Cardiologist - Heart Failure

Cardiologist – Heart Failure Physician Opportunity – Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System

**Eligible for $200,000 in student loan repayment and hiring incentive**

*Highly qualified green card, J1, and H1B candidates will be considered - please reach out for more information*

Description:  The Cardiologist will have training and experience managing advanced heart failure patients with formal heart failure fellowship training preferred. The Cardiologist participates in inpatient and outpatient quality care, teaching, and research related to cardiovascular diseases. Candidate will have experience and training in novel advanced pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic heart failure treatment modalities. Candidate will apply national and VA guidelines to patient screening, surveillance and management of cardiovascular diseases. Position requires candidate to work as an attending physician, responsible for supervising University of Pittsburgh trainees-Internal Medicine residents and Cardiology fellows.

Practice Highlights: The VAPHS Cardiology Division is strongly committed to the academic mission and the mentoring of physician-scientists and next-generation scientific leaders and as such this position may be offered an academic position at the University of Pittsburgh through separate negotiations.

The clinical program is additionally nourished by close interaction with the Heart and Vascular Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), where some VA faculty also practice, and by UPMC cardiology fellows who rotate at the VA Hospital as part of their ACGME-accredited fellowship training, and is strongly committed to the academic mission and the mentoring of physician-scientists and next-generation scientific leaders.

This is an exciting career opportunity to work in a dynamic academic Division in one of the VA Hospital System's largest referral centers for cardiovascular medicine.

• Prescribes appropriate treatments, supervise, teach and provide consultation to other health care providers (nurse practitioners, medical students and residents rotating through cardiology service and cardiology fellows). Provides consultations to the medical and support staff on cardiology issues when needed
• Attend Cardiology Inpatient Service, outpatient clinics, EKG, Stress EKG, and performs other procedures as appropriate; attends staff meetings; performance of chart reviews; coordinates with other providers regarding patient care issues; documents electronic health record; performs history and physicals within 24 hours of request; performs outpatient encounters; documents consult notes; and processes new and renewal prescriptions
• Performs echocardiography, right heart catheterizations, exercise and pharmacologic stress testing, Holter monitor and electrocardiogram interpretation, diagnosis and management of arrhythmias and Ischemic Heart Disease
• Able to identify, assist with work up of pre- and post- LVAD and heart transplant evaluations
• Co-manage post-heart transplant and post-LVAD patients with other VA and community hospitals
• Takes an active role in education and in the evaluation of the patient, deciding treatment/care options
• Serves on service level and/or facility committees as needed and participates in the facility peer review program
• Maintains professional competency, courtesy and flexibility to provide the necessary services of this specialty to our Veteran population
• Participates in the expanded use of clinical video telehealth (VVC and CVT)/electronic consultation (e-Consult) to improve access to cardiology care
• May serve on committees, participates in quality assurance programs, assist facility in meeting established performance measures in the areas of Cardiology and such other duties assigned by the Chief of Medicine
• Works closely with all staff to ensure compliance with National, Network, and local performance standards

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm; Weekend, evening and holiday calls may be expected.

Preferred Experience:

• Board eligible/certified in Cardiology

Benefits Highlights:

• Student loan repayment up to $200,000 on eligible loans
• Regular salary increases and annual performance bonuses
• 50-55 days of paid time off (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 Federal holidays, up to 5 days for CME)
• Three-tiered Federal retirement program (vested after 5 years) with VA contributing 16.6% to FERS and up to 5% matching for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) (401k)
• Federal health/dental/vision/long-term care insurance offered
• Malpractice insurance with tail coverage provided
• No physician employment contracts and no significant restrictions on moonlighting

Interested physicians may send CVs to Michael.Hahn4@VA.gov

Michael Hahn

Physician Recruitment

US Dept of Veterans Affairs

Pittsburgh VA Medical Center

(412) 689-2414

Michael.Hahn4@VA.gov

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is an integrated healthcare system that proudly serves the Veteran population throughout the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. It is our mission to care for America’s Veterans and provide them with excellent health care.

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System consists of three divisions: a major medical and surgical tertiary care facility, a behavioral health facility, and a community living center and a Veterans recovery center, all complemented by five community based outpatient clinics.

The city of Pittsburgh has been repeatedly ranked as the most livable US city by such publications as The Economist, Places Rated Almanac, and Forbes Magazine. The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System offers a unique opportunity to practice in a leading US medical community within an affordable and thriving city.