Graduate Research Assistant Jobs in Rohnert Park, CA

The Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Sutter Novato is seeking a highly motivated Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) to join a growing interventional spine and pain practice.

This role focuses on the comprehensive management of patients with complex spinal disorders and chronic pain conditions, integrating medical management, imaging interpretation, procedural familiarity, and multidisciplinary care coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Educate patients on diagnoses, imaging findings, and treatment options, promoting shared decision-making
• Counsel on risks, benefits, and expected outcomes of medications and procedures
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and referring providers to ensure coordinated, continuous care
• Evaluate and manage patients with degenerative spine conditions, radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, disc pathology, and chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders
• Develop individualized, multimodal treatment plans including pharmacologic therapy, rehabilitation strategies, interventional care, and surgical referral when indicated
• Interpret spine imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT) and correlate with clinical findings to guide care
• Support interventional pain procedures through patient selection, pre-/post-procedure care, and knowledge of common techniques
• Identify surgical red flags and indications, facilitating timely referral and coordinated peri-referral management

Required

• Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner program
• Active and unrestricted California license
• Unrestricted DEA certification
• Minimum 1-2 years of experience in spine, musculoskeletal medicine, PM&R, or pain management

Preferred

• Experience managing complex spinal disorders and chronic pain patients
• Proficiency in interpreting spine imaging (MRI/CT/X-ray)
• Familiarity with interventional spine procedures
• Experience in an outpatient specialty clinic setting

• Outpatient specialty practice.  No inpatient duties.  No call.
• Hours: Mon - Fri  8AM - 5PM
• Multidisciplinary spine and pain team
• Opportunities for professional growth in interventional spine care
• Collaborative, team-based environment
• Exposure to advanced interventional spine care
• Opportunity to work closely with experienced physiatrists and interventionalists
• Growing program with strong institutional support

Why Sutter Health and Sutter West Bay Medical Group (SWBMG)

Sutter Health offers a uniquely physicianaligned environment, large enough to support innovation and investment, yet local enough to preserve the autonomy, relationships, and purpose that matter to clinicians.

SWBMG is a premier multi-specialty medical group made up of over 400 physicians practicing in the greater San Francisco service area. SWBMG works in partnership with Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation (SPMF), a non-profit organization providing care through its affiliation with SWBMG. Physicians work as a team to provide patient-focused care that encourages a sense of teamwork. SPMF provides physicians with an administrative infrastructure, allowing physicians to focus on patient care. 

Sutter West Bay Medical Group provides:

• A strong, collegial physician culture
• Deep subspecialty expertise across disciplines
• Organizational commitment to growth, quality, and patientcentered care
• Competitive compensation, generous benefits and a robust retirement program

Living in San Francisco

San Francisco offers a unique combination of professional opportunity, intellectual energy, and quality of life for physicians drawn to innovation and impact.

As a global hub for healthcare innovation, life sciences, and research, the city attracts forward-thinking clinicians and collaborators shaping the future of medicine. Its strong academic environment and commitment to equity and access create a compelling setting for advancing healthcare.

Outside of work, San Francisco offers an exceptional lifestyle, with world-class dining, arts, and culture alongside easy access to Northern California's natural beauty, from coastal trails to wine country. The region's diverse communities support both personal fulfillment and professional growth.

It is the policy of Sutter Health and its partners to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of basis of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, registered domestic partner status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin (including possession of a driver's license issued to individuals who did not present proof of authorized presence in the U.S.), age, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or protected veteran status, political affiliation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition, genetic information or any other characteristic made unlawful by local, state or federal law, ordinance or regulation. We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within each medical group, company, hospital, department, and service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of Sutter's employment policies and practices.