The Senior Medical Advisor will provide both research and policy leadership and execution for the organization. This position is administratively located in VA Central Office (VACO), Washington, DC, and reports directly to the Operations Director Health Outcome Military Exposures (HOME). Manages environmental health issues related to new combat Veterans and VA responses to meet their needs. 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 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. Additional Requirement: Licensed, board-certified physician (in occupational medicine, preventive medicine/public health, or potentially other specialty such as primary care with expertise in military health) 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["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 HOME is currently composed of three inter-related national programs: Environmental Epidemiology, Policy, and Operations. This position will be in the Policy area but support other functions especially in the Epidemiology Program. HOME interacts with several major VHA programs. These programs include policy and program development related to ongoing scientific updates by the National Academy of Sciences/Institutes of Medicine on the health effects of Agent Orange and service in the Gulf War, three War Related Illness and Injury Study Centers, a Depleted Uranium and Toxic Embedded Fragments Center, as well as programs designed to address emerging needs. Research with other HOME leaders the establishment of policy and document or report drafts for the Office, many of which are Congressional in nature. Produce reports that are in line with the quality of National Academies on key topics. Conduct studies of the literature and other comparable duties and write reports on them. Develop materials for/or participate in briefings or professional presentations that can be at many levels up to Congressional or White House depending on the topic. Conducts presentations and webinars related to toxic exposures or related subjects. When available look for opportunities to publish on professional topics. Will author and present many scientifically sound briefings for the Congress and various agencies of the Executive branch and represent VA at meetings with the Department of Defense and other federal and external organizations. Supports the Director Policy HOME in all programmatic, research or policy domains. Prepares information and reports from available data for inclusion in testimony, reports, correspondence, and other media. Makes ad hoc presentations to audiences in order to answer questions and provide data overviews. Assists in the development and performance of ongoing needs assessments, development, and evaluation of educational curricula as part of a comprehensive learning and education plan for clinical and non-clinical staff involved in the care of Veterans in collaboration with the Employee Education System, other VACO Program Offices, and key staff in the field. Responsible for meeting the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the principles of military exposures and management of them in the healthcare and public health arena. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. The VA Martinsburg Healthcare System offers a wide range of health, support, and facility services for Veterans at 8 locations serving western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania, northwest Virginia, and West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. Primary Care services are offered at the following locations. Martinsburg WV, Hagerstown MD, Cumberland MD, Franklin WV, Harrisonburg VA, Petersburg WV and Winchester VA.
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
Physicians interested in caring for our America's Veterans and their families, email Nicole.Carey@va.gov or call 304-620-4354.