Gastroenterologist opportunity in Prescott, Arizona! $200K Student Loan Repayment, Work/Life Balance, Outstanding VA Benefits, and Much More!

Gastroenterologist opportunity in Prescott, Arizona! $200K Student Loan Repayment, Work/Life Balance, Outstanding VA Benefits, and Much More!

Join the most noble mission in healthcare by helping Veterans thrive! The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) has an opening for a Gastroenterologist in picturesque Prescott, Arizona. NAVAHCS serves the healthcare needs of more than 34,000 Veterans spanning across more than 65,000 square miles of Northern Arizona. NAVAHCS has maintained a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) since the rating system started including VA hospitals in the annual national review in 2023. Our medical center includes an 85-bed community living center, a 15-bed unit for acute care, and a 120-bed domiciliary that is part of our Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program.

Work Schedule: 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (4/10-hour shifts). No working nights, weekends, or call!

Compensation and Benefits:

Pay: Competitive salary + annual performance bonus + regular salary increases.

Paid-Time Off: 50-55 days of annual 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).

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): is a student loan payment reimbursement program up to $200,000*

CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement.**

Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided.

Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restrictions on moonlighting.

*Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions or assistance.

* *Must be board-certified to receive the 5 days off for CME.

Employment Requirements:

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine.

Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory. Must maintain a current, full, active, and unrestricted license.

U.S. Citizenship required: non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

About Prescott, Arizona:

Prescott, Arizona is the place you want to work, live, and shop!

When you are searching for the ideal mountain town experience that boasts Western Heritage, outdoor activities, community festivals and unique dining options, Prescott is the one destination that offers it all. Western culture and charm make the downtown and Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza a big draw for visitors. Newcomers note the friendliness of the citizens and the strong sense of community here.

Prescott is located half-way between Phoenix and Flagstaff. At a mile high in elevation, Prescott remains about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix and 10 to 15 degrees warmer than Flagstaff. It’s the perfect mild, four-season community.

Prescott’s natural beauty is reflected in several lakes, five in all: Watson, Willow, Lynx, Granite, Basin, and Goldwater. Prescott is also known for natural outdoor features such as Thumb Butte, the Granite Dells, Granite Mountain, and Prescott National Forest. Each of these areas has well-maintained hiking trails, typically for non-motorized exploration. Prescott is a mecca for outdoor recreation, including hiking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, and mountain biking, just to name a few.

But wait, there's more! The area offers a variety of shopping and dining choices – whether you're looking for antiques or modern art galleries, you will find what you are looking for. Many unique, locally owned businesses offer a variety of products and services. In addition, there are, of course, a wide selection of nationally recognized stores available.

If you're interested in this opportunity, please e-mail your CV to Timothy A. Bernau at timothy.bernau@va.gov or call 623-920-1304!

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

About the Phoenix VA Health Care System 

Basking in sunshine 300 days a year in the aptly named Valley of the Sun, The Phoenix VA Health Care System is located near downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Although renowned for its warm, dry climate, Arizona’s capitol offers much more than great weather.  The Phoenix metro area, now America’s 5^th largest city, offers affordable housing and a relaxed, informal southwestern lifestyle.

Diversity abounds.  Greater Phoenix has an abundance of golf courses, parks, public swimming pools and bike paths.  For the sports fans Phoenix is home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, NFL's Arizona Cardinals; major league baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks and the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes.  Across the state, more than 11 million acres of national forest lands provide a varied playground for those who enjoy skiing, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking or camping….for the more adventurous, there's white water rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon!   

For city dwellers, the valley boasts exceptional shopping and retail establishments, restaurants and night life.  The valley is also rapidly gaining prominence as a Mecca for the arts.  Phoenix possesses world class museums, a ballet, symphony orchestra and several theater companies.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System proudly serves Veterans in central Arizona at its main medical center and outpatient VA Health Care Clinics.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is joining a growing number of VA health care facilities in adopting a new method of health care delivery called Patient Aligned Care Teams or PACTs.  This system is even more patient-centered and focuses heavily on quick and easy communication between patients and their health care providers.