Job Overview

Shriners Children’s Texas is seeking an experienced full-time Pediatric Plastic Surgeon to serve as the Cleft Lip & Palate (CLP) Lead. This position offers the opportunity to guide and grow one of the state’s top cleft lip & palate programs, providing high-quality surgical care and multidisciplinary leadership within a mission-driven environment.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five (5) years of post-fellowship experience in pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgery, with previous service line or program leadership being highly preferred. The CLP Lead will oversee the full continuum of cleft care, from primary repairs to complex secondary and orthognathic procedures, while collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary team of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), plastic and oral maxillofacial surgeons, otolaryngologists, and speech language pathologists. 

This position entails a 1.0 FTE commitment with no nights, weekends or holidays. Home call is taken on a 1 in 4 rotating basis with no ER coverage expectations. Compensation is determined by years of post-fellowship experience and departmental equity.

Why Shriners Children’s?

Shriners Children's is the premier pediatric burn, orthopedic, spinal cord injury, cleft lip and palate, and pediatric subspecialties healthcare system. With multiple hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers and outreach locations across the globe, we provide excellent care to children up to age 18 regardless of their family’s ability to pay or insurance status. Our mission is to change and improve lives by caring for our patients, conducting research to gain knowledge and develop new treatments, and providing educational opportunities for physicians and other healthcare professionals.

• Ranked top Midsized Employer by Forbes and Statistica Inc. (2025)
• 4 locations ranked on S. News & World Report’s list of Best Children’s Hospitals for pediatric orthopedics
• Winner of 12 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Awards and 5 Pinnacle of Excellence Awards for Patient Experience (2024)
• $20 million in annual funding for innovative research in genomics, clinical motional analysis, and other forms of translational research.

About Shriners Children’s Texas

Shriners Children's Texas is where hope and healing meet. Our hospital brings together compassionate experts and leading-edge care to help children thrive. We specialize in pediatric burn care, orthopedics, and cleft lip and palate, serving patients and families from across Texas, the southern United States, and around the world.

Our cleft lip and palate program is nationally recognized as an approved team by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, reflecting our commitment to comprehensive, coordinated, and specialized care for children with cleft and craniofacial differences.

As a verified pediatric burn care center by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, we provide highly specialized acute, reconstructive, and rehabilitative treatment for children with burn injuries and other complex conditions.

Housed in a beautifully remodeled facility on Galveston Island adjacent to the University of Texas Medical Branch, our hospital features welcoming patient care spaces and convenient on-site family housing, creating a healing environment that supports both children and their families throughout their care journey.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options available
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with generous employer match, 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, and Defined Contribution Supplemental Retirement Plan
• Generous budget and time off for Continuing Medical Education (CME)
• Employer sponsored professional liability coverage
• Relocation assistance
• School Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Basic Life/AD&D and Short-Term Disability Insurance provided at no cost
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB)
• Voluntary Benefits: Long Term Disability Insurance, Critical Illness/Accident Insurance, hospital indemnity coverage, identity theft protection, and more.

Benefit elections may vary based on eligibility and location.

Responsibilities

• Lead the cleft lip & palate program: develop strategy, monitor outcomes, ensure quality and safety.
• Perform a broad range of pediatric plastic surgical procedures for CLP: primary repairs, revisions, alveolar bone grafting, orthognathic surgery, nasal reconstructions, speech-related surgical interventions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members: speech therapists, plastic surgeons, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, dentists, social work, psychology, and care managers.
• Supervise and mentor fellows, residents, and other surgical staff; lead educational initiatives and training.
• Participate in clinical research and quality improvement projects; track program metrics (e.g., surgical outcomes, speech outcomes, patient satisfaction).
• Contribute to outreach: community engagement, referrals, family education, ensuring equitable access to care.
• Administrative responsibilities associated with CLP Lead: scheduling, protocol creation or refinement, guideline implementation.

Education

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited medical school
• Successful completion of an ACGME accredited residency in Plastic Surgery
• Successful completion of fellowship training in Craniofacial Surgery or equivalent clinical experience

Experience

• Substantial experience (e.g., minimum of 5 years post-fellowship) in pediatric cleft lip & palate surgery. Prior service line or program leadership experience highly preferred.

Certification and Licensures

• Board certification or eligibility in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
• Must possess eligibility for active and unrestricted medical licensure in the state of practice
• Must possess eligibility for active DEA
• Must possess Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS for HCP) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
• Credentialing and privileging by the medical staff in accordance with hospital bylaws

Additional Knowledge and Skills

• Specialized knowledge in pediatric reconstructive procedures, growth and developmental anatomy, and wound healing
• Skilled in microsurgery, craniofacial surgery, cleft repair, and pediatric soft tissue reconstruction
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and multidisciplinary care teams
• Proficient in operative planning, intraoperative decision-making, and post-surgical care specific to pediatric patients
• Familiarity with electronic medical records (Epic) and surgical case management software
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based environment