The ideal candidate will have completed an ACGME-accredited surgical critical care fellowship, with a strong preference for experienced surgeons. For those with less experience, a two-year fellowship combining Surgical Critical Care and/or Acute Care Surgery would be considered While robotic surgical experience is preferred, it is not mandatory. The position does not involve an elective practice, as there is a separate group at Kennestone handling all outpatient general surgery.
The trauma surgeon will join a team of 10 surgical critical care trained trauma surgeons, providing full-spectrum acute care encompassing trauma, Emergency General Surgery (EGS), and Surgical Critical Care. The trauma cases are diverse, with 15% penetrating injuries and 85% blunt trauma. In FY2023, the team performed approximately 1,300 total surgical cases, with over 700 of these being EGS procedures. This high surgical volume provides ample opportunity for clinical growth and expertise development.
Wellstar Kennestone's commitment to medical education is evident in its surgical residency program, which trains three residents per year in both general and orthopedic surgery. While the program is not heavily academic, there are teaching opportunities available for those interested in shaping the next generation of surgeons. The hospital's transition to a Level 1 trauma center will also introduce a research component, although the exact nature of this is still being determined.
Scheduling at Wellstar Kennestone is designed with flexibility in mind. Surgeons typically work twelve 12-hour shifts or something relatively close to that. The team rotates ICU weeks equitably, usually in one-week blocks, but there is flexibility to accommodate individual preferences. Weekends involve coverage of both trauma and EGS, while weekdays separate these responsibilities. The trauma team benefits from robust support, including 24/7 Advanced Practice Provider (APP) coverage, with two APPs on each service during the day and one at night. Additionally, residents rotate through the various services, providing an extra set of hands in the trauma bay.
Compensation at Wellstar Kennestone is highly competitive and tiered based on experience. For surgeons with 0-3 years of experience, the base salary starts at $428,000 with a total compensation target of $513,000. This increases to $450,000 base and $540,000 total for 4-6 years of experience, $472,000 base and $566,000 total for 7-9 years, and $496,000 base with $595,000 total for those with 10 or more years of experience. Additionally, there's a value and finance bonus targeting 15% of total compensation (with potential to reach 22.5%) and a productivity incentive maxing out at 5% of the base salary. The benefits package is equally impressive, featuring an increased Paid Time Off allowance of 5 weeks plus 1 week for Continuing Medical Education. The position also includes malpractice and tail coverage, a 403b & 457b retirement plan with a 4% match, and qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.