CHIEF ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON (PCS AUTHORIZED)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

50-55 days of paid time off

Federal health and vision insurance

Malpractice insurance protection

Job summary

A government agency is seeking a Chief of Orthopedic Surgery to provide comprehensive care for veterans at the Truman VA Medical Center. The ideal candidate will have an unrestricted medical license, board certification, and experience in leadership roles. Responsibilities include supervising surgical procedures, guiding residents, and ensuring high-quality patient care. The position offers competitive salary, generous paid time off, and opportunity for academic engagement with the University of Missouri.

Qualifications

• Must meet basic requirements and any additional requirements listed.
• Must have completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
• Physical ability to perform intermittent tasks as required by the role.

Responsibilities

• Provide orthopedic care to veterans, both clinically and surgically.
• Supervise orthopedic residents and fellows.
• Ensure timely documentation in accordance with facility policy.

Skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English

Leadership and judgment

Surgical skills in orthopedics

Education

Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree

Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine

Board certification

Job description

Summary

This is an open-continuous announcement and will remain open until April 10, 2026, or until the vacancies are filled (if a selection is made and offer accepted – announcement will be closed). Qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official as available from the opening date of the announcement.

Qualifications

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) – (2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) – (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 Certification required. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: the Physical requirements of this position include the following tasks which may be performed intermittently: lifting of up to 10 lbs., sitting (4 hours), standing (2 hours), walking (2 hours), bending/stooping (1 hour), twisting (1/2 hour), simple grasping (4 hours), fine manipulation (6 hours), reaching above the shoulder (1/2 hour), and operating machinery (1/2 hour).

Duties

• ABOUT HARRY S
• TRUMAN VA MEDICAL CENTER – COLUMBIA – MO: Truman VA is 120 miles from St Louis and Kansas City and 30 miles from Jefferson City
• We have 1 – 600 staff – provide care for 40 – 000 Veterans – and the VHA hospital complexity level is 1c
• Truman VA operates 8 Community-Based Outpatient Clinics
• Truman VA offers training in nursing – psychology – audiology – social work – dietetics – pharmacy – chaplaincy – health care administration – and optometry – as well as residency training in all major medical and surgical Subsidiaries
• Truman VA is a referral center for heart care services including open heart surgery
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 730a-4p
• Chief of Orthopedic Surgery – Scope of Duties The Section Chief of Orthopedics in the Surgical Service is a member of the interdisciplinary health care team who functions with a high degree of complexity and independence – is self-directing – and displays good judgment and initiative in the selection of appropriate procedures and guidelines for each patient
• The incumbent will provide leadership – guidance to their Orthopedics service staff in the best healthcare needs for the local veteran population
• Primarily responsible for providing Orthopedic care to veterans both clinically and surgically
• Responsible for resident supervision per VA guidelines
• Responsible for staffing Orthopedic clinics
• Attendance at staff meetings and participation on committees as assigned
• Responsible for performing surgical procedures pertaining to Orthopedics
• Responsible for timely medical records – including computer order/entry
• Responsible for inpatient and outpatient Orthopedic services
• Supports Chief of Surgery and Deputy Chief of Surgery in surgery performance measures
• In addition – incumbent is expected to engage and/or is eligible for the following: Participating in and/or managing aspects of a general orthopedic program to include clinical – administrative – and academic components
• Participating in and/or managing a broad range of orthopedic surgery practice
• This encompasses all areas of general orthopedic and musculoskeletal surgery including major joint reconstructive services
• Performing surgery and providing pre‑op and post‑op care as indicated for major and minor procedures – as well as orthopedic consultation for inpatients and outpatients
• Working with the interdisciplinary inpatient team to care for patients who are admitted to the inpatient orthopedic surgery service following procedures/surgeries
• Maintaining good diagnostic – judgmental – and therapeutic acumen
• Timely documentation (notes and encounter forms) in accordance with facility policy/Bylaws
• Serving as leader and/or active member on Medical Center committees as requested
• Board certification required – given Section Chief role
• Incumbent is expected to supervise orthopedic residents – fellows – and other health professional trainees
• Given teaching responsibilities – incumbent will be considered an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri (academic affiliate)
• Responsible for maintaining relationship with academic affiliate's Orthopedic Surgery department
• Incumbent will participate in a shared rotation of night and weekend on‑call coverage.