Resume

Surgical Physician Assistant Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Surgical Physician Assistant resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Surgical physician assistants are highly trained medical professionals who work alongside surgeons, performing tasks that require precision and accuracy. They help surgeons prepare for procedures and assist with everything from patient prep to post-op care.

If you’re looking to join a team of highly skilled professionals, or if you’re ready to take the next step in your career, a job as a surgical physician assistant could be right up your alley. But before you can land that dream job, you’ll need an impressive resume to help you stand out from the pack. Here are tips and an example to help you write yours.

Michael Garcia
Houston, TX | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Skilled surgical physician assistant with 10+ years of experience in a fast-paced environment. Demonstrates a commitment to patient care and safety, with a focus on providing individualized treatment plans. Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Education
University of Texas Medical Branch Jun '10
M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies
University of Texas at Austin Jun '06
B.S. in Biology
Experience
Company A, Surgical Physician Assistant Jan '17 – Current
  • Performed preoperative and postoperative care of patients, including taking medical histories, performing physical examinations, ordering diagnostic tests, developing treatment plans, educating patients about their conditions and treatments, assisting in surgery as directed by the surgeon or physician assistant.
  • Assisted surgeons during surgical procedures to include suturing wounds closed after surgery and monitoring patient vital signs throughout the procedure.
  • Documented all clinical encounters with physicians using electronic health record software and performed other duties as assigned by the supervising Physician Assistant or Surgeon.
  • Participated in professional development activities such as attending educational workshops/training programs related to job responsibilities and participated in quality improvement initiatives within the department or hospital where employed.
  • Maintained current knowledge of new developments related to job responsibilities through participation in educational opportunities and reading professional publications specific to job functions.
Company B, Surgical Physician Assistant Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Performed over 100 surgical procedures, including endoscopy and laparoscopic surgery, under the supervision of a board-certified surgeon
  • Assisted in the management of patients undergoing complex surgeries with potential for adverse outcomes
  • Developed strong working relationships with medical staff to ensure continuity of care for hospitalized patients
  • Collaborated with surgeons on patient consultations and preoperative assessments as needed
  • Ensured proper sterilization techniques were followed before assisting in any procedure or operation
Company C, Surgical Assistant Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Assisted surgeons with a variety of in-office procedures including but not limited to biopsies, excisions, and Mohs surgery.
  • Prepared patients for procedures by washing and disinfecting incision sites, applying local anesthetics, and positioning patients on the operating table.
  • Monitored patients’ vital signs during procedures and notified surgeons of any changes.
Certifications
  • Certified Physician Assistant
  • Certified Surgical First Assistant
  • Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS)
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Surgery, Operating Room, Anesthesia, Surgical Tools, Suturing, Sutures, Wound Closure, Dressing Changes, Phlebotomy, Vital Signs, Discharge Instructions
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, EMR, Surgical Tools
Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Leadership, Time Management, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Decisiveness

How to Write a Surgical Physician Assistant Resume

Here’s how to write a surgical physician assistant resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will see. And they’re the best way to showcase your experience and qualifications.

But many candidates make the mistake of using generic bullet points that don’t really tell a story or provide any context. For example, rather than saying you “provided patient care,” you could say you “provided care for 15 patients during morning shift, ensuring all patients received timely care and all necessary procedures were performed according to hospital guidelines.”

The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

In order to be considered for a surgical physician assistant (SPA) position, you will likely need to submit your resume through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for specific keywords related to the job. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, the ATS might disqualify you from the pool of applicants.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure to use the most relevant keywords on your resume. You can find them by reading through job postings and taking note of the terms that appear most frequently. Here are some common surgical physician assistant keywords to get you started:

  • Surgical Skills
  • Surgery
  • Healthcare
  • Medical Education
  • Medicine
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Hospitals
  • Patient Safety
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Healthcare Management
  • Physician Assistants
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Inpatient Care
  • Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Anesthesia
  • Medical Research
  • Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
  • Operating Room
  • Patient Education
  • General Surgery
  • Acute Care
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Advanced Life Support (ALS)
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Surgery Assistant
  • Operating Room Management
  • Endoscopy
  • Nursing
  • Wound Care

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a surgical physician assistant, you will need to be proficient in the use of technology in order to effectively do your job. This might include familiarity with surgical software, electronic health records (EHR) systems, or medical devices. Additionally, you will need to be able to use technology to communicate with other members of the healthcare team, including surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists.

Some of the programs and systems that surgical physician assistants are typically expected to be proficient in include: surgical software, EHR systems, medical devices, and surgical equipment.

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