Staff Physician / Chief of Ophthalmology Service

Summary

The Chief of Ophthalmology provides supervisory and programmatic oversight for the Ophthalmology Section at the VA St. Louis Health Care System. This leadership role serves as the primary advisor to the Associate Chief of Staff for Surgical Service and is responsible for promoting clinical excellence, academic engagement, and operational efficiency. The incumbent must be eligible for faculty appointment with Washington University, the VA's established academic affiliate partner.

Duties

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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

Clinical Responsibilities

Outpatient Care :

• Provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for Veterans with acute and chronic eye conditions.
• Performs outpatient procedures including laser treatments, intravitreal injections, and minor surgeries.
• Collaborates with Advanced Practice Providers, Optometrists, Technicians, and Nursing Staff to ensure continuity of care and efficient clinic operations.

Inpatient Care :

Operative Care :

Emergency and On-Call Duties :

Leadership and Section Chief Responsibilities

Team-Based Care

Teaching and Education

Administrative and Professional Duties

Research and Scholarly Activity (if applicable)

Scope of Practice / Privileges

Supervisory Controls

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday; Full-Time (Tour may be negotiated during selection)

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the

public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider :

the agency or the Government; and

Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your

continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

Additional Requirement : Must be eligible for faculty appointment with an established academic affiliate partner of St. Louis VA Health Care System.

Preferred Experience : Supervising ophthalmologists, optometrists, residents, fellows, technicians, and administrative staff.

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

Physical Requirements : More details can be found in VA 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 :

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.