Tenet Healthcare Corporation·Modesto, California
Serve as a Cardiothoracic Surgical First Assist supporting both open and minimally invasive cases in a high-acuity program. Responsibilities include participating in a Monday-Friday OR schedule and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anesthesiology, and nursing staff.
Central Valley Doctors Health System Physician Group invites you to join an established and growing cardiothoracic surgery team at Doctors Medical Center — a 465-bed, Joint Commission–accredited regional referral center in the heart of California's Central Valley. You'll work alongside experienced cardiothoracic surgeons in a high-acuity program equipped with cutting-edge technology, including an active TAVR program, ECMO capabilities, and a hybrid OR. This is a collaborative, team-based environment where advanced resources and dedicated support staff allow you to focus on delivering exceptional surgical care.
Modesto sits at the heart of California's Central Valley, offering a lower cost of living than coastal metros without sacrificing access to world-class destinations — Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, and San Francisco are all within a two-hour drive. The city boasts a warm, family-friendly community with well-regarded schools, a growing arts and dining scene, and a strong agricultural heritage that feeds some of the best farm-to-table cuisine in the state. Affordable housing, shorter commutes, and a tight-knit professional community make Modesto an increasingly attractive choice for physicians seeking balance between career and lifestyle.
Doctors Medical Center (DMC), part of the Central Valley Doctors Health System, is the largest full-care hospital between Stockton and Fresno, and from the Sierras to the San Francisco Bay Area, with a 394-bed general acute care and a 67-bed inpatient psychiatric capacity. DMC is known for providing comprehensive inpatient, outpatient and emergency care. Doctors Medical Center offers a wide range of services including cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, emergency and trauma services, minimally-invasive and robotic surgery, women and childrens services, medical/surgical, behavioral health, oncology and critical/intensive care. Join our team!
Candidates must hold an MD or DO degree and be board eligible or certified with completed surgical training. Experience as a first assist is required, with prior cardiothoracic surgery experience and a California medical license strongly preferred.
Market context
In California, cardiothoracic surgery physician first-assist roles are typically competitive because hospitals look for completed surgical training, board eligibility or certification, and direct first-assist experience, with prior cardiothoracic work and a California medical license strongly preferred. Candidates should review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time versus reading the full posting, then confirm licensure status and recent operative experience before applying.