Lakeland Highlands
Job Description Our organization is on the lookout for a board-certified or board-eligible GI Hospitalist to become part of our team at the newly established Lakeland Highlands Hospital in Polk County, FL. This role is perfect for individuals who prefer a focused inpatient practice and excel in a hospital-centric environment that offers extensive, multidisciplinary support. It presents a fantastic chance to work in a cutting-edge facility equipped with the latest technology, a robust referral network, and the opportunity to influence the development of a growing GI service line within one of Florida's most esteemed healthcare systems. Key Responsibilities: • Must be Board Eligible or Board Certified in Gastroenterology., • Completion of an ACGME-accredited Fellowship program in Gastroenterology., • Possession of a Florida Medical License or the capability to obtain one.Practice Features:, • State-of-the-art hospital with modern endoscopy suites and advanced GI technology., • A thriving, physician-led healthcare system that is professionally managed., • Strong brand recognition, attracting new patients to our Digestive Health Institute., • An integrated practice environment that includes multidisciplinary and subspecialized care., • Comprehensive operational support and resources in a collaborative atmosphere., • Dynamic leadership that encourages physician autonomy in clinical decision-making and patient outcomes., • Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development., • Possibility to expand an active research and innovation program.Compensation and Benefits:, • Competitive salary with a generous sign-on bonus., • Advanced Endoscopy, • General Gastroenterology, • Hepatology, • Inflammatory Bowel Disease, • Motility, • Pancreatology, • Research and Physician EducationWhat Makes Us Unique:, • A commitment to innovation, cutting-edge research, and global educational initiatives., • Among a select few facilities offering peroral endoscopic myotomy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and NaviCam technology., • One of the rare programs globally to integrate AI with endoscopic ultrasound procedures to enhance performance., • Development of technology in collaboration with industry partners to integrate AI with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), minimizing radiation exposure for patients and providers., • Collaboration with professional and industry partners to incorporate AI in endoscopic technology for early cancer detection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)., • A team that includes authors of over 2,000 peer-reviewed journal articles and the best-selling endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) textbook, Endosonography.Future Aspirations for the Institute:, • Creating an evidence-based protocol for managing colon polyps using advanced techniques and technologies., • Establishing a liver transplant program., • Becoming home to the most comprehensive motility unit in the southern United States., • Developing subspecialty fellowships in hepatology, motility, and IBD, in addition to gastrointestinal and advanced endoscopy fellowships. The new hospital will embody the collaborative spirit of both organizations, with experts from both sides heavily involved in the planning, design, selection of next-generation technologies, and development of specialized programs and services. Key programs will include cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, obstetrics, surgery, and surgical oncology. This cutting-edge facility will feature over 300 inpatient beds, 69 emergency and observation beds, 11 operating rooms, four cardiac and interventional suites, and an intensive care unit with 18 beds, expandable to 36. The hospital will provide a wide range of surgical and procedural services across multiple specialties. A robust cardiovascular program will offer diagnostic cardiology services at launch, with plans to add PCI care shortly thereafter, progressing to include structural heart disease and advanced electrophysiology (EP) programs. With a strong focus on neurology, the hospital aims to achieve primary stroke center status soon after opening, followed by comprehensive stroke center designation. A full obstetrical unit will also be available from day one, featuring eight labor and delivery rooms, two designated C-section operating rooms, and over 25 postpartum rooms. A 12-bed neonatal intensive care unit will be introduced shortly after the hospital opens. Our healthcare system encompasses award-winning hospitals and emergency departments, specialty institutes, urgent care centers, primary care practices, and outpatient facilities that span from Florida's east to west coasts and into Central Alabama and Puerto Rico. Together, our physicians and team members uphold our 115-year legacy by delivering professional and compassionate care to the many patients, families, and communities we serve. In addition to numerous accolades earned by our individual hospitals and institutes, we are recognized for fostering an exceptional workplace culture that emphasizes personal and professional growth programs to support our physicians and team members throughout their careers. • Joy in Medicine designation by the American Medical Association, • Great Hospitals in America 2024, Becker's Hospital Review, • Great Place to Work® Certification, • 150+ Top Places to Work in Healthcare 2025, Becker’s Healthcare, • Top Workplaces Award 2025, USA Today, • America’s Greatest Workplaces 2025, Newsweek, • Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work 2025