The John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital seeks applicants for a position as a full-time clinical nephrologist and clinician scientist with an emphasis on clinical epidemiology for the Department of Nephrology. As a member of the Department, you will be expected to combine the clinical practice of a nephrologist with the analytical skills of a clinical epidemiologist.
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. Additional Requirement: Board certified or eligible in internal medicine. Completion of a nephrology fellowship training program. Preferred Experience: Familiarity with health data sources that can be used for research in nephrology such as the United States Renal Data system. Graduate degree (Master of Science (MSc) or doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Epidemiology, Public health, Biostatistics, or a related field with an interest and experience in kidney health research. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds. Light carrying, under 15 pound Pushing (8 hours) Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers. Both hands required Walking (8 hours) Standing (8 hours) Repeated bending (2 hours) Both legs required Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in 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). Mental and emotional stability. Mask wearing. Sitting up to 8 hours Environmental factors: Outside and inside. excessive noise, intermittent Working closely with others. Working alone. Protracted or irregular hours of work. Working in direct patient care. Use of computer.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 Nephrologist Duties: Diagnose and treat a variety of kidney-related conditions, such as acute and chronic kidney disease, kidney infections, and glomerulonephritis through comprehensive clinical evaluation and specialized tests. Manage and oversee dialysis treatments for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) ensuring optimal care and patient well-being. Evaluate patients for kidney transplants, coordinate with transplant teams, and provide pre and post-transplant care to ensure successful outcomes and manage complications. Educate patients on kidney health, lifestyle changes, and treatment options including dietary modifications, medication adherence, and strategies to manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension that affect kidney function. Work closely with other multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, such as nurses, dietitians, and social workers to create and implement comprehensive care plans for patients with kidney-related conditions, ensuring holistic and coordinated treatment. Provide outpatient care to patients with kidney disease and oversee of advanced practice nurses and nephrology fellows. Demonstrate technical competence in the application of point-of-care ultrasound including image acquisition, interpretation, and application of findings in patient management. Participate in section/service meetings monthly, quality assurance programs monthly and chart reviews of peers. Complete all medical record documentation within guidelines and appropriate deadlines, including, but not limited to e-consults, inpatient and outpatient encounters, and other CPRS documentation Ensure correct billing code visits in accordance with coding guidelines. Completes CME as required to maintain competency in the nephrology section, medical licensure. and other mandatory VA training in a timely manner. Participate in administrative work assignments, including program building as assigned by the Section Chief of Nephrology and the Service Chief of Medicine. Clinical Epidemiologist Duties: Utilize epidemiologic and statistical methods to design, analyze, and conduct high quality research studies focused on the investigation of prevalence, incidence, risk factors, and outcomes among veterans with kidney disease. Analyze large datasets, patient records, clinical trials, and population health databases using statistical techniques to identify trends and relationships that inform decision-making in nephrology. Contribute expertise to study planning, data collection, data management, and provide statistical input to ensure the integrity and reliability of research findings. Work closely with a multidisciplinary team to lead data reviews and data quality improvement efforts. These efforts include curation of electronic health records and diagnostic results. The applicant will conduct analytic programming and statistical activities such as creating study cohorts, developing analytic datasets, and performing the statistical analysis. The applicant will conduct statistical analyses using software to examine data from clinical studies. The applicant will monitor the epidemiology of kidney disease at local, regional, and national levels identifying disease burden, high-risk populations, and the impact of public health policies related to kidney care. Use epidemiological studies to guide development of evidence-based strategies for prevention of kidney disease progression, improve early detection of kidney disease, and promote kidney health. Prepare reports and presentations summarizing findings to both technical and non-technical audiences including academic publications and grant proposals. The applicant will be expected to present research findings at national and regional meetings.??????? Demonstrate a strong record of published research manuscripts and abstracts. Other duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00-4:30 Rotating weekends, Shared overnight and weekend call. Travel required.