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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Position/Rank Pediatric Surgeon - Assistant Professor
Department 00913 - Pediatric Surgery Development
City Salt Lake City, UT
Track Track Dependent on Qualifications
New Position to Begin 2027
Details
Pediatric Surgeon – Assistant Professor
The Division of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital is recruiting a junior faculty member to help manage the heavy clinical load in pediatric surgery and to provide additional manpower for the purpose of developing the academic potential of the division. The present requirements, therefore, would focus on a strong background in clinical pediatric surgery and teaching, and the position would involve a full-time academic appointment as an Assistant Professor (track dependent on qualifications and goals of the individual). For those candidates interested in the Tenure Track, the University of Utah Department of Surgery is specifically interested in the following areas of interest:
- Health Services Research
- Clinical Trial & Research Collaboratives
- Surgical Innovation
- Translational Research
Teaching responsibilities will include daily interaction with residents in surgery in addition to third- and fourth-year medical students who may be rotating on the Pediatric Surgery Service. The faculty member will also share responsibility for scheduled teaching conferences and lectures sponsored by the Division of Pediatric Surgery and by the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics.
Primary Children’s Hospital is a large, freestanding children’s hospital receiving referrals from a 5-state region in the Intermountain West and is a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. The Division of Pediatric Surgery includes 14 full-time faculty and a pediatric surgery fellowship.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must have the following qualifications:
1) Certificate by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery;
2) Completion of 2-year fellowship in Pediatric Surgery;
3) Board certified or board eligible in pediatric surgery by The American Board of Surgery;
4) Commitment to participate in trauma call schedule at regional pediatric center and clinical coverage at our regional pediatric surgery commitments;
5) Commitment to participate in newborn and general surgery call.
Interested applicants must apply at:
https: //utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/211426
For additional information, contact:
Eric Scaife, MD, Professor & Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery:
eric.scaife@hsc.utah.edu
Sarah Brown, Operations Program Manager, Division of Pediatric Surgery:
sarah.a.brown@hsc.utah.edu
The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The U of U Health values candidates who are committed to fostering and furthering the culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, acceptance, integrity, quality, and trust that is integral to our mission.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Information
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number, can be located at https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/.
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu.
Notice
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
Special Instructions for Candidates
Open Date 10/26/2026
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Requisition Number PRN04167F
Type Faculty
Position Information
Position/Rank Pediatric Surgeon - Assistant Professor
Department 00913 - Pediatric Surgery Development
City Salt Lake City, UT
Track Track Dependent on Qualifications
New Position to Begin 2027
Details
Pediatric Surgeon – Assistant Professor
The Division of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital is recruiting a junior faculty member to help manage the heavy clinical load in pediatric surgery and to provide additional manpower for the purpose of developing the academic potential of the division. The present requirements, therefore, would focus on a strong background in clinical pediatric surgery and teaching, and the position would involve a full-time academic appointment as an Assistant Professor (track dependent on qualifications and goals of the individual). For those candidates interested in the Tenure Track, the University of Utah Department of Surgery is specifically interested in the following areas of interest:
- Health Services Research
- Clinical Trial & Research Collaboratives
- Surgical Innovation
- Translational Research
Teaching responsibilities will include daily interaction with residents in surgery in addition to third- and fourth-year medical students who may be rotating on the Pediatric Surgery Service. The faculty member will also share responsibility for scheduled teaching conferences and lectures sponsored by the Division of Pediatric Surgery and by the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics.
Primary Children’s Hospital is a large, freestanding children’s hospital receiving referrals from a 5-state region in the Intermountain West and is a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. The Division of Pediatric Surgery includes 14 full-time faculty and a pediatric surgery fellowship.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must have the following qualifications:
1) Certificate by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery;
2) Completion of 2-year fellowship in Pediatric Surgery;
3) Board certified or board eligible in pediatric surgery by The American Board of Surgery;
4) Commitment to participate in trauma call schedule at regional pediatric center and clinical coverage at our regional pediatric surgery commitments;
5) Commitment to participate in newborn and general surgery call.
Interested applicants must apply at:
https: //utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/211426
For additional information, contact:
Eric Scaife, MD, Professor & Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery:
eric.scaife@hsc.utah.edu
Sarah Brown, Operations Program Manager, Division of Pediatric Surgery:
sarah.a.brown@hsc.utah.edu
The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The U of U Health values candidates who are committed to fostering and furthering the culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, acceptance, integrity, quality, and trust that is integral to our mission.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Information
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number, can be located at https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/.
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu.
Notice
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
Special Instructions for Candidates
Open Date 10/26/2026
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Requisition Number PRN04167F
Type Faculty
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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.