Summary

Orlando VA Healthcare System's Medicine Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Rheumatologist (Section Chief). 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 (Rhematology) 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 Certification: Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA
• however - three circumstances in VA require physician board certification (Rheumatology): (1) If the position being filled is required to be a supervisor for medical students or physician residents (including fellows) - the LCME - ACGME or AOA standards requiring a particular board certification credential will apply
• (2) If the position being filled will have faculty status with an affiliated medical school (for example - in joint recruitments with affiliated medical schools) - then a medical school requirement for board certification will apply to the jointly recruited position
• (3) If the position being filled is required to be board certified by virtue of specific VHA policy (for example - as director of a cardiac catheterization laboratory or Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine) - then VHA policy requiring board certification will apply
• Preferred Experience: Successful completion of a U.S. Fellowship in Rheumotology 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

• **** This announcement has been amended to remove the COVID-19 vaccine statement as this is no longer required for VA employment
• **** This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until filled
• Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis
• Eligible applicants will be referred each week for consideration until a selection is made
• 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 The Chief will be responsible for leading the Division of Rheumatology at the Orlando VA Healthcare System
• Duties include but are not limited to
• Provide leadership as the physician administratively responsible for the activities of Division of Rheumatology
• Direct and develop the clinical - educational and research activities of the VA Rheumatology Division
• Ensure that veterans receive outstanding rheumatologic clinical care in both the outpatient and inpatient settings
• Provide clinical care in the outpatient rheumatology clinics and on the inpatient rheumatology consultation service as well as the inpatient medicine teaching service
• Provide a rich educational environment for students - residents and fellows and promote scholarly activities
• Promote and expand research opportunities and recruit additional investigators in clinical - translational and basic science
• Mentor and support faculty in their clinical - educational and research pursuits
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with other Divisions within the Medicine Department - other Departments within the Orlando VA and with VA rheumatology colleagues nationally
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-430pm (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).