Physician - Orthopedic

Veterans Health Administration • Salem, VA

14h

About The Position

The Orthopedic Physician works within an interdisciplinary team of physicians, physician extenders, technicians, and administrative and clerical staff. The Orthopedics Section is managed by the Section Chief of Orthopedics, who reports to the Service Chief of Surgery. The physician is accountable for providing comprehensive surgical and clinical services, supervising residents, and complying with established policies within the Department of Surgery and Orthopedics Section.

This is an open continuous announcement. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, considered as vacancies arise, and kept on file for 90 days. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and may include on-call coverage. The position has no physician employment contract or significant restriction on moonlighting. It is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

The position may be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and approval. Applications for EDRP must be submitted within four months of appointment; the program office determines approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years). Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the incentive.

VA total rewards described in the announcement include competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, 50–55 days of paid time off per year (including annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence), a federal pension and 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions, federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance, possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement for full-time board-certified physicians, and free liability protection with tail coverage.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately accredited or approved 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 residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an alternative training and independent-practice pathway specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and are subject to background/security investigation and pre-appointment drug testing; refusal of required drug testing results in denial of VA employment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA health care personnel.
• Must complete the online onboarding process and all application requirements in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive orthopedic care, follow-up care for existing conditions, and management of emergency conditions.
• Provide pre-operative and post-operative orthopedic services, including hospital rounds.
• Perform orthopedic surgery in the operating room and minor surgery room.
• Conduct weekly outpatient and inpatient clinics.
• Provide non-operative orthopedic hospital rounds for orthopedic patients.
• Document care in appropriate records, including history and physicals, progress notes, operative notes, and discharge summaries.
• Critique morbidity and mortality information and documentation.
• Alternate on-call coverage with other VAMC staff orthopedists.
• Educate physicians, staff, residents, and students in basic and complex orthopedic services, surgery, and therapy.
• Participate in clinical research protocols developed locally or at other institutions for multicenter studies.
• Assist residents and students with selecting, developing, and preparing abstracts for presentation at meetings.
• Perform administrative duties required for the proper functioning of the Orthopedic Section.
• Supervise residents.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (student loan repayment), subject to eligibility and program approval, with awards up to $200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 federal holidays, and possible five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

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