VIRGINIA A. HORAN
Salt Lake City
Summary
Professional surgical and intensive care practitioner, bringing valuable experience in assisting with diverse surgical procedures, adult and pediatric intensive care, and patient management. Known for strong focus on team collaboration and achieving optimal results in fast-paced environments. Reliable and adaptable to changing needs, with proficient skills in surgical techniques, patient care, ultrasound guided procedures, ACLS/PALS, and medical documentation, and proven track record of enhancing operational efficiency.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Surgical Physician Assistant, Pediatric CT Surgery
Primary Children's Hospital
10.2025 - Current
- Assist in pre-operative assessments and patient evaluations during Valve Clinic.
- First assist pediatric cardiothoracic surgical cases. The types of cases; cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), non-CPB, emergent ECMO cannulation, thoracotomy.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to provide optimal patient care and achieve successful surgical results.
- Place arterial lines and ultrasound guided intravenous lines intra-operatively.
- Lead surgical wound rounds daily in collaboration with the Intensive Care, Heart Failure, and CT Surgery floor team.
- Provide post-operative care, monitoring recovery progress and addressing any complications.
- Educate patients and families on surgical procedures, recovery processes, and aftercare instructions.
Heart Center Advanced Practice Provider (CVOR/CICU)
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
08.2021 - 09.2025
- Completed CICU training which included arterial lines, chest tubes, intubations, ECMO and CVVH management, PALS/ECPR, central lines and umbilical lines.
- Participate in multidisciplinary rounds, pre- and post-op surgical management, evaluation and treatment of critically ill pediatric patients.
- Perform history and physical exams, obtain consents, place and interpret diagnostic tests and laboratory tests.
- Completed 1-year CVOR training. Training included; first and second assist, removing intracardiac lines, PD drains, wound vac care management and immediate post-operative care.
- Participate in quality improvement projects and research studies about the pediatric cardiac critical care population.
- Facilitate heart dissection labs with surgeon which teaches nurses, APPs and OR staff basic cardiac anatomy, blood flow and general understanding of basic cardiac surgeries.
- Assist in training new advanced practice providers in the cardiac ICU and serve as a PA student preceptor for month long rotations.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized patient management strategies.
- Completed simulation training and collaborated with the education team on education scenarios for all staff (nurses, APPs, RTs, physicians).
- Mentored junior staff on best practices in pediatric care, fostering professional development and enhancing team performance.
- Contributed to multiple research projects and clinical journal articles.
- Participated in two medical mission trips with faculty (Tanzania and Nigeria).
- Faculty member for conference (PCICS APP Bootcamp) at facility which involved conducting simulations, presenting lecture on post-operative residual lesions and mentoring new providers.
Guest Lecturer
Emory Physician Assistant Program
03.2020 - 09.2025
- Yearly pleural diseases and pediatric viral diseases lecture given for pulmonary module.
- Assist in intubation, suture/knot tying, POCUS and physical exam labs.
- Participate in admission interviews.
- Proctor OSCE session and complete evaluations.
- Precept PA students on their Pediatric Cardiac ICU and Surgical elective clinical rotation.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Advanced Practice Provider
Piedmont Healthcare
12.2019 - 07.2025
- Completed 1-year critical care residency program for new graduate physician assistants. Training included; central lines, arterial lines and vascular catheters placement, endotracheal intubations, ACLS/ mock codes, initial evaluation of patients, resuscitation of critically ill, etc.
- Evaluate, treat and manage acute and daily needs of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit based on evidence-based practices.
- Triage, admit and transfer patients in Emergency Department and step-down units.
- Cross-cover for pulmonary acute care service on night shift.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care and optimize outcomes.
- Conducted comprehensive patient assessments to inform diagnosis and treatment plans.
- Mentored junior staff, fostering professional development and knowledge sharing within the team.
- Led simulation training sessions for new providers; airway check off, ACLS, and decompensating patient scenarios.
Education
Master of Physician Assistant Studies -
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL06-2019
Bachelor of Science in Health Education - undefined
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL08-2015
Skills
- Surgical expertise
- Compassionate care
- Wound management
- Preoperative preparation
- Quality improvement
- Anatomy
- Postoperative care
- Diagnostic skills
- Suturing proficiency
- Interpreting laboratory results
- Ultrasound (POCUS and procedural)
Certification
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants # 1165219
- Georgia Composite Medical Board
- American Academy of Physician Associates
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- Basic Life Support
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- Fundamentals of Critical Care Support
- Difficult Airway Course
Medical Outreach
- Participated and coordinated curriculum, simulation templates, educational materials for mission trip to Tanzania in the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) August 2025. Planning recurring missions to help educate the JKCI nurses, physicians and perfusionists.
- Provided specialized pediatric cardiac critical care for patients during the Hospitals for Humanity mission trip in May 2025. Functioned as Intensivists for a week while patients underwent cardiac surgery. Participated in pre-operative evaluation, post-operative care and educational liaison for staff and families.
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Surgical Physician Assistant, Pediatric CT Surgery
Primary Children's Hospital
10.2025 - Current
Heart Center Advanced Practice Provider (CVOR/CICU)
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
08.2021 - 09.2025
Guest Lecturer
Emory Physician Assistant Program
03.2020 - 09.2025
Pulmonary and Critical Care Advanced Practice Provider
Piedmont Healthcare
12.2019 - 07.2025
Bachelor of Science in Health Education - undefined
University of Florida
Master of Physician Assistant Studies -
University of Florida