Physician (Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist)

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards .

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized
Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment):
EDRP Authorized: Contact Lydia Byer, @Lydia.Byer@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
The Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center is recruiting full-time Gastroenterology/Hepatology Physician to work on a multi-disciplinary team in an academic-affiliated GI service. The ideal candidate is a BC/BE Gastroenterologist with a focus in Hepatology - including expertise in the care of patients with fatty liver disease, alcohol related liver disease, chronic hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Care is provided within a multi-disciplinary team setting consisting of Physicians (including GI fellowship trainees), Physician Assistants, RNs and Medical Instrument Technicians. We have affiliations with The George Washington University Medical Center, Georgetown University Medical School, Howard University and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Veteran services are provided in an outpatient and inpatient setting. Physicians with additional training/expertise in inflammatory bowel disease, motility, or other GI subspecialties are also encouraged to apply.

Major duties/functions include but are not limited to:

• The Gastroenterology/Hepatology physician's actual clinical activity shall be a function of the VAMC Executive Committee of the Medical Staff clinical privileging process and the overall demand for services.
• Provide Gastroenterology/Hepatology services required for VA beneficiaries.
• All labor and services shall be provided including management, supervision, teaching, consultations and reports.
• Provides direct hands-on patient care of patients with general GI disorders and acute/chronic liver disease including inpatient and outpatient care. The majority of the physician's clinical time will be providing care to patients with liver disease, with remaining clinical time providing care for patients with GI disorders, which includes the performance of endoscopy.
• Provide on-call coverage of emergency consultations of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology service during the weekdays, weekends and holidays as part of a rotation. d. Provides clinical guidance over the phone, by Secure Messaging and through the mail. Ensures accurate documentation of medical assessments and observations.
• Responsible for supervising and teaching GI fellows, medical residents and students. May be required to oversee mid-level practitioners, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
• Establishes inter-personal and intra-departmental relationships to enhance optimal patient care.
• Demonstrates competent and effective oral and written communication.
• Provides appropriate patient/family member teaching and education; evaluates effectiveness and level of patient/family member understanding of teaching provider.
• Utilizes the CPRS computer software/program for entering and signing of medical orders such as laboratory studies, radiological studies, etc.
• Maintains familiarity and compliance with hospital infection prevention policies and procedures, ensuring the use of antiseptic methods of all in-clinic procedures.
• Ensures a safe work environment and employee safe work habits.
• Make referrals to subspecialists when their expertise is needed for diagnoses, treatments or procedures.
• The provider shall inform patients of the required referral or consult.
• All other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM - 4:30PM with on call coverage approximately every 7 weeks.

Requirements

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 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.
• Physical Requirements. In addition to VA Handbook 5019 please see below.

Preferred Requirement/Experience:

• Board certified preferred but will accept board eligible in Gastroenterology with a focus in Hepatology
• Experience with grant-funded clinical/basic research is a plus and highly desired.

Grade Determination: Staff Physician Requirements.

Staff Physician. None beyond the basic requirements. The individual must qualify to perform duties as a physician, have completed an accredited residency and/or possess experience which has qualified the individual to perform general duties and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. Staff physicians may also include attendings who train physician residents assigned in facilities with residency training programs, and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine.

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: The work requires some physical exertion including periods of walking, standing, regular and recurring bending, stooping, lifting objects (up to approximately 25lbs), and assisting patients on and off examination tables. In addition, must meet the requirements in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Financial Disclosure Report:Not required

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .