Physician (Orthopedic Surgeon)

Summary

Qualified candidates will be eligible for a recruitment incentive based on years of experience and other qualifications.

This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until May 6, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be November 20, 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Duties

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

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Qualified candidates will be eligible for a recruitment incentive based on years of experience and other qualifications.

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

As an Orthopedic Surgeon you will be responsible for providing orthopedic care to veterans by diagnosing, treating and managing all orthopedic diseases / injuries. You will be required to participate in resident training. This position carries the possibility of a joint faculty appointment at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center (UNMHSC). Applicants must have the appropriate credentials for a faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level or higher at UNMHSC. Duties include, but are not limited to :

• Assuring that a high degree of quality patient care is provided at all times.
• Independently exercising creativity in solving problems without direct supervisory guidance to meet the varying needs of patients while under care in the Orthopedic Clinic.
• Exercising independent professional judgment in diagnosing the full range of complex Orthopedic conditions as well as planning and executing the necessary treatment programs to meet complex and frequent changes in treatment objectives.
• Referring, when indicated, patients with multiple health problems to other providers within the facility and the VISN. Consulting with physicians and others, when requested, to augment the care of their patients as it relates to emergent and traumatic conditions as well as Orthopedic manifestations of systemic conditions.
• Utilizing general clinical privileges which include : ordering diagnostic tests as appropriate, writing prescriptions for medications or other items on the hospital formulary, hospitalize patients as appropriate and discharge patients from outpatient care if it is determined that care is no longer required.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 7 : 00am-3 : 30pm with variances and call as needed for patient care.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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 :

[(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.

Preferred qualifications : Board certification

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements : Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions. Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices, heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, both hands required, walking or standing up to 4 hours per day; repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near vision correctable; hearing aid permitted.

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 :

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.