Summary

James A. Haley VA Medical Center VA Healthcare System's Spinal Cord Injury Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Physician (Spinal Cord Injury). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center.

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
• 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
• 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
• Board certified in Physical Medicine Rehabilitation or Internal Medicine or Spinal Cord Injury medicine
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019
• This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health
• This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs. - carrying objects up to 15 lbs. - frequent reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - hands and legs - use of cranes and motor vehicles - walking & standing up to 8 hours - bending and climbing and able to hear whisper
• The incumbent must be physically - emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Duties

• Applicant's Note: This announcement has been amended to change the closing date from 12/31/2025 due to scheduled system updates
• This announcement has been amended to remove the bargaining unit status because on August 6 - 2025 - pursuant to EO 14251 - the Secretary terminated master collective bargaining agreement
• This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): EDRP Authorized: Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov if you have any questions or concerns
• Learn more
• 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 Duties include but not limited to the following
• Participates in any of the SCI/D clinics and inpatient services as directed by Chief - SCI/D Provides leadership of the interdisciplinary patient care services in the clinic
• Provides medical care - including care for continuing - unstable - or complex medical conditions - directly through arrangements with other physicians
• In collaboration with the team - has authority and responsibility for the composition and duration of the person's served in the SCI/D program
• In collaboration with the rehabilitation team - ensures the adequacy of the individual treatment prescriptions for all persons served
• Provides both management and direction for the composition and duration of the person's SCI/D program to ensure that it is consistent with the persons predicted outcomes
• Participates in pain and spasticity management Participates in the development and modification of the Spinal Cord System of Care program
• Delivers care to the veteran requiring SCI/D services
• Collaborates on a frequent basis with nursing and the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to facilitate the operation of the ward and or clinic to meet common goals
• Responsible to adhere to physicians' schedules and coverage systems
• Performs the administrative components of patient care management - such as documentation of progress notes - reports - summaries - signatures - and consultation referrals for outpatients
• Participates in JCHA - CARF activities - and any other relevant activities
• Participates in quality improvement activities
• Meets continuing education requirements
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 4pm to 8am (2-3 days a week)
• Also occasional weekend day coverage from 8am to 4:30pm
• (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).