Physician (Chief of Neurosurgery) - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

The Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) is seeking a Full-Time, Physician (Chief of Neurosurgery) to join the Surgery Service Line at the VAMC in Iowa City, Iowa.

Note: This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT through August 21, 2026. The first referral cut-off is June 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST, with monthly cut-offs on the 1st. Applications received after each cut-off will be reviewed as needed until the position is filled.

The VA Midwest 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 with three core elements, 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.

The Chief of Neurosurgery is the clinical expert for all Neurosurgery services for the Iowa City VA Health Care System. They supervise Neurosurgeons and APPs (Advance Practice Professional) within the Iowa City VA. As a Neurosurgeon, the incumbent is accountable for assuring the most effective delivery of care in the Neurosurgery Section while meeting and exceeding compliance standards. The Neurosurgeon examines, diagnoses, and treats or prescribes course of treatment for patients having disorders, malformations, diseases, and/or injuries. The Neurosurgeon is required to deliver surgical procedures in the operating room, and clinical services in the Neurosurgery Section within Surgical Service. Responsibilities include performing surgical operations, outpatient ambulatory surgical procedures and clinic duties, and outpatient and inpatient surgery consultations for new and established patients. In addition to the above, the Neurosurgeon is responsible, but not limited to the following:

• Providing assessments as appropriate in the outpatient setting; conducting administrative and academic components of the specialty.
• Collaborating with providers in other medical and surgical services including appropriate referrals.
• Providing a full range of therapeutic interventions for inpatients on the medical unit; maintaining clinical privileges to practice including diagnostic assessment, medication evaluation and management.
• Ensuring that the practice of medicine is consistent with Joint Commission, CARF, and VA policies and procedures in all aspects of their duties as required.
• Ensuring that the practice of medicine is consistent with clinical practice, Neurosurgery guidelines, VISN standards, national statutes and regulations, medical record documentation, mandatory continuing education, and HIPAA policies.
• Revises work schedules and assignments on short notice to meet frequent, abrupt and unpredictable changes in prescribed workloads and deadlines.
• Participates in various facility programs designed to enhance and improve the delivery of patient care services such as Process Action Teams or other Patient Safety or Quality Improvement Assignments.
• Provide technical training, instructions, job techniques to subordinate staff, plan and assign work assignments, work schedules, improve workflow, and increase productivity.
• Effectively supervise and manage professional staff, especially students and residents (if applicable).
• Correctly assess qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees.
• Work effectively with individuals or groups representing.
• Report administratively and clinically to the Chief of Surgery.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, and on call. Alternative work hours, if desired, should be agreed upon at the time of hire.

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.

Additional Requirement: Board Certified/Board Eligible Physician.

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

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 an institution whose accreditation was in place 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.
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated.

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.