Summary

In collaboration with the Associate Chief of Staff for Surgery (i.e. - Chief of Surgery) - the Deputy Chief of Surgery is responsible for maintaining all operations and direct reports within Surgical and Perioperative Services.

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: Training and clinical practice in either colorectal surgery (both benign and malignant conditions) -Orthopedics - or Urology
• Evidence of prior leadership experience at the Division/Section level or at the Service/Departmental level is desired
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Activity requirements are those that occur during the course of standard bedside and operative patient
• Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• straight pulling (4 hours)
• pushing (4 hours)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (2 hours);standing (7 hours)
• kneeling (1 hour)
• repeated bending (4 hours)
• both legs required
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• far-vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• mental and emotional stability required.

Duties

• The Deputy Chief of Surgery will provide direct supervision to the Section Chiefs and all clinical providers within those sections
• The incumbent will be the point of contact for physicians and clinical staff assigned to the department
• This individual will work with staff and physicians to optimize the utilization of clinical systems - infrastructure - and resources through education and training - quality and outcomes - and providing support in accordance with organizational goals
• The incumbent will work closely with hospital staff - department directors - and physicians to ensure that the highest standards of quality and services are maintained
• The incumbent also serves as a liaison between customers - Information Technology staff - and other departments and services
• This individual will also work directly with all levels of the organization on projects - committees - and teams to meet the overall needs of the service line and the facility
• Topics of communication will include but will not be limited to the following: - Strategic Planning - Operational Considerations - Human Resources Issues - Budget - Equipment Management Issues - Environmental Issues - Process improvement Issues - Liaison activities with other departments and directorates - as needed In addition to administrative duties - the incumbent will provide inpatient and outpatient consultative services in surgery including operative care - supervising residents - and answering secure messages and phone calls
• S/he will also serve as the attending of record for patients on whom they (or their colleagues in the section) have been consulted and/or provided outpatient or inpatient surgical services and will supervise trainees in both the inpatient and outpatient settings
• The individual is expected to remain up to date on all licensing and board requirements and all VA training and employment requirements and to ensure the same for all clinical staff in their section
• The work to be performed must be provided by a physician who is board certified/board eligible in the respective surgical specialty
• S/he must be available to examine - diagnose - treat - and manage patients with common surgical illnesses in the respective surgical specialty according to evidence-based practice and VHA standards - usual and acceptable methods - surgical techniques - and specialty-specific management guidelines
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00AM - 4:30PM - (subject to change based on agency's needs)