Podiatry (General)

PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET.

The Sergeant Ernest I. "Boots" Thomas VA Clinic (Tallahassee OPC) Surgical Care Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Podiatrist. 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.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain on file through {6/26/2026}. The first cut-off date is {April 17, 2026}. Eligible applicants will then be referred every 2 weeks until positions are filled. Applications will only be accepted from current, permanent VA facility employees.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Direct Patient Care
- Provide comprehensive medical and surgical foot/ankle care to eligible Veterans across the full scope of general podiatry (skin/nail disorders, biomechanical problems, tendinopathies, acute/chronic foot pain, diabetic foot care, wound care, limb preservation).
- Perform focused histories and physical examinations of the lower extremity; formulate differential diagnoses and evidence-based plans of care; order and interpret diagnostic studies (radiographs, labs, vascular studies) within granted privileges.
- Provide clinic-based procedures appropriate to an outpatient setting (e.g., debridement of wounds, paring of hyperkeratosis, nail procedures, steroid injections, simple soft-tissue procedures), in accordance with local privileges and site capabilities.
- Coordinate diabetic foot risk stratification, preventive care, and timely escalation for limb preservation in alignment with the PAVE program referenced by VHA Directive 1122 and current VA/DoD Diabetes CPG principles.
Procedures, Infection Prevention & Instrument Reprocessing
- Adhere to national and local infection prevention and control standards for podiatry (hand hygiene; safe injection practices; environmental cleaning; device reprocessing), using CDC/Joint Commission's Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Podiatry Settings and Joint Commission ambulatory standards.
- Ensure podiatry instruments and reusable medical devices are managed per VHA Directive 1116(2) (critical/semi-critical RMD policy) and applicable manufacturer instructions for use; partner with Sterile Processing Services to maintain compliance.
Care Coordination & Team-Based Practice
- Collaborate with Primary Care, Endocrinology, Vascular Surgery, PM&R, Prosthetics/Orthotics, Wound Care, Home-Based Care, and Telehealth to deliver integrated, Veteran-centered foot-and-ankle care; refer and co-manage cases requiring higher-level interventions at Malcom Randall VAMC or other facilities per clinic workflow.
- Participate in limb-salvage pathways and timely transitions of care (e.g., urgent imaging, vascular evaluation, prosthetic prescription, off-loading).
Documentation, Coding & Compliance
- Complete timely and accurate EHR documentation, diagnostic coding, procedure coding, and orders consistent with VA policy and local bylaws for credentialing/privileging and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
- Practice within VA national standards and the individual's granted scope of practice/privileges, pursuant to VHA Directive 1899 and facility medical staff rules.
Quality, Safety & Performance Improvement
- Engage in quality improvement activities (clinic audits, infection-control surveillance, SPS collaboration, patient safety reporting); comply with VA and Joint Commission quality/safety requirements applicable to ambulatory care.
- Support adherence to sterile processing oversight and continuous improvement addressing reusable medical equipment risks identified in VA and GAO guidance.
Education & Veteran Self-Management
- Educate Veterans on foot care, glycemic control, footwear/off-loading, risk reduction, and self-monitoring; provide teach-back and written instructions aligned with VA/DoD Diabetes CPG patient-education tools.
- Offer consultative support and in-service education to clinical staff on podiatric assessment, wound care principles, and infection-prevention practices for outpatient podiatry.
Administrative & Professional Responsibilities
- Participate in clinic operations (template management, access optimization, panel management, telehealth visits as appropriate) to meet access and timeliness standards at the Tallahassee OPC.
- Maintain compliance with VA credentialing, privileging, licensure, board certification (as applicable), and continuing education requirements per VA Handbook 5005 and local medical staff processes.
Schedule & Work Conditions
- No Call: Position is outpatient clinic-based with no on-call responsibilities; urgent cases are stabilized and routed per clinic protocols and facility transfer procedures.
- Maintain availability during assigned clinic hours and comply with facility policies for same-day access and urgent consults within outpatient scope.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Podiatrist Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Must be a US Citizen.
• Education: Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~
• Residency: Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists 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 Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~
• License: Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. ~AND~
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Staff Requirements:

• Staff Podiatrist Medical: None beyond basic requirements. The individual must have completed an accredited residency, and/or possess experience to perform general podiatric duties and some specialized functions and procedures, without supervision.
  Staff podiatrists may also include attending podiatrists who train physician residents, assigned in facilities with residency training programs, and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine. These
  podiatrists perform office based procedures only and generally work a set 40-hour per week schedule.

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 moderate lifting up to 44 lbs., carrying objects up to 15 lbs., frequent reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, hands and legs, use of cranes and motor vehicles, walking & standing up to 8 hours, bending and climbing and able to hear whisper. The incumbent must be physically, emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.