Staff Physician (Ophthalmology)

Veterans Health Administration • Palo Alto, CA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The position of Staff Surgeon, Ophthalmology with special expertise in Comprehensive Ophthalmology at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Heath Care System (VAPAHCS). The incumbent, who serves as Staff Surgeon in Ophthalmology, reports directly to the Chief of the Ophthalmology Service who in turn reports directly to the Chief of Surgery, and is responsible for providing medical and surgical services to eligible veterans and assist administrating the section of Ophthalmology.

Requirements

• 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory.
• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• 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.
• 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Complete TB Testing and Immunization evaluations.
• 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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted.
• Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
• For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated.

Nice To Haves

• NOTE : VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.
• NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Responsibilities

• Evaluation and management of Ophthalmology patients.
• Evaluation of patients in the ophthalmology clinic, urgent care clinic, emergency room, intensive care unit, operating room, and/or from other inpatient services.
• Supervising trainees including medical students, residents, and fellows in all of these settings.
• Providing on-call coverage twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, in accordance with the call schedule.
• Practicing safety, environmental, and/or infection control methods.
• Instructing other personnel assigned to health care team on preventive medicine programs and other appropriate medical activities and functions.
• Performing procedures that require an ophthalmologist, including intravitreal injections and Argon and YAG laser procedures.
• Maintenance of clinical activity statistics, and conduct of quality management studies as indicated by Ophthalmology Surgery program needs.
• Participation in educational rounds and conferences including weekly Ophthalmology Rounds and resident teaching conferences.
• Responsible for the daily provision of the ophthalmology clinical service as directed by the Section Chief, Ophthalmology in the inpatient, OR, and/or outpatient setting.
• Responsible for maintaining clinical flow efficiency in the outpatient setting, keeping clinic and operative wait times low.
• Develop and write policies/procedures specific to interventions and subject monitoring.
• Work with the safety committee to make the surgical environment safer for all personnel from sharps and biohazards.
• Supports and enhances VAPAHCS philosophy and goals.
• Serve on the hospital committee assignments as necessary.
• Develop educational materials and provide didactic and hands-on teaching sessions for medical student training.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Review our benefits
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What This Job Offers

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