Summary

The General Surgeon is expected to follow each patient through the full continuum of care to include admissions - discharges - performing histories and physicals - assisting the coordination of diagnostic tests and procedures prior to surgery - education and counseling of the patient and family members. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

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
• Education: 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
• License: 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
• (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) leading to eligibility for board certification - OR - (2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) leading to eligibility for board certification - OR - (3) 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 or post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States - OR (4) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of independent practice int he 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
• (5) Exceptions: (a) 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 (that is - 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
• (b) 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: Board Certification in Surgery Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - applicants must be able to perform the duties as a Physician
• Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.) - light carrying (under 15 lbs.) - use of fingers - both hands required - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - Specific visual requirement 20/50 one - 20/100 other (glasses permitted) - hearing (aid permitted) - mental and emotional stability - ability to hear conversational voice - working with hands in water - working alone - protracted - or irregular hours of work.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until November 30 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 26 - 2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• Major Duties include: Responsibilities include performing general surgical operations - outpatient ambulatory surgical procedures - outpatient - and inpatient general surgery consultations
• The General Surgeon assures the provision of high quality and safe patient care both in and outside the operating room
• Clinical management and organization of General Surgery assessment and preparation of patients for surgery
• Initial evaluation and overall workup of general surgery patients
• Informs veterans to the risks as well as benefits of upcoming surgical procedures
• Enters notes electronically in a paperless medical record system
• Provision of appropriate post-operative care
• Participation in peer review and quality improvement activities
• Committee membership
• Understands and abides by the Medical Bylaws of this facility
• Other duties as assigned
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm - hours may change based on the needs of the facility
• On-call duties as required
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized for highly qualified candidates 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 Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP) - which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements - loan repayments - sign-on bonus contracts - Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years)
• For additional information and eligibility requirements - contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov.