OPT Plastic Surgeon Jobs
Plastic Surgeon roles on OPT require J-1 visa or H-1B visa sponsorship after your training period ends, and most hiring happens through residency-to-fellowship pipelines or academic medical centers. Your 12-month OPT window, or 36 months on STEM OPT if your program qualifies, determines how quickly you need to secure sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsPlastic Surgery Opportunity | City of Hope Phoenix
City of Hope Phoenix (Goodyear, AZ), a leading network of cancer hospitals and outpatient centers, is seeking an outstanding Board Certified or Eligible Plastic Surgeon to join our esteemed team. We offer a collaborative, patient-focused environment dedicated to transforming healthcare by integrating cutting-edge research and compassionate care.
Position Highlights
The Department of Surgery is seeking a board certified or eligible Plastic Surgeon with advanced training in plastic surgery to meet the needs of our growing program in Phoenix. The plastic surgeon can look forward to providing patient-centered care in collaboration with a world class, nationally recognized multidisciplinary team of top-level surgical and non-surgical specialists. This is a full-time position reporting to the Chief of Surgery.
Services Offered at City of Hope Phoenix:
- The position entails 4 to 4 ½ days of clinical work (clinic and OR).
- Ability to establish an expanding referral base in plastic surgery in the growing region for oncology patients.
- 37 bed Cancer Center with new operating rooms and robotic surgery technology.
- Join 1 other plastic surgeon in collaboration with an established multidisciplinary team of physicians, APP’s, and nurses.
- Successful candidates must possess excellent surgical skills, as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- City of Hope faculty appointment. Academic rank will be commensurate with experience.
Competitive Compensation: Includes a highly competitive salary, signing bonus, relocation assistance and productivity/performance incentives. Actual compensation will be adjusted for specialty, experience, training, hospital/community needs and other factors.
Comprehensive Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision Plans, Health Savings/Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability, Long-term Care, Life and AD&D, 401(k) Retirement Plan, PTO Paid Plan, Paid malpractice coverage, Professional expense reimbursement.
Basic Qualifications
- M.D./D.O.
- Board-Certified or Eligible: Surgery & Plastic Surgery
- Must have or be eligible to obtain medical licensure in the state of Arizona
LOCATION:
Phoenix, AZ:
- As the 5th largest city in the United States, Phoenix offers an extremely diverse culture, safe neighborhoods, endless dining options, community events, and some of the most attractive weekend getaways in the country!
- 300+ days of sunshine per year.
- For golf enthusiasts, Phoenix is known as the golf capital of the nation, and locals enjoy the amenity year-round. From pristine private clubs to the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, these experiences are those that people dream of.
- Outdoor adventures including hiking, camping, kayaking, and golfing.
- Enjoy the local professional sports teams: NFL, NBA, MLB, and WNBA.
City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.
Plastic Surgery Opportunity | City of Hope Phoenix
City of Hope Phoenix (Goodyear, AZ), a leading network of cancer hospitals and outpatient centers, is seeking an outstanding Board Certified or Eligible Plastic Surgeon to join our esteemed team. We offer a collaborative, patient-focused environment dedicated to transforming healthcare by integrating cutting-edge research and compassionate care.
Position Highlights
The Department of Surgery is seeking a board certified or eligible Plastic Surgeon with advanced training in plastic surgery to meet the needs of our growing program in Phoenix. The plastic surgeon can look forward to providing patient-centered care in collaboration with a world class, nationally recognized multidisciplinary team of top-level surgical and non-surgical specialists. This is a full-time position reporting to the Chief of Surgery.
Services Offered at City of Hope Phoenix:
- The position entails 4 to 4 ½ days of clinical work (clinic and OR).
- Ability to establish an expanding referral base in plastic surgery in the growing region for oncology patients.
- 37 bed Cancer Center with new operating rooms and robotic surgery technology.
- Join 1 other plastic surgeon in collaboration with an established multidisciplinary team of physicians, APP’s, and nurses.
- Successful candidates must possess excellent surgical skills, as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- City of Hope faculty appointment. Academic rank will be commensurate with experience.
Competitive Compensation: Includes a highly competitive salary, signing bonus, relocation assistance and productivity/performance incentives. Actual compensation will be adjusted for specialty, experience, training, hospital/community needs and other factors.
Comprehensive Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision Plans, Health Savings/Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability, Long-term Care, Life and AD&D, 401(k) Retirement Plan, PTO Paid Plan, Paid malpractice coverage, Professional expense reimbursement.
Basic Qualifications
- M.D./D.O.
- Board-Certified or Eligible: Surgery & Plastic Surgery
- Must have or be eligible to obtain medical licensure in the state of Arizona
LOCATION:
Phoenix, AZ:
- As the 5th largest city in the United States, Phoenix offers an extremely diverse culture, safe neighborhoods, endless dining options, community events, and some of the most attractive weekend getaways in the country!
- 300+ days of sunshine per year.
- For golf enthusiasts, Phoenix is known as the golf capital of the nation, and locals enjoy the amenity year-round. From pristine private clubs to the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, these experiences are those that people dream of.
- Outdoor adventures including hiking, camping, kayaking, and golfing.
- Enjoy the local professional sports teams: NFL, NBA, MLB, and WNBA.
City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Plastic Surgeon
Target academic medical centers first
Academic hospitals and university health systems sponsor physicians far more consistently than private practices. They have dedicated immigration counsel and established H-1B visa filing workflows, making them the most reliable path for OPT plastic surgeons.
Understand the J-1 waiver pathway
Many international medical graduates use J-1 visas during residency. If that applies to you, explore Conrad 30 waivers or VA waivers early, as the waiver process takes months and directly affects your post-training work authorization timeline.
Align your OPT end date with fellowship timelines
Plastic surgery fellowships typically run one to two years. Map your OPT expiration against your fellowship end date now so your employer files your H-1B petition with enough lead time to avoid any gap in work authorization.
Ask about cap-exempt H-1B eligibility
Hospitals affiliated with universities or nonprofit research institutions may qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers. This lets them file outside the annual lottery, giving you a faster and more reliable route to long-term status as a surgeon.
Get your credentials verified early
ECFMG certification, USMLE scores, and state medical board applications take time to process. Starting credential verification well before your OPT ends prevents delays that could interrupt your ability to legally practice while your visa petition is pending.
Negotiate sponsorship terms before signing
Before accepting any offer, confirm the employer will cover H-1B filing fees and has prior experience sponsoring foreign physicians. A verbal commitment is not enough. Ask for written confirmation of sponsorship as part of your employment agreement.
Plastic Surgeon OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Plastic Surgeon on OPT without an employer sponsoring me?
You can work during your OPT period without employer sponsorship, but only until your OPT authorization expires. After that, you need an employer to sponsor an H-1B or other long-term visa. For plastic surgeons, most employers willing to sponsor are academic medical centers or large hospital systems. Migrate Mate filters specifically for employers who sponsor OPT and visa holders, which saves significant research time.
Does a plastic surgery subspecialty fellowship count as OPT-authorized employment?
Yes, a paid fellowship in a plastic surgery subspecialty such as hand surgery, craniofacial, or microsurgery qualifies as OPT-authorized employment, provided it is directly related to your degree program. You must ensure your fellowship offer letter documents the relationship between the role and your medical training to stay compliant with USCIS requirements.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect plastic surgeons on OPT?
Plastic surgeons employed by private practices or for-profit health systems must go through the annual H-1B lottery, which has a roughly 20 to 25 percent selection rate. If you are not selected, your OPT status ends and you cannot continue working. Pursuing positions at cap-exempt employers, such as university hospitals or nonprofit research institutions, eliminates this uncertainty entirely.
What happens to my OPT if my plastic surgery residency program is accredited differently than my degree?
Your OPT authorization is tied to the degree you graduated with, not your residency program's accreditation. The key requirement is that your employment must be directly related to your degree field. A residency or fellowship in plastic surgery following a medical degree satisfies this. Confirm the connection is documented clearly in your employer letter and DSO records.
Is STEM OPT extension available for plastic surgery graduates?
STEM OPT extension is available only if your degree program appears on the Department of Homeland Security's designated STEM fields list. Most MD programs do not qualify, but some biomedical engineering or computational medicine degrees combined with surgical training may. Confirm with your DSO whether your specific program CIP code qualifies before planning your timeline around a 36-month extension.