Physician (Ophthalmology - Section Chief) - EDRP Authorized

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

02Education

Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.

Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by graduate medical education accrediting body, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed, OR (2) Those approved by graduate medical education accrediting body, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed, OR (3) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR (4) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the Physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences.

Exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis.

PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Licensure and Registration: Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Residency Exceptions Note: In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.

Additional Requirement: Board Certified (or Board Eligible) by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) in Ophthalmology. (Sub-specialties not applicable). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The Chief of the Ophthalmology is an ophthalmologist assigned to Surgical Services at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. The ophthalmologist reports to the Chief of Eye Care Services and directly supervises all staff ophthalmologists and licensed independent practitioners assigned to the section. The ophthalmologist provides comprehensive care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Eye Care Services. The scope of these activities covers hospitalized patients and all phases of ambulatory care.

Other responsibilities may include education of medical students and residents and/or supervision of other staff.

Duties include but are not limited to: Administration: Leadership Responsibilities Staff Management Time/Leave Management Business Planning/System Redesign Clinic Management Supervision - over staff members who provide clinical and administrative support to Ophthalmology Section Clinical Duties - based on individual education, training, licensure, and competency Education: Oversees resident on-boarding and orientation Responsible for the effectiveness of resident teaching by Eye Clinic staff Monitors resident supervision and educational activities Research and Development - Assists the Chief of Eye Care Services with research and development goals in support of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Research, etc.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Telework: Available on an Ad-hoc (as needed) basis Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Primary Duty Locations: North West San Antonio VA Clinic and Data Point VA Clinic VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

VHA Physician Total Rewards