Temple University Hospital stands as the flagship of the Temple Health system, combining the clinical excellence of a major academic medical center with a mission deeply rooted in serving one of America's most diverse urban populations. When you walk through the doors of this 746-bed tertiary and quaternary care facility, you enter an institution that has earned national recognition not by chasing rankings but by providing exceptional care to patients who often have nowhere else to turn—patients with complex medical conditions, limited resources, and the kind of clinical challenges that sharpen your skills and deepen your understanding of medicine.
Founded as the primary teaching hospital for the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple has built its reputation on clinical programs that combine high volume with high complexity. The hospital's pulmonary and cardiothoracic surgery programs have achieved national standing, with the lung transplant program performing over 150 procedures annually—placing it among the busiest thoracic transplant centers in the nation. This isn't volume for volume's sake; this is a program that accepts the most challenging cases, innovates surgical techniques, and achieves outcomes comparable to any academic center in the country.
Temple University Hospital operates as a comprehensive academic medical center offering the full spectrum of tertiary and quaternary services. The cardiothoracic surgery program—where you will practice daily—encompasses coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repairs and replacements, ventricular assist device placement, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, and both heart and lung transplantation. The thoracic oncology program collaborates closely with Fox Chase Cancer Center, bringing sophisticated cancer care to patients who might otherwise travel hours for specialized treatment.
Beyond cardiothoracic services, the hospital maintains robust programs across multiple specialties: comprehensive cardiovascular care including interventional cardiology and vascular surgery; advanced neurosciences with neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology; transplant services extending beyond thoracic to include kidney and liver programs; comprehensive cancer care through the Fox Chase Cancer Center partnership; trauma and emergency services serving as a regional referral center; and women’s health services including high-risk obstetrics.
As the primary teaching hospital for Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple fosters an intensely academic environment where teaching is embedded in clinical care. You’ll work alongside medical students, residents across multiple specialties, and fellows pursuing subspecialty training. The Department of Anesthesiology supports about 30 anesthesiology residents, one cardiothoracic anesthesia fellow, and one pain medicine fellow annually—creating a vibrant educational atmosphere.
The institution values both clinical and academic contributions, encouraging involvement in curriculum design, mentoring, and research. Scholarly activity is supported through collaborations with Fox Chase Cancer Center and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with funding and protected time available for aligned projects.
Temple serves a diverse and underserved patient population—including recent immigrants, long-time residents, and patients with significant socioeconomic barriers. You’ll regularly manage advanced pathologies complicated by delayed access to care and limited resources. For many physicians, this is medicine in its most meaningful form—where your training and judgment directly shape outcomes and where your work has visible, life-altering impact.
Cardiac anesthesia at Temple means managing high-risk patients with complex physiology. These are the cases that demand every skill in your toolkit—and reward you with the satisfaction of making a real difference.
Temple University Hospital is a nonprofit academic medical center within the Temple University Health System, which includes Fox Chase Cancer Center, Jeanes Hospital, and multiple community campuses. This system model offers institutional strength while preserving Temple’s core academic and service mission.
The Department of Anesthesiology, led by Interim Chair Dr. Yuliana Salamanca-Padilla since July 2024, embraces a collaborative leadership style emphasizing physician wellbeing, mentorship, and sustainable practice. Under her direction, the department supports growth, input from faculty, and innovation in clinical education and service delivery.
Temple has made strategic investments in its surgical infrastructure—including three state-of-the-art hybrid OR suites that support complex cardiovascular, neurosurgical, and transplant procedures. The decision to double the size of the cardiac anesthesia team reflects institutional recognition of growing demand and a commitment to staffing models that prevent burnout and ensure excellence.
The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission and participates in quality reporting programs that benchmark outcomes against peer institutions. The lung transplant program’s national profile speaks to both volume and quality, with patient outcomes that meet or exceed national standards.
Temple remains steadfast in its mission: to serve, to teach, and to heal. It delivers high-acuity care to patients regardless of income or insurance status, trains physicians who value service as much as science, and contributes meaningfully to the health and strength of North Philadelphia. This is a center where physicians make a difference—not by competing for prestige, but by committing to impact.
For cardiac anesthesiologists seeking meaningful work, academic engagement, and a community of purpose-driven colleagues, Temple offers an exceptional professional home.
