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Physician- Chief of Rheumatology

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VAMC Philadelphia
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Division of Rheumatology at the University of Pennsylvania and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMCVAMC) seeks candidates for Section Chief of Rheumatology at the CMCVAMC. This is a full-time position and will be a joint appointment between the CMCVAMC (75%) and the University of Pennsylvania (25%) with administrative responsibilities as Section Chief at the CMCVAMC, and outpatient and inpatient clinical activities at both VA and University practice sites.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
10/19/2022 to 11/21/2022
Salary
$120,000 to - $280,340 per year
Pay scale & grade
AD 15
Location
Philadelphia, PA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Part-time - 30 Hours per week
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSZ-11661719-22-MJW
Control number
684114900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.

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Duties

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The successful candidate will have an academic appointment at Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor position at the University in the non-tenure academic-clinician (AC) or clinician educator (CE) track.

The incumbent serves as the Section Chief, responsible for the oversight of the Rheumatology outpatient and inpatient clinical services at the Corp. Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMCVAMC), working in collaboration with Nursing, Pharmacy, and Scheduling staff and supervisors to ensure adequate material and personnel resources are available for the Rheumatologic care of our Veteran patients. This incumbent provides oversight and support of the current six part-time physicians and one full-time nurse practitioner, regular assessment of clinical needs and recruitment and retention of additional clinical staff as needed, and regular collaboration with other Medical and Surgical departments when interdisciplinary efforts are needed.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Regular faculty/staff performance review and oversight with regards to faculty clinical, educational and research duties and professionalism. Implementation of individual performance enhancement programs when necessary.
  • New physician and advanced practitioner hiring and onboarding within the Section
  • Collaboration with Nursing, Pharmacy, and Scheduling staff to ensure Rheumatology outpatient practices and inpatient services are operating and staffed optimally
  • Review of staffing and maintenance of outpatient clinic and inpatient call schedules to meet the needs of patients, and coordination of fellow supervision by faculty
  • Approval of faculty leave requests, payroll, performance pay, credentialing/re-credentialing, and other administrative tasks as needed
  • Other duties as assigned by the Department of Medicine Chair
Other Duties:
The incumbent is engaged in direct patient contact or performs tasks defined by statute or recognized custom of medical practice within the bounds of state law as defined by the board of professional licensure. She/he may also work in one or all of the following units: Inpatient wards, Emergency Room, and the Rheumatology Subspecialty Clinic. In addition, the incumbent may be required to perform Subspecialty attending duties on the inpatient wards.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:
  • Admit, evaluate, diagnosis, provide treatment or consultative services to patients
  • Participate in performance improvement activities in the Rheumatology Section
  • Responsible for ensuring quality outcomes, veteran satisfaction and cost effective care
  • Supervision of Rheumatology and other trainees (see below)
  • Evaluate and care for patients with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, systemic lupus, polymyositis, vasculitis, and other rheumatic conditions
  • Perform joint aspirations and injections for diagnosis and treatment when indicated
  • Perform services for conditions in both in-patient and out-patient clinical settings, including telemedicine
  • Responsible for resident and fellow supervision, mentorship and evaluation
  • May be asked to serve as a leader and/or active member on Medical Center committees as requested
  • Completes administrative documentation including notes and encounter forms as necessary in all areas in a timely manner
  • Will, upon appointment, apply for a faculty position at the University of Pennsylvania (affiliate)
  • Teaching: Incumbent will be available for supervision and teaching of trainees as per Section needs and will interact primarily with other physicians and health care providers at the CMCVAMC and University of Pennsylvania and is expected to be available for frequent interaction with these providers.
  • Supervisory: Functions under the Chief of the Rheumatology Section, the Chief of the Medical Service and the Chief of Staff.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Yes, approved
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: 8:00am-4:30pm

Requirements

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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.
  • Education: 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.
  • Licensure and Registration: 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.
  • English Language Proficiency: Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 39 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
Additional Requirements: Candidates must be ABIM Eligible/Certified in Rheumatology and have demonstrated excellent clinical abilities in teaching of residents and/or fellows.

Preferred Experience:
  • Board Certified or Board Eligible in Rheumatology
  • Maintain current BLS and ACLS certification
  • Prior experience in research and/or teaching activities
  • Prior experience in medical administrative positions is preferred
  • Maintain privileges at all times at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (8hrs); Standing (3hrs); Repeated bending (2hrs); Climbing, legs only (2hrs); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; 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:
  1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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