Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

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.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in 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
• 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 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 the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) -OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - 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
• 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 or fee-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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Board Certified or Board Eligible in Plastic Surgery
• Preferred Experience: Possess five (5) or more years of plastic surgery experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position
• A physical examination prior to placement is required
• This is a designated drug testing position
• After appointment - you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use
• Requires lifting 15-44 pounds
• pushing (approx
• 2 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers and both hands
• walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing aid is permitted.

Duties

• **This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCMENT and will remain open until April 29 - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 30 - 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: 7:30am to 4:00pm - Monday through Friday 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 According to the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) - plastic surgery deals with the repair - reconstruction - or replacement of physical defects of form or function involving the skin - musculoskeletal system - cranio-maxillofacial structure - hand - extremities - breast and trunk - and external genitalia
• It uses aesthetic surgical principles not only to improve undesirable qualities of normal structure but in all reconstructive procedures as well
• Special knowledge and skill in the design and surgery of grafts - flaps - free tissue transfer and replantation is necessary
• Competence in the management of complex wounds - the use of implantable materials - and in tumor surgery is required
• Plastic Surgery has been prominent in the development of innovative techniques such as microvascular and cranio-maxillofacial surgery - liposuction and tissue transfer
• The foundation of surgical anatomy - physiology - pathology - and other basic sciences is fundamental to this specialty
• Competency in plastic surgery implies a special combination of basic knowledge - surgical judgment - technical expertise - ethics - and interpersonal skills in order to achieve satisfactory patient relationships and problem resolution
• The major duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: May perform at a minimum 90% of his/her time in a clinical role10% in administrative and educational role Expected to function as a cooperative and collegial team member with the entire Plastic surgery division
• This means that each individual surgeon should expect to take a proportional amount of call
• Should be prepared to cover other attending' patients when \"on call\" as well as to be able to delegate responsibility to colleagues when \"off call\" Promotes quality in clinical practice by collaborating with Providers - Clinical Programs - Interdisciplinary Treatment Teams - Care Lines/Services and/or committees
• Ensures that initial and ongoing assessments of patients to identify needs - issues - resources and care goals are provided - in a timely manner
• Ensures that care-related goals (both short and long term) and patient outcomes are identified by the requesting provider - patient - and family/significant other
• Monitors specific clinical activities for compliance with VA policies - assuring that findings are utilized to modify and/or improve their performance and to facilitate the accomplishments of their goals and objectives
• Collaborates with the Chief of Staff - Chief of Surgical Care Line - and clinical staff to promote quality in clinical practice by contributing to the development of criteria for measuring the quality of patient care
• Initiates clinical reviews - conducts focused Peer Reviews - studies and other projects in response to identification of areas in need of improvement in the delivery of General Surgery care
• Identifies opportunities for improvement - assisting with problem resolution modalities to ensure optimal and appropriate patient care delivery and cost-effective use of resources
• Analyzes data and reporting of information - to identify the need for change in assigned areas that may include minimizing risk and ensuring effectiveness of clinical quality improvement
• Provides educational and supportive interventions - in conjunction with the Veteran - spouses - family members/caregivers and others that are involved in the Veteran's care.