Summary

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 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
• Preferred Experience: Board certified or board eligible in Internal Medicine/Family Practice by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or America Board of Family Practice (ABFM)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties in an outpatient setting under normal and emergent conditions
• Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs - straight pulling/pushing up to 2 hours per day
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• standing up to 5 hours per day
• kneeling up to 2 hours per day
• use of both arms and legs
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and up to 20/40 in the other
• hearing aid permitted.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 27 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applicants will be March 7 - 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
• Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP) - which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements - loan repayments - sign-on bonus contracts - Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years)
• For additional information and eligibility requirements - contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at vacontractbuyoutprog@va.gov
• The VA Desert Pacific 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 that is based in a partnership across time - 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
• Dedicated to Patient-Centered Care - the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System (SAVAHCS) is a state of the art network of health care facilities throughout Southern Arizona comprised of the medical center in Tucson - Arizona and seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Casa Grande - Green Valley - Safford - Sierra Vista - Yuma - Northwest and Southeast Tucson
• Through an environment of compassion - education - and research - SAVAHCS is a national model of clinical and organizational excellence
• The VA Medical Center located at Tucson Arizona is the \"Flagship\" for the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) - which serves over 170 -000 veterans located in eight counties in Southern Arizona and one county in Western New Mexico
• This 295-bed hospital provides training - primary care and sub-specialty health care in numerous medical areas for eligible Veterans
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved for highly qualified candidates
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Approved Learn more
• This position is 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
• 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
• ContactVHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov 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 PACT Physician provides comprehensive care to a panel of adult patients - from young adult to elderly
• Duties include but are not limited to the following: Works seamlessly with other health care team members to support VA quality and patient satisfaction initiatives
• Provides direct patient care to optimize patient health including ordering diagnostic testing - prescribing medication including contraceptive medication - consulting with specialty services and utilizing computerized/electronic medical records
• Provides patient care in accordance to professional standards - core values and commitment to service excellence
• Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Eligible
• Work Schedule: Four - 10 hour shifts - between Monday - Friday - 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM Telework: Not Eligible
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.