THE OPPORTUNITY
Ochsner Health seeks an accomplished cardiothoracic transplant surgical leader to serve as the new Surgical Director of Cardiothoracic Transplantation. This Surgical Director will create a state-of-the-art cardiothoracic transplant program that will be housed in the Ochsner Transplant Institute and integrated into the John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute and Alton Ochsner Comprehensive Lung Center. The Surgical Director’s primary accountability will be to develop and expand Ochsner’s cardiothoracic transplant program which currently performs approximately 30 heart transplants annually, as well as multi-organ transplants, single and double-lung transplants, and lung re-transplants. The new Surgical Director will collaborate with Institute leadership to advance cardiothoracic transplant services and increase volumes, promote cutting-edge and evidenced-based clinical services, achieve exceptional quality and outcomes, and engage with referring physicians to provide regional access for transplant-eligible patients.
THE ORGANIZATION
Ochsner’s cardiothoracic transplant program is presently in a strong position, with upward trends in surgical volumes, quality metrics, and outcomes. Recent recruitments include a thoracic surgeon and two aortic specialists. Stepping into this solid foundation, the Surgical Director will develop a vision for the program’s future and lead all heart and lung transplant with an eye towards programmatic growth and a continued focus on recruitment. As an institutional priority, ample resources will be made available to ensure success in this important work.
Ochsner has a long-standing and well-known heart transplant program. Since performing Louisiana’s first heart transplant in 1970, the Ochsner Transplant Institute is one of only 13 healthcare systems in the United States to have performed more than 1,000 heart transplants, achieving some of the nation’s highest survival rates and lowest complication rates. Ochsner’s lung transplant program has completed over 500 transplants since its inception in 1993 and is well positioned for significant growth. Concurrent efforts are already underway at Ochsner to recruit an experienced Medical Director for the program.Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi, and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. An integrated healthcare system with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. It leads nationally in Women’s Services, Pediatrics, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology/Lung Surgery, Urology, Liver Transplant, and Digital Medicine, among other areas. Ochsner is consistently named both the top hospital and top children’s hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report. It has more than 40,000 employees and over 4,900 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties. In 2024, Ochsner Health treated more than 1.6 million people from every state and 63 countries.
ELIGIBILITY
- M.D. with board certification(s) by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
- Eligible for unrestricted licensure for the state of Louisiana.
- Advanced expertise in surgical cardiothoracic transplantation is required; cardiac transplantation is preferred.
- Broad capabilities in the surgical management of cardiothoracic disease.
- Well-trained in current donor techniques.
- Track record of clinical excellence.
- Effective collaborator and communicator with referring providers to expand business and provide best possible care for patients.
- Proven leader with integrated approach to care and program growth.
- Strong orientation toward patient-focused care, quality improvement, and team building.
- Proven ability to actively participate in creating an environment that promotes initiative, innovation, and continual learning.
- Demonstration of professional competence and ethical standards that allow the Surgical Director of Cardiothoracic Transplantation to serve as a role model.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is competitive and commensurate with the responsibilities of this position as well as the experience and achievement of the candidate.
TO APPLY
For applications and nominations, please contact the DSG Global Team, reaching out to Alison Lebonitte at [email protected] or by phone at 212.542.2588. For applications, please include your current CV and a letter of introduction. You may also apply directly through our DSG Talent Profile here.
Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected class, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.