Physician- Recruitment/Relocation Incentive/EDRP Authorized

This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 06/05/2026. Additional applications will be referred as needed. (open continuous announcement).

A full-time staff psychiatrist position is available on the cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon team at the VA North Texas Health Care System Mental Health Service (VANTHCS MHS) in Dallas, TX.

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

Duties are but not limited to:

The Cardiovascular and Thoracic staff physician is responsible for patient care, patient education and resident supervision. The Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon provides comprehensive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery care for patients within the scope of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. The scope of this activity covers all phases of clinical care in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery resident and possible medical student education with appropriate supervision in the outpatient setting, inpatient setting and operating room are expected of the provider.

Scope of assigned duties:

In addition to observance of federal, state and local regulatory policy and accreditation requirements, the staff cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon position encompasses the following examples of responsibilities.

Administrative

• Writes medical orders and prescription for the care of the patient in accordance with federal and state law.
• Documents care in the computerized patient record system in accordance with North Texas VA healthcare system requirements.
• Obtain consent and documents procedures performed for which the physician is responsible.
• Provides education and counseling of patients and their families and the use of prescribed treatments and medications for other medical conditions.
• Reviewing revised policies and scope of practice standards to meet the needs of the National VA and North Texas VA healthcare system mandates.

Clinical

• Completes consults received for cardiovascular and thoracic surgery evaluation.
• Performs a comprehensive and detailed history and physical examination in compliance with national guidelines,
• Orders diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, radiologic exams and procedures.

Recruitment/ Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@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)
Paid Parental Leave: 12 weeks of paid time off for birth of child, adoption, foster care after completion of requisite service period.
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 $2,000 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
Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday

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.
• Education: 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.
• License: 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Preferred Experience:

1. Fellowship/Residency training in Cardiac add/or Thoracic surgery.
2. Demonstrated proficiency in complex cardiovascular and thoracic surgical procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repair and replacement, aortic surgery, Lung resection, and minimally invasive thoracic interventions.
3. Extensive experience collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive perioperative care, optimize patient outcomes, and advance evidence-based clinical protocols for veteran populations.
4. Proven track record in managing acute and chronic cardiothoracic conditions among diverse patient populations, including veterans with multimorbidity, and tailoring surgical interventions to address unique clinical needs.

Commitment to advancing surgical education through mentorship of residents, fellows, and medical students, and participation in quality improvement initiatives and clinical research within the VA healthcare system.

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

Physical Requirements: The position requires compliance with VA Handbook and VASTHCS Policy related to physical requirements. Heavy lifting 45 pounds and over, Heavy carrying 45 pounds and over, Straight pulling for 1 hour, Pulling hand over hand for 5 hours, Pushing for 6 hours, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking 6 hours, Standing for 6 hours, Crawling for 1 hour, Kneeling for 1 hour, Repeated bending for 1 hour, Climbing, legs only for 1 hour, Both legs required, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted).

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.