Critical Care Career

Critical Care Physician (Cardiac Intensivist)

Oakland, California

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Expertise. Leadership. Lifesaving Impact.

In critical care, clinical leadership and precision are paramount. Our physician teams—comprised of board-certified intensivists—deliver high-acuity care through both on-site and Tele-ICU programs, ensuring timely, evidence-based interventions for the most vulnerable patients. We lead with humility, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to excellence.

As the largest Critical Care organization in the U.S., we bring 25+ years of experience, 500+ intensivists, and a presence in 60+ ICUs across 19 states. Our physicians manage diverse ICU environments—medical, surgical, cardiac, neuro—and are united by a shared purpose: to elevate care through multidisciplinary teamwork and clinical innovation.

Job Type: Full Time
Job Level: New Grads; Experienced
Shift: Day; Night; Swing
Travel: No

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Job ID:

JOB-001034

Category:

Critical Care

Transform patient care and community as a Critical Care Physician in San Francisco East Bay!

We are expanding our Intensivist program at Sutter Alta Bates Summit Med Center by adding a third physician shift to the model as of 10/1/2026. This is due to the hospital’s desire to continue to grow and develop their cardiac surgery program and specifically their VA ECMO program.

Our mission in the East Bay is to provide “better” in every sense—better healthcare, better teamwork, and a lasting impact on the community we proudly serve. Ready to grow your career in a place that values community and collaboration? Let’s talk.

Local Team Collaboration:

Our providers are involved with numerous work groups, including: Sutter-wide critical care clinical improvement committee, ICU subject matter expert group, code blue committee, pulmonary embolism review committee, ICU celebration of life committee, and more.

Qualifications:

Board-certified or board-eligible critical care physicians (MD or DO).
A commitment to excellence in clinical service, with strong problem-solving abilities essential for the ICU setting.
Experience managing VA ECMO patients.
Active California medical license.
Not currently considering 2027 fellows.

Scheduling:

Roughly 80-90% of shifts will be at the Summit campus, with a few shifts per month at Sutter Delta. Occasional shifts at the Alta Bates campus in Berkeley.
Average of 12-14 shifts per month. Block schedule with roughly 1/3 night shifts. We work together to make a monthly schedule we can all agree upon.

Key Responsibilities:

Our Summit campus is a comprehensive stroke center and STEMI center with a robust cardiac surgery program, including a structural heart program. Our 36 bed ICU is a mixed unit with medical, surgical, cardiac surgery, and neuro patients. We have a growing VA ECMO program and are seeking physicians with this skillset.
Bedside teaching of Internal Medicine residents.
Managing VA ECMO patients.
We work in EPIC, with access to our own internal informatics platform.

Living and Working in the East Bay:

Our team is a social group and meets occasionally for nights out. Additionally, we indulge in our amazing local restaurant scene as well as our beautiful local parks. Nearby, we have access to the parks along the San Francisco Bay and redwood redwood-covered East Bay hills. We are one hour from wine country and three hours from the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Rewards and Compensation:

Competitive hourly compensation: Annual income $405,520-468,720 depending on shift commitment.
Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.

Ben Housley, Clinical Recruiter | bhousley@soundphysicians.com | (615) 483-1809

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Explore this location

Our values in action

Uncompromising Care:

You deliver life-saving care in the most critical moments. We support you with systems that honor your clinical judgment and amplify your impact—because in the ICU, excellence isn’t optional.
Collaboration:

You’re part of a deeply connected team of intensivists who value shared decision-making, mutual respect, and the power of multidisciplinary partnerships to drive better outcomes.
Accountability:

You lead with clarity and conviction—owning your role in shaping ICU strategy, mentoring teams, and driving performance across complex care environments.
Ingenuity & Empathy:

You bring calm leadership and innovative thinking to high-stakes situations, balancing clinical precision with compassion for patients, families, and colleagues.

Career Path

Practicing
Single-site Leadership
Multi-site Leadership

Practicing :
Start your journey as a practicing clinician, focused on delivering exceptional patient care while building foundational leadership skills. This stage prepares you for future opportunities to lead and influence.
Single-site Leadership :
Step into leadership at the practice level as an Associate Medical Director or Medical Director. In these roles, you’ll guide clinical teams, collaborate with hospital partners, and ensure operational and clinical excellence at a single site.
Multi-site Leadership :
Expand your impact by overseeing multiple practices as a System Medical Director, Regional Medical Director, or Regional Chief Medical Officer. These roles involve strategic leadership, mentoring physician leaders, and driving performance across a region.

Hear from our team

“When you have best-in-class care in the ICU, surgeons, specialists, and primary care providers trust their patients will be in good hands. Our leaders understand the ICU is a critical gateway to a successful hospital, and we focus on bringing the best care in support of your hospital’s mission and goals.”

Steve Matchett, MD
CEO, Critical Care
“High-performing ICU teams use intensivist-led multidisciplinary rounds and team meetings to collaborate with the medical staff and measure the metrics that support favorable patient outcomes. We do this without exception, and we achieve exceptional results.”

Sergio Zanotti, MD, FCCM
Chief Medical Officer, Critical Care
“This isn’t just a job; it’s a career in a supportive, high‑performance environment that puts clinicians and patients first.”

Hesham Hessaballa, MD
Regional Medical Director
“Local clinical leadership matters. We tailor each ICU program to the site’s needs and physician mix, with national resources behind us.”

Rebecca Doebelee, MD
Regional Medical Director