Summary

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and US Citizens (1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System employees; 2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees; 3rd Area of Consideration - All others: Non-Citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens).

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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience: Minimal 2 years of specialized experience as a Neurologist American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN) preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 pounds
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (1 hour)
• Standing (4 hours)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Emotional and mental stability
• Radiant energy
• Electrical energy
• Slippery or uneven walking surfaces
• Working with hands in water
• Working closely with others
• Working alone
• Protracted or irregular hours of work.

Duties

• This is an Open Continuous Announcement and may be extended beyond the current closing date until the position is filled
• Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals - as additional vacancies occur and/or on an as-needed basis during the duration of the announcement
• Once a selection is made and offer is accepted the announcement may close pending no additional vacancies
• 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): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact April Hightower - April.Hightower1@va.gov - 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 restriction on moonlighting Major Duties/Responsibilities: The neurologist must have extensive experience treating a variety of health conditions and environmentally linked conditions - such as post covid neurological sequelae - fibromyalgia - foreign toxic or viral exposure - and post viral chronic neuroimmune diseases
• The neurologist must have extensive experience in general neurology and traumatic brain injury - acute stroke - headaches - Alzheimer's - dementia - epilepsy - seizures - ALS - brain tumors - Bell's palsy - movement disorders - Cerebral aneurysms - Gillian-Barre syndrome - Hydrocephalus - Lumbar disk disease - Meningitis - Muscle Sclerosis - Muscular Dystrophy - Parkinson's - and Amyloidosis
• The neurologist is expected to provide visionary leadership to the department and oversee the departmental strategic planning to improve the quality of the neurological clinical - educational - and research programs
• Provides patient consults - inpatient admissions - ER consults - acute stroke management - ambulatory clinic - VVC tele-health visits - e-consults - patient phone calls - managing EMR in box - answering patient messages
• Provides patient care - support - which is appropriate to the cognitive - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of young adults (18-44 years) - middle adults (45-64 years) - and older adults (65-older patients)
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide neurological care appropriate to the age of the patients served in the assigned service areas
• Effectively communicates with and utilizes other disciplines (ex
• nursing - medicine) to facilitate treatment planning and implementation
• Effectively communicates with and utilizes community agencies to facilitate treatment - discharge planning - and continuity of care
• Collaborates with a variety of community agencies and engages in problem resolution
• Willingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8am-4:30pm