement becomes relevant when your employer files the Labor Condition Application as part of your H-1B petition. You can look up the prevailing wage for your role and location using the OFLC Wage Search to understand what the employer will need to certify before filing.