Make a Heartfelt Difference: Non-Invasive Cardiologist at the South Texas VA Healthcare System

Make a Heartfelt Difference: Serve Our Nation's Heroes in San Antonio

**Are you a passionate non-invasive cardiologist seeking a fulfilling career with a strong work-life balance?** The South Texas VA Healthcare System in vibrant San Antonio, Texas, offers a unique opportunity to combine your expertise with the rewarding experience of serving our nation's heroes.

**Your Impact:**

* **Serve with Purpose:** Care for Veterans and witness their resilience firsthand as you improve their heart health.
* **Cutting-Edge Cardiology:** Utilize advanced technology for echocardiograms, stress tests, and more, aiding in accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
* **Supportive Collaboration:** Work alongside a dedicated team of healthcare professionals committed to Veteran care.
* **Lasting Difference:** Your expertise will directly improve Veterans' lives, helping them live longer, healthier lives.

**Thriving in San Antonio:**

* **Work-Life Balance:** Enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly environment with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and cultural experiences.
* **Rich Culture & History:** Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, from the Alamo to world-class museums.
* **Outdoor Paradise:** Enjoy year-round sunshine with endless recreation options, including biking the River Walk, exploring scenic trails, and enjoying the city's numerous parks.
* **Affordable Living:** Enjoy a lower cost of living compared to many major cities, allowing you to stretch your budget further.
* **Family-Friendly Community:** Raise a family in a welcoming environment with excellent schools and activities for all ages.

**About the Position:**

You will join the Audie L. Murphy Heart Center's interdisciplinary team, collaborating with specialists and healthcare providers in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

**Responsibilities include:**

* Staffing trans-esophageal echocardiograms
* Reading and teaching transthoracic echocardiograms and nuclear studies
* Supervising and working alongside cardiology fellows and residents
* Maintaining a weekly continuity clinic
* Staffing the inpatient CCU and cardiology consult services

**Qualifications:**

* Minimum 1 year of clinical practice as a non-invasive cardiologist
* Board certification/equivalent in adult cardiovascular disease and echocardiography
* Board certification/equivalent or working understanding of nuclear medicine studies and cardiac CT angiography
* Willingness to work with and teach trainees
* Familiarity with electronic medical records (preferably CPRS)
* Interest in both inpatient and outpatient cardiology
* Ability to function in a multidisciplinary team
* Valid/Unrestricted State Medical License

**Competitive Benefits:**

* Salary range: $300,000 - $390,000
* Education debt repayment program (up to $200,000)
* Diverse patient population
* State-of-the-art facilities and equipment
* Health, dental, and vision insurance (partially VA-paid premiums)
* Flexible Spending Accounts and life insurance options
* Federal Retirement Plan with matching contributions
* Paid time off: 26 days annual leave, 13 sick days, 10 federal holidays, and 5 days for CME courses

**Ready to Make a Difference?**

Combine your passion for cardiology with the honor of serving Veterans in a welcoming and vibrant city. We look forward to hearing from you!

**South Texas VA Healthcare System**

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

South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) is comprised of two inpatient campuses: the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio and the Kerrville VA Hospital in Kerrville, Texas. STVHCS serves one of the largest primary service areas in the nation and is part of the VA Heart of Texas Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 17), with offices located in Arlington, Texas. South Texas provides health care services for 80,000 unique Veterans. The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital (ALMMVH), named after the nation’s most decorated World War II hero, is a quaternary care facility, which is affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Comprehensive health care is provided through acute medical, surgical, mental health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, geriatric, and primary care services. Comprised of a Spinal Cord Injury Center, a Community Living Center, a Domiciliary, and a Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). ALMMVH provides quaternary services including bone marrow transplantation, open-heart surgery, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. As a Level II Research facility ALMMVH has projects that include aging, cardiac surgery, cancer, diabetes and HIV. The facility has one of three National Institutes of Health sponsored clinical research centers in the VA. In addition, the Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center (GRECC) is a “Center of Excellence.” The Kerrville VA Hospital (KVAH), located 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, provides primary care, some specialty care, geriatric evaluation and management, palliative care, and long-term care services with a Community Living Center. Outpatient clinics offer primary care and some specialty care while sharing resources with each other and their respective communities. When required, Veterans are referred to ALMMVH or KVAH for specialty care including medicine, surgery, neuropsychiatry, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and long-term care services.