Physician Assistant

Salary: $120,000/year - $130,000/year

Position Summary

The Physician Assistant (PA) provides comprehensive, high-quality primary and acute healthcare services to students within a Children's Aid School-Based Health Center (SBHC), working collaboratively with a supervising physician and interdisciplinary care team to promote the health, well-being, and academic success of children and adolescents. Serving as the clinical lead for the assigned SBHC site, the PA oversees day-to-day clinical operations, supports medical staff performance and development, ensures compliance with New York State Department of Health (DOH) regulations and clinical standards, and fosters a patient-centered, equitable care environment.

As part of Children's Aid's network of six School-Based Health Centers, the Physician Assistant partners with medical providers, behavioral health clinicians, health educators, and operational staff to deliver integrated, accessible healthcare services for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Reporting to the Assistant Medical Director, this role is accountable for clinical quality, regulatory compliance, effective site operations, and medical staff leadership in alignment with the mission, values, and strategic priorities of Children's Aid.

Children's Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children's Aid annually serves children and their families at over forty sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children's Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children's health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Culture and Values

We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth, and families in all that we do.

We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth, and families.

We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.

We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Care & Patient Management

• Understand and promote Children's Aid's Mission, Vision, and Core Values, ensuring all clinical care aligns with organizational policies, procedures, and a commitment to equitable, family-centered care.
• Provide comprehensive primary healthcare services to pediatric and adolescent patients within the scope of practice of a licensed Physician Assistant and in collaboration with the supervising physician, as required.
• Obtain comprehensive medical, developmental, and psychosocial histories and perform age-appropriate physical examinations to assess patient health and developmental status.
• Assess, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic health conditions by developing and implementing evidence-based treatment plans, recognizing when consultation with the collaborating physician or referral to specialty care is appropriate.
• Order, interpret, and document appropriate laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, screenings, and preventive health services.
• Administer routine childhood and adolescent immunizations in accordance with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) guidelines and maintain compliance with the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.
• Provide treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, ensuring timely consultation with the supervising physician when clinically indicated.
• Deliver patient and family education regarding diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, preventive care, and healthy lifestyle practices to promote positive health outcomes.
• Provide timely outpatient follow-up care, including reviewing emergency department visits, hospitalizations, specialty referrals, and telephone consultations to ensure continuity of care.

Care Coordination & Program Operations

• Collaborate effectively with physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers, school personnel, administrative staff, and other interdisciplinary team members to ensure coordinated, high-quality patient care.
• Support the daily clinical operations of the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) by serving as a clinical resource to staff and promoting efficient, patient-centered service delivery.
• Assist in monitoring site productivity and patient access to ensure organizational performance goals are achieved while maintaining high standards of clinical quality and patient satisfaction.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete electronic medical records and required statistical, regulatory, and operational documentation in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.
• Participate in after-hours on-call coverage on a rotating basis, as assigned.

Quality Improvement & Compliance

• Partner with the SBHC Program Manager to support continuous quality improvement initiatives and ensure compliance with NYSDOH standards, clinical protocols, accreditation requirements, and organizational policies.
• Support regulatory compliance activities, including emergency preparedness, environmental safety reviews, documentation requirements, quality assurance activities, and timely submission of required reports and meeting documentation.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA, HITECH, OSHA, infection prevention, and control standards, and regulated medical waste requirements.
• Participate in the ongoing review, evaluation, and enhancement of clinical protocols, workflows, and evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and operational effectiveness.

Leadership & Professional Development

• Provide day-to-day guidance and clinical support to medical clerical staff and contribute to staff development, coaching, and performance evaluation in collaboration with leadership.
• Demonstrate sound clinical judgment by practicing independently within the Physician Assistant scope of practice while recognizing situations requiring physician consultation or escalation of care.
• Maintain current clinical knowledge through continuing education, professional development, and review of evidence-based medical practices to ensure high-quality patient care.
• Foster a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment by ensuring all patients, families, visitors, and colleagues are treated with dignity, compassion, professionalism, and cultural humility.
• Perform other duties and special projects assigned in support of Children's Aid's mission and operational objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of an accredited Physician Assistant program recognized by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or another program approved by the New York State Education Department.
• Current New York State license and registration to practice as a Physician Assistant in good standing.
• Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience providing primary care to pediatric and/or adolescent populations, preferably in a school-based health center, community health center, ambulatory care, or primary care setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of pediatric preventive care, immunization schedules, health assessments, diagnosis and treatment of common acute and chronic conditions, and evidence-based clinical practices.
• Knowledge of New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) regulations, Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program requirements, HIPAA, OSHA, infection prevention standards, and other applicable healthcare regulations.
• Experience using electronic health records (EHR) and proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, with the ability to recognize when consultation or referral is appropriate.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to establish effective working relationships with children, adolescents, families, and interdisciplinary team members from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate documentation, and work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative healthcare environment.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.