Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist for Veterans at the Nations Capital

Job Description

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

The Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Washington DC is seeking a highly qualified Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists full time. The position requires a successful completion of an Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship program or alternate pathway, as well as training in Transesophageal Echocardiography. The Candidate must have Certification, or he/she is in the process of acquiring Certification in Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography. A candidate with a Testamur status will be considered. The candidate should have a broad clinical experience and interest in practicing in a complex and high-acuity clinical environment. The Washington DC VAMC provides best-practice surgical and procedural care to veterans ranging from common outpatient procedures to complex surgeries (general surgery, ENT, urologic, orthopedic, plastic and reconstructive, cardiothoracic, vascular, gynecologic, GI, EP etc.). Priority is given to candidates with additional training and/or experience in the following anesthesia subspecialties:

Perioperative anesthesia services (preoperative anesthesia clinic, ERAS protocols, perioperative surgical home etc.)
Acute perioperative pain management (performance of peripheral nerve blocks under ultrasound guidance, peripheral nerve catheter placements, perioperative pain rounds, etc.)
Advanced cardiothoracic anesthesia training. Applicants must have a strong desire to teach residents, medical students, student nurse anesthetists, and other learners in the VA system. Anesthesiologists participate in provision of clinical anesthesia services in supervising CRNAs/residents in an Anesthesia Care Team Model, self-administration of anesthesia care, departmental development (M&M, QI projects, etc.), collaborative projects with other departments and/or avenues available to research and toward publication. Candidates will be considered for a George Washington University faculty appointment through the department of Anesthesiology at George Washington University. Rank and promotion will be dependent on academic background and clinical and educational experience as per George Washington University criteria. This position will provide the opportunity to join a group of energetic and dynamic anesthesia providers aligned with VA's Mission, Vision and Core Values.

Responsibilities include:

Direct patient care in cardiothoracic and general anesthesiology and teaching/supervising of anesthesiology residents, SRNAs, Medical Students and other trainees. Cardiac case mix will include open heart, high risk thoracic/vascular, electrophysiology, and cardiology cases (TEE, cardioversions).

Duties of the position include, but are not limited to:

Initial evaluation and overall workups, and focused history & physicals of medical/surgical patients as needed, including evaluation of patients as part of our preoperative anesthesia clinic.
Peri-operative anesthetic care to patients, including pre-operative assessment, intra-operative anesthetic administration and monitoring, and post-anesthesia care in an anesthesia team model with CRNA and/or anesthesia residents.
Rotating evening/weekend call coverage equally among staff anesthesiologists.
Teaching of anesthesia residents, medical students, student nurse anesthetists, and other trainees.
Expertise with a wide variety of anesthesia techniques and procedures including regional and spinal anesthesia.
Opportunity for participation in clinical research for interested candidates.
Other duties as assigned.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus):  May be Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be Authorized
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment):  Yes
EDRP Authorized: the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

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 restrictions on moonlighting

Work Schedule:  7 am - 3:30 pm Eastern Standard Time based on the needs of the service. The workweek is Monday through Friday with evening, night, weekend and holiday call shared equally with staff anesthesiologists and a cardiac team.

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
You may be required to serve a probationary period.
Subject to background/security investigation.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 to 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 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 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR
[(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), OR
(3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), 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.
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 or fee-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.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Board Certified.

Additional Requirement:  The Candidate must have Certification, or he/she is in the process of acquiring Certification in Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography. A candidate with a Testamur status will be considered.

Preferred Experience:  The candidate should have a broad clinical experience and interest in practicing in a complex and high-acuity clinical environment.

Reference:  VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting 15-44 pounds, moderate carrying 15-44 pounds, pushing, reaching above shoulders, use of fingers, walking, standing, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, work in constant noise.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 15.

Education

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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:

Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted.
For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.]

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Additional information

"Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care."

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on a resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information please contact Job poster.

About the Washington DC VA Medical Center

The more than 2,000 employees and volunteers of the Washington DC VA Medical Center take great pride in providing world-class health care to all Veterans in an environment that fosters compassion, commitment and service.

Our mission is to respect and serve our Nation’s Veterans by honoring them with excellent health care at our main facility and at our five community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) located in Ft. Belvoir, VA; Southeast Washington, DC; and in Greenbelt, Charlotte Hall and Camp Springs, MD. The Medical Center also operates a Community Resource and Referral Center for homeless and at-risk Veterans which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Medical Center’s culture and presence is transforming to meet the needs of more than 106,903 Veterans who are enrolled for VA health care in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. In FY 2013, the Medical Center had more than one-million (1,263,472) patient encounters and we are excited about expanding programs and offering services to meet the unique needs of Veterans.

The Medical Center
The Washington DC VA Medical Center, located within sight of the Nation’s Capitol, is the only health care system that specifically provides care to Veterans. Offering tertiary care in a Complexity Level IB hospital, allows ours staff to provide comprehensive primary and specialty care in medicine, surgery, neurology and psychiatry. The Medical Center has 175 acute care beds, 30 Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment beds, and a 20-suite Fisher House. Also, the Medical Center is home to an adjacent 120-bed Community Living Center which provides Veterans with geriatric long-term care, hospice and palliative care.

Specialized Services
We provide specialized services and care for Veterans such as: invasive and noninvasive cardiology, home based primary care, women’s health, MRI, PET/CT center, interventional radiology, renal care, trauma services, nutritional services, homeless outreach, compensated work therapy, substance abuse treatment, recreation therapy, and alternative therapies as well as a wide variety of Telehealth services.

We are home to the VISN 5 Polytrauma Network Site and Polytrauma Amputation Network Site and ensure the coordination of lifelong rehabilitation services to Veterans with brain injuries and limb loss, as they progress from acute care to their homes.

OEF/OIF/OND Veterans
The Medical Center’s OEF/OIF/OND Program Office is ready to assist returning Veterans with care coordination as well as VA benefits, claims issues, and support to help ease their transition from active duty to civilian life. Together, the Case Manager and Veteran or Service Member will work as a team to deal with the physical, emotional, and social concerns associated with being a combat Veteran.

VA Benefits

Paid Time Off:

26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
11 paid Federal holidays per year
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

Facility & Address

Washington DC VA Medical Center
50 Irving St. NW. Washington DC 20422

Contact Information

Nelson Nunez National Healthcare Recruitment Consultant

Email:Click to email

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Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist for Veterans at the Nations Capital