Physician (Ophthalmology - Section Chief)

This position is located in the Section of Ophthalmology under the Clinical Directorate of Surgical Services at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, Illinois. FHCC is larger than just a single facility, but rather a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois which provide medical and dental services to U.S. Military Active Duty, Recruits, Veterans, and eligible beneficiaries. 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 in Ophthalmology preferably, or Board eligible in Ophthalmology. Preferred Experience: Fellowship subspecialty trained, preferably Surgical Glaucoma Specialist CERNER/Oracle EHR experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which may require light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 1 hour), standing (up to 1 hour), and both legs required. In addition, there may be exposure to the following environmental factors: working inside and outside, working closely with others, and protracted or irregular hours of work. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy. There may be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids. The Section Chief of Ophthalmology reports to the Clinical Director of Surgical Services and oversees all operations and staff within the Section. The incumbent supervises all clinical providers, serves as primary point of contact, and provides training, documentation, workflow guidance, and clinical system optimization. The Chief ensures clinical quality and service standards, collaborates with hospital/department leaders, and acts as liaison among staff, IT, and other departments. Responsibilities include organizational projects, committees, and initiatives to support Section and facility needs. Duties include: Developing vision, mission, and strategic goals for the Section. Overseeing administrative and clinical supervision of Section staff, ensuring high-quality, efficient care aligned with VA, DoD, and relevant external standards. Providing comprehensive patient care (outpatient & inpatient) using Oracle-Cerner EMR, documenting all encounters appropriately, monitoring open encounter and open consult management reports. .Conducting admissions, histories, physicals, discharge summaries, rounds, AIMS evaluations, and attending relevant clinical meetings. Supporting program managers on planning, operations, HR, budget, equipment, environmental issues, process improvement, and patient advocacy. Representing the Section in business outside Ophthalmology. Sharing in clinical coverage, including on-call and after-hours care, ensuring 24/7 coverage. Balancing clinical, OR, and administrative duties according to facility and national labor mapping standards. Participating in all aspects of Ophthalmology programs, program development, privilege delineation, and credentialing. Developing and reviewing Section policies, regulatory compliance, data review, and quality improvement projects. Addressing patient and safety concerns, responding to complaints and event reports, working with the Quality Office for improvements. Cross-covering patient care for colleagues as necessary. Managing reporting staff, including evaluations, proficiency reports, discipline, and credentialing. Serving as Acting Clinical Director as needed. Pursuing and supporting teaching/academic missions in coordination with affiliated university teaching program, including resident supervision and student education. Clinical responsibilities: Assess, diagnose, develop treatment for eye/ocular adnexa conditions. Perform medical/surgical eye procedures, laser/cryo surgeries. Expected surgical volume of 350-400 cataracts per year. Additionally, corneal vitreoretinal, oculoplastic and glaucoma subspeciality surgeries and procedures are performed. Support development of a regional Center of Excellence for refractive surgery/corneal cross-linking. Collaborate with other specialists; manage vision-affecting medical disorders. Educate patients/families, document care, participate in call schedules, and maintain hospital privileges. Support the facility's readiness mission for military and veteran patients. Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills are essential. The Section Chief collaborates with an interdisciplinary team, supports provider and staff development, and participates in committees and process improvements. Academic appointment and teaching commitments with the academic affiliate, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is encouraged and expected. The position supports multi-site care, facilities, and maintains high standards of care, compliance, and readiness. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm; daily work hours may vary due to patient care needs and are bound by VHA Title 38 regulations. As a Section Chief of Ophthalmology, the candidate with work as equally clinical partner with the existing Ophthalmology team, responsible to create, publish and share equally in the on-call schedule to ensure the facility has 24/7 coverage for Ophthalmic Surgery. 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. 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.