Physician - Ophthalmologist (Open Continuous)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 280,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Sign-on bonus

Federal benefits

Job summary

The Wilmington VA Medical Center seeks a full-time Board-Eligible or Board-Certified Ophthalmologist to join the Surgical Care team. The physician will perform clinical and surgical duties across a broad range of eye conditions, including cataract surgery, glaucoma, retinal disorders, and anterior segment diseases.

Responsibilities include developing treatment plans, supervising residents, coordinating with other specialists, and ensuring quality of care and patient safety.

Qualifications

• MD/DO degree required.
• Board certification eligibility or board certification is required/preferred.
• Current license to practice medicine in the U.S. is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide full-spectrum eye care, including cataract surgery.
• Diagnose and treat anterior segment diseases, glaucoma, retinal disorders, and other ocular conditions.
• Perform surgical procedures using standard ophthalmic techniques and lasers as applicable.
• Collaborate with other physicians and staff to manage patient care.
• Supervise ophthalmology residents and coordinate teaching activities.
• Maintain accurate medical records and adhere to all regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to clinic productivity, quality measures, and patient safety initiatives.

Skills

Ophthalmology

Surgery

Patient care

Education

MD/DO degree

Board certification eligibility or board-certified

Job description

Summary

The Wilmington VA Medical Center is currently seeking a full-time Board Eligible or Board-Certified Ophthalmologist to join their Surgical Care team. The Ophthalmologist will perform clinical and surgical duties and manage and treat a wide variety of general ophthalmic conditions such as anterior segment diseases, eyelid disorders, glaucoma, diabetic retinal disorders, macular degeneration, and some ophthalmic neurological disorders.

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 will not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• Doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine.
• The degree must have been obtained from a school approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which it was completed.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Residency training: completion of a VA‑approved accredited core specialty training program leading to board‑certification eligibility.
• Options for residency: (1) An ACGME or AOA accredited program completed in the year of graduation; (2) One year of post‑medical‑school training (e.g., internship or transitional year) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of independent practice under an unrestricted license in the United States; (3) Non‑U.S. residency training followed by at least three years of independent practice in the United States, with U.S. fellowships creditable toward the requirement.
• Exceptions: Residents in accredited ACGME/AOA programs who otherwise meet the basic requirements are eligible to be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs).
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis. PRPs are not independent practitioners and will not be privileged; they have a scope of practice allowing them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision.
• In rare circumstances, the Facility Director may submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer to seek reasonable exceptions to the residency requirement for physicians whose record warrants such action.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Preferred experience: fellowship training.
• Robust current surgical practice of ophthalmology with a focus on cataract surgery. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
• Physical requirements: The incumbent must perform all activities of the position without restriction; this includes standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, turning, and going up and down flights of stairs.

Duties

• Provide a full spectrum of eye care, including cataract surgery, and assess, examine, diagnose, and develop treatment plans for patients.
• Manage medical disorders affecting vision such as inflammatory, vascular, neurological, and genetic disorders, thyroid eye disease, diabetes, and strokes.
• Perform surgical procedures related to injuries and diseases of the eye and visual system.
• Perform surgeries using YAG, SLT, and Argon lasers.
• Collaborate with other physician specialists and medical staff in the overall treatment of patient medical conditions.
• Be responsible for all patient orders—including laboratory, imaging, pharmacy, prosthetics, and specialty care consults—through CPRS.
• See patients individually, operate independently, and staff resident clinics and operating rooms for residents.
• Maintain appropriate, professional, and timely medical record documentation and assist with monitoring clinic management.
• Participate in matters concerning clinic productivity, performance measures, quality and patient safety oversight, peer review, and process improvements.
• Comply with national and local regulations, policies, and accreditation requirements.
• Show effectiveness in teaching and supervising ophthalmology residents and assist in coordinating educational activities.
• Comply with necessary trainee supervision requirements.
• Share attending call after hours and weekends, attend required staff meetings, communicate up and down the chain of command, and assist in managing surgical or clinical issues that arise within the service under the direction of the Section Chief.

Benefits

• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus) approved for highly qualified candidates.
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance).
• Authorized pay: competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• Paid time off: 50‑55 days per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and up to 5 days of paid absence for CME).
• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution.
• Insurance: federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care, many federally available programs transferable into retirement.
• Licensure: one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.
• CME: possible $1,000 per year reimbursement for full‑time board‑certified physicians.
• Malpractice: free liability protection with tail coverage provided.
• Contract: no employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.
• Work schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.