Career Center

Summary

The VA Caribbean Healthcare System's Surgical Care Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Physician (Anesthesiology). Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center.

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:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States
• 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
• 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
• For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above - facility officials must confirm that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated
• Licensure & 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) - leading to eligibility for board certification OR (2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) leading to eligibility for board certification - OR (3) 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 (4) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of 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
• (5) EXCEPTIONS
• (a) Residents currently enrolled in ACGME or 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 (that is - 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
• For more information - see paragraph 4b below
• (b) 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
• Board Certification: Board Certified/Eligible in Anesthesiology
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English
• For San Juan - there is an additional requirement for proficiency in spoken and written Spanish
• Preferred Experience: Candidate must have a minimum of 2 years of previous experience working with cardiothoracic surgery procedures
• Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019
• This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health
• This position requires: light to moderate lifting (15 - 44 lbs.)
• light carrying (15 lbs
• and under)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (up to 2 hours)
• standing (up to 2 hours)
• kneeling (up to 1 hour)
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• depth perception
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• ability to distinguish shades of colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• emotional stability
• mental stability
• working closely with others
• and working alone.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT that will remain open until filled
• Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain on file through December 31 - 2026
• The first cut-off date is May 22 - 2026
• Eligible applicants will be referred every two weeks for consideration until a selection is made
• This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply
• The Anesthesiologist is responsible for providing the evaluation - assessment and management of patients with chronic - stable conditions or acute - episodic illness related to the Anesthesiology practice - including - but not limited to - evaluation of patients prior to the administration of anesthesia - administration of general - regional and local anesthesia during the performance of surgical and other invasive procedures - airway management - and pain management - in diverse settings - focusing on health promotion - illness - and disability minimization
• Duties include but not limited to the following: Provides medical management of patients who are rendered unconscious or insensible to pain and emotional stress during open and endoscopic surgical - and certain other medical and dental procedures
• Provides emergency anesthesia and airway support throughout the medical center
• Pre and post-op consultations and evaluations - general anesthesia - regional anesthesia - Neuraxial anesthesia Care - Acute pain management (including caudal - brachial epidural - or intrathecal injections.) Arterial line placement - central venous cannulation pulmonary artery catheterization - airway management including Endotracheal intubation - Emergency cricothyrotomy/Retrograde intubation - Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy
• Provides consultative services
• Develops rehabilitative treatments Directs/organize a multidisciplinary team and coordinate care with other providers
• Administers Moderate Sedation Provides Acute pain management
• Provides Chronic pain management - including but not limited to: local infiltration nerve blocks - including brachial plexus block - caudal - epidural - and spinal blocks - diagnostic/therapeutic nerve blocks - neurolytic nerve blocks Supervises medical students or physician residents (including fellows) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN8CCOE@va.gov - 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 anesthesiologist functions in a collaborative partnership with other Sections and Services to provide a wide arrangement of clinical services to veteran patients pertaining general surgery conditions
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 7:00 am - 3:30 pm (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The selectee may be required to be on call and work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs)
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.