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 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
• (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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) 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 (3) 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
• 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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Experience with cardiac stimulation devices like pacemakers defibrillators - off-pump CABG
• Experience with TAVR
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: In Accordance With VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov
• 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 providedContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Major duties and Responsibilities: Provides clinical support and surgical interventions to the Cardiothoracic and Thoracic Surgery programs in the Buffalo campus - and participates in the surgical and clinical care of eligible Veterans
• The incumbent needs to have extensive experience in surgical interventions to include - but not limited to: CABG Mitral and Aortic valve repair Resections of tumors and strictures Thymectomy with VATS Insertion of ventricular assit device including ECMO Repair of Lung laceration of injury Thoracotomy for exploration and biopsy Must possess excellent interpersonal skills to work in an environment with other physicians serving a veteran population with significant pathology
• Provides care to a high population of cardiothoracic patients and emergent surgical interventions
• Must have expertise in the area of comprehensive cardiothoracic surgery
• Patient care will be delivered in both inpatient and outpatient settings in examining and treating all types
• This position will involve interaction with clinical and administrative departments of the facility
• Must provide call coverage and urgent clinical services
• Additional duties may include supervision of medical students and residents in both the out-patient clinic and during surgical procedures
• Will work closely with midlevel providers including nurse practitioners and physician assistants
• You will participate in quality improvement activities and foster a high level of patient and staff satisfaction
• We have a robust research program
• Duties include but are not limited to: Provide guidance - supervision and teaching for surgery residents and medical students - as well as provide education and training - in close collaboration with our University Affiliate
• Participates in the weekly Morbidity and Mortality Surgical Conferences
• Oversee and be responsible for participating in the attending call schedule Provides timely clinical evaluations of assigned staff members (OPPEs) and trainees (evaluations)
• Assures that in-patient and out-patient consultations are appropriately addressed and action taken is in a timely fashion - and that encounters are appropriately completed at the time of service by staff members
• Provides appropriate and timely charting with documentation of patient assessments and plans - provides dictation of operative reports - dictation of discharge summaries - and documentation of trainee supervision
• Participates in VAMC Committees as assigned by the Chief of Surgery
• Participates in peer reviews
• Provides and oversees comprehensive care of cardiothoracic and thoracic surgery patients in the outpatient - inpatient - and Emergency Department settings to include pre-operative evaluation - diagnostic work-up - surgical intervention - post-operative care - evaluation and treatment of complications - discharge planning
• Actively involved in improvement of quality measures such as EPRP - timely access to care - OR efficiency - cancellation rates - length of stay - etc
• Other related duties as assigned
• Position reports directly to the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Note: The incumbent is an active surgeon - who takes calls - and performs surgeries/operations.This position is mainly a clinical position with minimal administrative responsibilities
• Work Schedule: Full-Time - Monday- Friday 08:00 AM to 04:30 PM (compressed schedules available)