SummaryThe VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System (VANWIHCS) is seeking a full-time Chief of Surgical Services to lead our Surgical Service Department. This is an excellent leadership opportunity to serve our nation's veterans while working in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.DutiesHelp
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized for specialties of Urology, Orthopedic Surgery, and Otolaryngology. Physicians with specialties of Urology, Orthopedic Surgery, and Otolaryngologyare eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive. Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [redacted], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
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 of Surgical Services provides supervisory/leadership for the entire program, which includes Audiology, Anesthesiology, ENT, General Surgery, GYN, Optometry, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Plastics, Thoracic, Urology, Vascular and Dental Services. The position ensures that the facility meets and/or exceeds all performance expectations related to the program as well as coordinates proactively to meet the demands of our numerous residency/training programs. The Chief of Surgical Services functions as the primary advisor to the Chief of Staff and Medical Center Director on surgical programs at the VA NWIHCS.
The Chief of Surgical Services is responsible for the effective and efficient management of surgical programs and services. The incumbent will oversee the clinical and administrative aspects of the Surgical Service, including budget and fiscal management, personnel management, strategic planning, program development, quality management, assuring that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated to provide optimum utilization of the available resources. The Chief of Surgical Services is responsible for the overall care of patients with conditions requiring treatment in Surgical Service to include consultative, prescriptive and ordering authority in the outpatient setting. In addition to supervisory responsibilities, the Chief of Surgical Services will be responsible for providing direct patient care and surgery as well as teaching and resident supervision within the Department of Surgery. The incumbent follows established guidelines, ethics, and policies and protocols of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System VAMC and the profession.
Duties and responsibilities include:
- Program Administration (25%)
- Custodial Officer Designation (5%)
- Supervisory Controls (20%)
- Budget and Fiscal Management (15%)
- Human Resources Management (10%)
- Clinical Lead (20%)
- Research and Education (5%)
Work Schedule:RequirementsHelp
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.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination due to Driving Requirement.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
QualificationsTo 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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR
- (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR
- (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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.
- Exceptions:
- 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 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.
- In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Board Certification: The selected candidate will be board certified in his/her surgical specialty, having completed an appropriate residency or fellowship. Surgeons with Board Certification from the appropriate member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association in the following specialties will be considered: Otolaryngology, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Urology, Thoracic Surgery (non-cardiac).
Preferred Experience:- Minimum 2 years management experience
- History of administrative accomplishments
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to organize work with and apply data for management review
- Clinical leadership and administrative experience at the strategic level
- Extensive clinical experience in clinical specialty
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: The selected candidate should be physically and mentally capable to perform the duties of the position. Physical activity includes sitting, standing (up to 2 hours), walking (up to 2 hours), bending and reaching.
EducationDegree 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:
- Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted.
- Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
- For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year 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 informationThis 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.
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