Advanced Practice Professional- Researcher Bariatric & Weight Management- Winston Salem

Overview

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is seeking a highly motivated Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) to join our obesity clinical research team as a clinical investigator. This is a unique opportunity for an advanced practice provider interested in clinical research to help conduct clinical trials as part of a multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals with obesity. The team is based at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Weight Management Center, within the Department of Surgery, and works closely with faculty from the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. This role also includes the opportunity to practice obesity medicine as a member of the Weight Management Center team (approximately 2 sessions per week).

The focus of clinical trials includes obesity medications (Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials), behavioral interventions, and interventions in populations undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery. 

Job Summary:

This role offers the opportunity to combine clinical practice with active participation in clinical research. The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of investigators, coordinators, and clinicians to deliver comprehensive care and advance obesity treatment through rigorous clinical trials. The APP will conduct participant evaluations, manage protocol-driven interventions, and contribute to the scientific process through data collection and participation in analysis and dissemination to the extent desired.

This is an ideal position for an APP with interest in research, academic medicine, and long-term involvement in the development of new therapies for obesity. The clinical care component, which comprises approximately two sessions per week, will include outpatient visits with individuals receiving non-surgical and surgical obesity care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a sub-investigator on clinical trials focused on obesity and related metabolic conditions.
• Conduct clinical assessments, obtain detailed medical histories, and perform physical exams in accordance with research protocols.
• Assess participant eligibility, obtain informed consent, and ensure compliance with study protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor and document patient outcomes, adverse events, and protocol adherence in collaboration with the research coordinator and data management staff.
• Collaborate with investigators, research staff, and referring providers to identify and enroll eligible patients into trials.
• Order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and other diagnostic procedures as required by study protocols.
• Participate in the development of research protocols, standard operating procedures, and clinical documentation.
• Contribute to the writing of manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations, and attend relevant scientific meetings as appropriate.
• Participate in routine clinical care activities, including preoperative and postoperative patient education and management and providing chronic disease management in the treatment of obesity using non-surgical strategies.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to students, residents, or fellows rotating through the research and clinical team.

Physician Assistant (PA) Requirements: 

• Graduation from an accredited Physician Assistant Program; Master's Degree preferred
• Current North Carolina Medical Board Medical License, Certified by NCCPA
• Current American Heart Association or Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) is required to start
• Current Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) registration, for prescription writing is required to start

Nurse Practitioner Requirements:

• Graduation from accredited Nurse Practitioner Master's Program, Master’s degree or higher required
• Current North Carolina Board of Nursing Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner license
• Board certified as a Nurse Practitioner by AANP or ANCC
• Current American Heart Association or Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) is required to start
• Current Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) registration, for prescription writing is required to start

What We Have to Offer:

• Competitive Compensation: Guaranteed Base Salary with Annual Bonus Incentives with opportunity for paid call.
• CME Reimbursement: Receive up to $2,500 per fiscal year.
• Work/Life Balance: Enjoy flexible working hours.
• Generous PTO: Accrual starts at 25 days/year, to be used for vacations, sickness, holidays, and personal matters.
• Career Growth & Stability: Experience a rewarding career with ample opportunities for advancement and stability, supported by a consistently high patient volume.
• A Rich Quality of Life: Indulge in a vibrant lifestyle within North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region, boasting an abundance of walking and biking trails, nationally acclaimed golf courses, active arts communities, tantalizing Southern cuisine, and an array of artisan craft breweries and wineries.

When you join Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, you are welcomed into an inclusive culture that celebrates and respects the contributions a diverse team can make together. In our nationally-renowned integrated health system, you can work alongside the most advanced minds in medicine to improve medicine, elevate hope and advance healing – for all.