Physician (Nephrology)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Federal benefits

Job summary

The Staff Nephrologist at the Durham VA Health Care System provides comprehensive nephrology care across inpatient, outpatient, and dialysis settings, working with a multidisciplinary team. The role includes attending duties, teaching, and coordinating patient care across VA and community partners to ensure timely access and continuity of care.

Ideal candidates have nephrology board certification or eligibility, a current license, and a commitment to education and research within the VA system.

Qualifications

• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State or territory or DC.
• Residency training approved by VA leading to eligibility for board certification.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an attending physician on inpatient Nephrology Consult Service and provide management for hospitalized Veterans.
• Provide outpatient nephrology care at the Durham VA Medical Center and other VA locations.
• Coordinate nephrology care across VA and community settings, including dialysis and transplant support as appropriate.
• Teach and supervise nephrology fellows, residents, medical students, and other trainees.

Skills

Team collaboration

English proficiency

Teaching ability

Evidence-based care

Education

MD/DO or equivalent

Board certification/eligibility in nephrology

Job description

Summary

The Staff Nephrologist works as a member of an interdisciplinary team that includes nephrologists - advanced practice providers (APPs) - fellows and other trainees - nurses - dialysis personnel - and other health care professionals. The physician is responsible for providing comprehensive - high-quality nephrology care to Veterans served by the Durham VA Health Care System and for maintaining the knowledge - credentials - and clinical privileges necessary to fulfill assigned responsibilities.

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 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
• Additional - 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: Completion of nephrology fellowship training in an ACGME accredited training program Board certification or board eligibility in nephrology Experience working in the VA or any federal system Ability to provide high-quality evidence-based direct patient care Ability to function in a multidisciplinary team Demonstrated interest and/or experience in teaching and/or clinical research Administrative experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandants/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Staff Nephrologist is a full-time physician in the Nephrology Section of Medicine Service at the Durham VA Health Care System
• The physician provides comprehensive nephrology care across inpatient - outpatient - and dialysis settings and works collaboratively with physicians - advanced practice providers - trainees - nursing staff - and other members of the interdisciplinary team
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Serves as an attending physician on the inpatient Nephrology Consult Service - providing consultation and management for hospitalized Veterans with kidney-related conditions Provides outpatient nephrology care at the Durham VA Medical Center and other Durham VA Health Care System locations - including Garner - North Carolina - as assigned - with a focus on timely access - continuity of care - and management of complex kidney disease Provides longitudinal care for Veterans with acute and chronic kidney disease - including advanced kidney disease - and assists with kidney replacement therapy planning and related care Reviews and triages outpatient nephrology consults - determines the appropriate urgency and setting of care - distributes consults as appropriate - and completes e-consults when clinically appropriate Provides care for Veterans requiring dialysis and other kidney replacement therapies in inpatient and outpatient settings Provides clinical support for kidney transplant candidates and recipients - as appropriate Coordinates nephrology care across VA and community settings - including care for Veterans receiving dialysis or other nephrology services outside VA Provides attending-level teaching and supervision of nephrology fellows - residents - medical students - and other trainees in inpatient and outpatient settings Works collaboratively with Duke University Nephrology and Medicine faculty and trainees in support of the VA's academic mission Participates in conferences - case discussions - and other educational activities with Duke Nephrology and VA Medicine Service - as assigned Works collaboratively with Nephrology Section advanced practice providers and other members of the interdisciplinary team Participates in after-hours and weekend nephrology coverage and provides independent attending coverage as assigned Participates in clinical operations - access and consult management - quality improvement - patient safety - and performance improvement activities supporting the Nephrology Section and Medicine Service May serve as Acting Chief of Nephrology and/or Acting Dialysis Medical Director - as needed Supervises trainees and holds a non-regular-rank academic title at Duke Work Schedule: 8am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive/Relocation: 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards.