Career Center

Summary

The VA St. Louis Health Care System is recruiting a board-certified Colorectal Surgeon to provide comprehensive surgical care for benign and malignant colorectal diseases. Responsibilities include outpatient - inpatient - and operative care - general surgery call - and education of trainees. The position requires proficiency in open - laparoscopic - robotic - and endoscopic procedures. Must be eligible for faculty appointment with an established academic affiliate partner of VASTLHCS.

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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Must be eligible for faculty appointment with an established academic affiliate of the VA St
• Louis Health Care System
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: More information can be found in VA Handbook 5019.

Duties

• 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 The VA St
• Louis Health Care System is recruiting a board-certified Colorectal Surgeon to provide comprehensive surgical care for benign and malignant colorectal diseases
• Responsibilities include outpatient - inpatient - and operative care - general surgery call - and education of trainees
• The position requires proficiency in open - laparoscopic - robotic - and endoscopic procedures
• Must be eligible for faculty appointment with an established academic affiliate partner of VASTLHCS
• Clinical Responsibilities: Outpatient Care: Provides comprehensive evaluation - diagnosis - and treatment of Veterans with benign and malignant colorectal conditions
• Performs in-clinic procedures including high-resolution anoscopy and interventions for HPV-related disease
• Collaborates with Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) - residents - trainees - and nursing staff to ensure efficient clinic operations and continuity of care
• Inpatient Care: Manages hospitalized patients with general and colorectal surgical conditions
• Provides consultations and collaborates with other surgical and medical teams for co-management of complex cases
• Operative Care: Performs the full spectrum of general and colorectal surgeries using open - laparoscopic - and robotic techniques
• Conducts lower endoscopic procedures
• Ensures comprehensive preoperative assessment - intraoperative care - and postoperative management
• Leads surgical teams in the operating room - emphasizing safety - efficiency - and teaching
• Emergency and On-Call Duties: Provides timely evaluation and surgical intervention for emergency cases
• Participates in the general surgery call schedule
• Team-Based Care: Fosters a collaborative - multidisciplinary team environment
• Mentors and supervises resident surgeons and other health care trainees
• Participates in interdisciplinary care team meetings and case conferences
• Teaching and Education: Provides clinical instruction to residents - fellows - and medical students in outpatient - inpatient - and operative settings
• Supervises and mentors trainees in clinics - operating rooms - and emergency scenarios
• Assists in training staff and nurses
• Participates in educational conferences - case discussions - and morbidity and mortality reviews
• Administrative and Professional Duties: Attends section meetings and serves on hospital committees as assigned
• Assists with performance evaluations and peer reviews under the direction of the Section Chief of General Surgery or the Associate Chief of Staff for Surgical Service
• Oversees credentialing - privileging - and continuing education compliance
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record systems
• Participates in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
• Coordinates services with Community Care providers - VISN partners - and academic affiliates
• Ensures compliance with VHA - Joint Commission - and facility standards
• Research and Scholarly Activity (if applicable): Encourages and participates in clinical - translational - or basic science research
• Collaborates with academic affiliates on research and scholarly projects
• Supports staff involvement in scholarly activities and quality initiatives
• Scope of Practice / Privileges: Includes outpatient and inpatient general surgery - colorectal surgery - laparoscopic - and robotic procedures
• All privileges are subject to approval by the Professional Standards Board and the Chief of Staff
• Supervisory Controls: Reports directly to the Chief of General Surgery
• Provides supervision to general surgery staff and oversight of APPs - nurses - technicians - and health professions trainees
• Performance is evaluated based on clinical outcomes - quality metrics - and overall section performance
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Tour Negotiable upon hire.