Description
Pediatric Surgery
Program Growth | Academic Children’s Hospital | Outstanding Quality of Life
Pediatric Search Partners is engaged to conduct a national search for a Board Certified/Board Eligible Pediatric Surgeon to join the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, working at CHRISTUS Children’s in San Antonio, Texas.
This is an outstanding opportunity to join an established and growing pediatric surgery team at the first and only freestanding, academic, not-for-profit children’s hospital in San Antonio. Due to continued growth and surgical volume, the division is seeking to add a sixth pediatric surgeon to its current team of five.
For a pediatric surgeon who values a collegial environment, a broad and meaningful clinical practice, strong institutional support, and an exceptional quality of life, this opportunity offers the chance to make a lasting impact in one of the fastest-growing pediatric regions in the country.
The Division of Pediatric Surgery is highly regarded within CHRISTUS Children’s and serves as a key clinical program across the pediatric enterprise. The team provides comprehensive surgical care for infants, children, and adolescents, including both routine and complex pediatric surgical conditions, with a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary, family-centered care.
The opportunity is strengthened by the continued growth of San Antonio and South Texas. Located in the nation’s seventh-largest city and the second-largest city in Texas, San Antonio has a rapidly growing pediatric population expected to expand significantly over the next 20 years, creating meaningful need for pediatric surgical services and long-term professional opportunity.
The division is open to both graduating fellows and experienced pediatric surgeons who are seeking a long-term academic home with a strong team, meaningful clinical volume, and the opportunity to contribute to continued program growth.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
This opportunity offers a combination that is difficult to find in pediatric surgery:
- An established team of five pediatric surgeons with plans to add a sixth due to growth and volume and shared call of 1:6 once the new surgeon joins
- Academic appointment with Baylor College of Medicine
- Practice at San Antonio’s first and only freestanding, academic, not-for-profit children’s hospital
- Broad-based pediatric surgery with opportunities for program development
- Collegial, mission-driven team environment
- Strong pediatric subspecialty collaboration
- Support from advanced practice providers, nursing, perioperative teams, Child Life, and pediatric subspecialists
- Significant regional need and opportunity for impact
- Highly competitive compensation and excellent benefits through Baylor College of Medicine
- A vibrant, affordable, and highly desirable Texas location with no state income tax
Program Overview
The Division of Pediatric Surgery provides comprehensive surgical care through the main CHRISTUS Children’s campus in downtown San Antonio as well as outpatient and regional access points across the community.
The team cares for a wide range of pediatric surgical conditions and collaborates closely with pediatric subspecialists, emergency medicine, intensive care, neonatology, oncology, gastroenterology, radiology, anesthesia, perioperative services, and hospital leadership.
CHRISTUS Children’s highlights a broad pediatric general surgery platform that includes programs and services in areas such as chest wall deformity, MALS, bariatric surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, oncology surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, colorectal and urogenital surgery, bowel management, sedation services, and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols. These programs help position the division as a robust and evolving pediatric surgery platform with opportunities for continued development.
The division’s clinical scope includes opportunities to participate in or help grow areas such as:
- General and minimally invasive pediatric surgery
- Oncology and solid tumor surgery
- Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery
- Colorectal, bowel management, and urogenital surgery
- Chest wall deformity care
- Adolescent metabolic and bariatric surgery
- Multidisciplinary surgical programs based on physician interest and program needs
The Physician Who Will Thrive Here
The ideal candidate will be a clinically excellent, collaborative pediatric surgeon who values teamwork, communication, academic medicine, and thoughtful patient care.
Qualified candidates should have an MD, DO, or MD/PhD degree; be Board Certified or Board Eligible in Pediatric Surgery; and be eligible for a Texas medical license.
Most importantly, the division is seeking a physician who will enjoy being part of a collegial pediatric surgery team, working closely with pediatric subspecialists and hospital partners, contributing to education and academic activity, and helping meet the growing surgical needs of children and families across San Antonio, South Texas, and the surrounding region.
Candidates with interest or experience in developing interdisciplinary specialty programs are especially encouraged to consider this opportunity, although a specific niche is not required.
Compensation & Institutional Support
This position is employed by Baylor College of Medicine and offers a highly competitive salary and excellent benefits package.
Baylor College of Medicine offers academic appointment, relocation support, comprehensive benefits, strong institutional resources, and the opportunity to practice in a mission-driven children’s hospital environment with meaningful pediatric need and long-term opportunity.
Academic rank and appointment will be determined by the candidate’s credentials and experience.
About CHRISTUS Children’s / Baylor College of Medicine
Serving as a focal point for pediatric services throughout the community and South Texas, CHRISTUS Children’s is a world-class children’s hospital centrally located in downtown San Antonio with an established legacy of care dating back to 1869. The organization employs more than 1,000 staff members, including a 400-nurse team that earned Magnet designation in 2018.
In 2013, CHRISTUS Children’s joined forces with Baylor College of Medicine, which recruits, employs, and oversees physicians for the children’s hospital. Baylor College of Medicine provides the academic platform, faculty appointment, and institutional support for pediatric specialists practicing at CHRISTUS Children’s.
With more than 80,000 emergency department visits each year, CHRISTUS Children’s opened the first pediatric emergency room in San Antonio and remains the first and only Children’s Miracle Network hospital in the city.
About San Antonio
The Alamo City is one of Texas’ most historic and appealing metropolitan areas, blending Old West history, Spanish heritage, rich diversity, and the energy of a major city with the warmth and ease of a close-knit community.
San Antonio is also one of the nation’s fastest-growing major cities. Recent U.S. Census estimates show the city added nearly 24,000 residents from 2023 to 2024, ranking fourth nationally for numeric population growth. As San Antonio and South Texas continue to grow, the region offers significant long-term opportunity for pediatric specialists serving children and families across a large and expanding referral area.
Residents are drawn to San Antonio by its comparatively affordable housing, excellent public and private schools, more than 300 days of sunshine annually, mild winters, abundant green space, professional sports, world-class restaurants, two major amusement parks, shopping, nightlife, entertainment, and a strong regional economy with varied professional opportunities for spouses and partners.
The city continues to receive national recognition for its quality of life, culture, food, and visitor appeal. San Antonio was named one of Travel + Leisure’s favorite U.S. cities in the 2025 World’s Best Awards and was also included among Travel + Leisure’s best places to travel in 2025, with recognition for its culinary innovation, history, walkability, and distinctive cultural character.
On weekends, residents can enjoy the River Walk, the Pearl, museums, parks, restaurants, shops, galleries, Fiesta celebrations, and the wide-open beauty of the Texas Hill Country with its rolling hills, big Texas skies, wineries, outdoor recreation, and charming towns such as Fredericksburg and Boerne.
San Antonio is also well-positioned for travel with convenient access to San Antonio International Airport and ongoing airport expansion and modernization. For coastal getaways, residents are within an easy drive of Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, with Galveston and South Padre Island also accessible for longer weekend trips. Austin is less than 90 minutes away, Houston is less than three hours, and Dallas is about four hours.
And, as a resident of Texas, you’ll pay no state income tax.
Confidential Inquiries
For confidential consideration and complete details, please forward your CV and letter of interest to:
Glenda Church Smith
Principal, Pediatric Search Partners
214.850.3094 call/text
glenda@pediatricsearchpartners.com
pediatricsearchpartners.com
