Physician (Hematology/Oncology)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off (50-55 days per year)

Student loan payment reimbursement (EDRP)

Comprehensive health insurance

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Spokane, Washington, seeks a qualified Hematologist/Oncologist to provide comprehensive patient care and treatment in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Responsible for diagnosing and consulting on hematologic and oncologic diseases, the ideal candidate will demonstrate excellence in patient management and comply with treatment protocols.

This position offers a competitive total rewards package, including paid time off and retirement benefits, with a standard work schedule from Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a state or territory.
• Demonstration of provision of inpatient or consultative services for at least 50 Oncology patients in the past two years.
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support Certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert consultation and treatment to hematology/oncology patients.
• Evaluate, diagnose, and order diagnostic studies for H/O patients.
• Oversee the chemotherapy unit and manage treatment regimens.

Skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English

Strong interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Patient management

Education

Degree of doctor of medicine or equivalent

Completed residency training

Job description

Education and length of practice are considered through a formal pay‑setting process to determine the final compensable salary (Base Pay + Market Pay).
RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants and may recur up to 4 years.
This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until September 30, 2026.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements 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
• Preferred Experience: Successful completion of an ACGME‑ or AOA‑accredited residency in internal medicine followed by completion of a fellowship in Hematology
• Demonstration of the provision of inpatient or consultative services for at least 50 Oncology patients during the past two years
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support Certification (ACLS also required for Moderate Sedation)
• Privileges to admit – evaluate – diagnose – and provide treatment or consultative services to patients over the age of 18 years old – with hematologic or oncologic disease
• Administration of Chemotherapy & biologic response modifiers
• Management and care of indwelling venous access catheters
• 2 years experience in Hematology/Oncology – board certified/eligible; Bone Marrow Aspirations and Biopsy; Thoracentesis; Paracentesis
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Duties

• The Hematologist/Oncologist is accountable to the Chief of the Medicine Service for assuring the most effective delivery of care in hematology/oncology while meeting and exceeding compliance standards
• The hematology/oncology (H/O) Physician will provide expert consultation and treatment to patients in the inpatient and outpatient clinical settings – including specific H/O clinics, H/O procedures, and for inpatient medical, surgical, and critical care services
• In this role – the incumbent will also provide feedback and patient education to the patients and their families and will demonstrate excellence in all facets of patient care and meets or exceeds compliance standards
• He or she will evaluate, diagnose, consult, and order appropriate diagnostic studies and treatments for all H/O patients assigned under their care
• The incumbent will provide consultative evaluations for other services – including general medical wards, surgical wards, and the emergency department – and perform administrative functions and other tasks as assigned by the Chief of the Medicine Service
• The incumbent will oversee the chemotherapy unit, including determining treatment regimens, patient suitability for treatment, and initial management of chemotherapy complications for patients under their care
• The candidate may perform diagnostic procedures such as bone marrow biopsy
• The incumbent is expected to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health and treatment of critical illnesses
• The ideal candidate should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of the health care team
• The incumbent must adhere to stated policies and provide timely documentation of clinical notes (e.g., consult H&Ps, clinic notes, and procedure notes)
• Privileges include assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients referred to the H/O Section with pharmacologic, non‑pharmacologic, and procedure‑based therapies
• Administrative duties: attending required staff meetings, communicating up and down the chain of command, and helping prepare heads‑up and issue briefs related to adverse patient outcomes
• Clinical management: maintaining involvement in matters concerning clinic productivity, relevant performance measures, quality and patient safety oversight, and process improvements (system redesigns)
• Clinical duties: remaining privileged and practicing in medical services
• The exact privileges and procedures for a particular physician will be approved by the Professional Standards Board
• The physician is responsible to the Chief of Medicine for his/her work; administrative direction is provided in terms of broadly defined goals and missions and in conjunction with the Chief of Medicine
• This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program
• Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application; former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply
• RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: (Sign‑on Bonus) – may be authorized for highly qualified applicants and may recur up to 4 years and up to 50% of salary depending on qualifications
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases; paid time off: 50‑55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays, and a possible 5‑day paid absence for CME); retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions; VA insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement); licensure: one 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 through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.