Sydney Kern
Gainesville,FL
Summary
Board-certified Physician Associate with 5+ years of surgical specialty experience across Orthopedic Surgery, Adult Neurosurgery, and Pediatric Neurosurgery in high-acuity hospital settings including Level 1 Trauma. Skilled in inpatient management, perioperative care, outpatient evaluation, imaging interpretation, interventional procedures, and first-assist responsibilities in complex cases. Known for efficient rounding, strong clinical judgment, patient-centered communication, and team collaboration.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Physician Assistant
The Orthopaedic Institute
Gainesville, FL
2023 - Current
- Lead morning rounds for post-operative orthopedic patients across three hospitals, managing orders, coordination of care, and discharge planning.
- Evaluate new and established patients across the surgical practice (pre-op through post-op), performing comprehensive histories and physicals and developing treatment plans. Seeing roughly 25-30 patients a day.
- Interpret and apply imaging findings (X-ray, CT, MRI) to guide diagnosis, procedural decisions, and operative planning.
- Perform in-office procedures including injections and aspirations, order labs and diagnostic imaging, and coordinate operative scheduling and follow-up care.
- Administer intra-articular injections under fluoroscopy in the interventional radiology setting; perform aspirations under fluoroscopy for native and prosthetic joints.
- First-assist in total joint arthroplasty, revision arthroplasty, fracture repair, and peri-prosthetic revision cases; responsibilities include sterile prep/drape, reduction, retraction, closure, and post-anesthesia monitoring.
Physician Assistant
Florida Neurosurgical Associates
Gainesville, FL
2021 - 2023
- Conducted daily inpatient rounds for post-operative neurosurgical patients, contributing to care plans, orders, diagnostics, and safe discharge execution.
- Performed bedside procedures including drain removals, dressing changes, and other post-op interventions to support recovery and prevent complications.
- See new and follow-up patients in clinic, completing thorough H&Ps, ordering appropriate imaging, and coordinating perioperative care. Would see roughly 10-15 patients a day.
- First-assist in surgical cases, including patient prep/drape, wound closure, and immediate post-anesthesia monitoring.
Physician Assistant
Arnold Palmer Hospital, Neurosurgical Department
Orlando, FL
2019 - 2021
- Partook in trauma intake at a level 1 trauma center where I assessed and determined immediate course of action which needed to be taken.
- Organized and led morning rounds; evaluated inpatient and ED consults and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate preoperative and postoperative care.
- Performed bedside procedures including suturing, drain removals, dressing changes, ventricular shunt reprogramming, and baclofen/morphine pump interrogation and refills.
- Managed an independent pediatric neurosurgery clinic, seeing new patients, follow-ups, and post-op wound care visits.
- Participated in multidisciplinary specialty clinics including Head Shape, Brachial Plexus, Spasticity, Neuro-Oncology, Neurofibromatosis, and Spina Bifida clinics.
- First-assist in pediatric neurosurgical procedures; responsibilities included sterile prep/drape, closure, and post-anesthesia monitoring.
- Participated in clinical conferences/boards including Surgical Epilepsy Conference, Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board, Surgical PIPS, and Surgical M&M.
Medical Assistant
Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL
2015 - 2016
- Triaged and performed detailed patient intake on established and new patients. Would assist with roughly 20-30 patient intakes a day.
- Scribed and assisted Physician and Physician Assistants during exams.
- Prepped, locally anesthetized and assisted during surgical procedures.
- Dressed and explained to patients post procedural wound care and sun damage prevention.
Education
Master of Science - Physician Assistant Studies
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Birmingham, AL12.2018
Bachelor of Science - Psychology And Biology
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL05.2014
Skills
- Patient management
- Suturing
- Surgical assistance
- Sterile prep and draping
- Office consultations
- Intra-articular joint injections
- Patient history documentation
- Educating patients
- Interpreting laboratory and imaging results
- Inpatient rounding and discharge planning
Certification
- Licensed Physician Assistant - 2018 to present
- DEA Licensed
- ACLS certified
- Surgical First Assist certified
- Suicide Intervention certified
- Medical Assist certification
Timeline
Physician Assistant
The Orthopaedic Institute
2023 - Current
Physician Assistant
Florida Neurosurgical Associates
2021 - 2023
Physician Assistant
Arnold Palmer Hospital, Neurosurgical Department
2019 - 2021
Medical Assistant
Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee
2015 - 2016
Master of Science - Physician Assistant Studies
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Bachelor of Science - Psychology And Biology
Florida State University