Physician (Orthopedic Surgery)

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.

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:

General orthopedic experience is essential with a focus on shoulder surgeries including shoulder arthroscopies, total and reverse shoulder arthroplasties.

- Experience managing routine orthopedic trauma cases when on call.

- Collaborative call schedule shared with three other orthopedic surgeons.

- Full mid-level support from a team of six skilled mid-level practitioners and an orthopedic resident.

- Opportunity to train orthopedic residents and fellows from the University of Arizona who is our academic affiliate.

- Board-certified or board-eligible orthopedic surgeon.

- Fellowship training in Shoulder surgery/ sports is strongly preferred and should be proficient in be able to operate on routine trauma cases such as hip fractures

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examinations and Evaluations.

Responsibilities:

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until August 11, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applicants will be May 23, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until position is filled.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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 Orthopedic Surgeon will perform the following duties but are not limited to:

• Experience in General Orthopedic Surgery including routine orthopedic trama with subspecialty interest in shoulder surgery. (See preferred experience)
• Participates in the progressive improvement of the service delivery, which may include programmatic participation in initiatives within the facility.
• Performs other directly related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Staff within the Orthopedic Surgery service are ultimately responsible for all aspects of medical care and provide or assist residents and/or the mid-level practitioner in the process of evaluation and treatment of the Orthopedic patients.
• Evaluates the patient to assess changes in the physical and mental status. A progress note is written in the patient's chart. Notes also include the concurrence with notes written by the resident and attending notes as appropriate.
• Coordinates with providers within their own and outside of their own Service Line, and with other VHA facilities or community providers as determined by the plan of care for the veteran. Open, clear, and collaborative engagements are a key duty.
• Responsible to ensure barriers for Veterans and staff are minimized in order to promote a positive work environment. Fosters positive working relationships with staff, peers and Veterans.
• Performs consultations within their own and other service lines as indicated.
• Responsible for the provision of clinical care, graduate and undergraduate medical education, and scientific research as appropriate.
• Participates in various hospital committees, departmental and hospital in-service programs, and education programs of the department and the hospital. They are also involved in continuous quality improvement through peer review process.
• Collaborative call schedule shared with three other orthopedic surgeons.
• Full mid-level support from a team of six skilled mid-level practitioners and an orthopedic resident.
• Opportunity to train orthopedic residents from the University of Arizona who is our academic affiliate.
• Proficient in managing routine orthopedic trauma cases.

Clinical contact: Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, nallicheri.venkataramanan@va.gov

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm

Salary : $1,000