Physician (Cardiothoracic Surgery)- Section Chief

Veterans Health Administration • Miami, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Miami VA Healthcare System’s Surgery Service is seeking an experienced Cardiothoracic Surgeon Section Chief to contribute to quality care and the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. The role requires strong communication and teamwork skills and adaptability to the needs of a growing medical center.

The Section Chief provides adult patients with evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, and pre-, intra-, and postoperative surgical care for conditions affecting the heart, blood vessels in the chest, and other thoracic organs. Care includes treatment of coronary artery disease, cancers of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall, disorders of the great vessels and heart valves, congenital anomalies, mediastinal tumors, diaphragm disease, airway conditions, and chest injuries, including trauma. The physician performs corrective and critical-care operations, prescribes or recommends tests, diagnostic studies, and medications in accordance with applicable policy and scope of practice, and supervises medical students, residents, and/or fellows.

The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor; various shifts may be required temporarily or permanently based on facility and patient-care needs. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying accredited cardiothoracic surgery residency or fellowship training, or another qualifying training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and meet the position’s physical requirements.
• Meet applicable background/security, drug-screening, onboarding, identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Ability to perform the essential functions while physically, emotionally, and mentally stable and without hazard to self or others.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification in Thoracic Surgery or Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery is preferred.
• Cardiothoracic experience.

Responsibilities

• Admit, evaluate, diagnose, and consult with adult patients with conditions affecting the heart, thoracic blood vessels, and other organs in the thorax and chest.
• Provide preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative surgical care, including care for coronary artery disease, thoracic cancers, great-vessel and heart-valve abnormalities, congenital anomalies, mediastinal tumors, diaphragm disease, airway conditions, and chest injuries, including trauma.
• Perform corrective and critical-care operations, including chest wall tumor resections, tracheostomies, lung transplants, and pulmonary embolectomies.
• Prescribe or recommend laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and medications in accordance with current medical center, VHA, and DEA policy and within scope of practice.
• Supervise medical students, residents, and/or fellows.

Benefits

• 50% recruitment incentive approved for this position.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree