Physician: Cardiac Surgeon - Palos Heights, IL
Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about quality improvement work you have led.
What they are checking: The posting names participating in quality improvement efforts.
What would you want to know about the case volume and operating room access at Palos?
What they are checking: The posting names neither and both decide whether the practice works.
What would you do
How do you handle a complication with the patient and the team afterwards?
What they are checking: Every cardiac surgeon has them, and how they are handled distinguishes people.
How would you build referral relationships with community cardiologists?
What they are checking: The posting names building and maintaining strong referral relationships locally.
This is a growing program. What would your first six months look like?
What they are checking: The posting names participating in program growth and outreach initiatives.
How do you work with intensivists and advanced practice providers after surgery?
What they are checking: The posting names partnering with hospitalists, intensivists and APPs.
How do you work with an academic center on a shared patient?
What they are checking: The posting names collaborating with tertiary and quaternary academic teams.
About the work
Tell me about your cardiac surgery fellowship and practice.
What they are checking: The posting requires ACGME fellowship training and board certification or eligibility.
What is your case mix, and what do you most want to be doing?
What they are checking: The posting names a broad range of adult cardiac surgical procedures including bypass.
How do you decide a patient should not have surgery?
What they are checking: The most consequential cardiac surgical decision and the one that gets skipped.
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As published by Northwestern Medicine.