Physician - Orthopedic Surgeon

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mather (CA); On-site; USD 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Orthopedic Surgeon to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions, perform surgeries, and lead patient care teams. The role emphasizes high-quality clinical work, teaching residents, and proper documentation in EMR systems.

The position offers a competitive salary, potential incentives, and opportunities for ongoing professional development within the VA system.

Qualifications

• MD or DO from an approved medical school in the United States.
• Current, full and unrestricted medical license in the United States.
• Board eligible or board certified in Orthopedic Surgery.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose musculoskeletal conditions and perform related surgeries.
• Develop long-term treatment plans for complex orthopedic cases.
• Supervise and educate residents and medical staff.
• Document patient care in electronic medical records and coordinate care.
• Participate in on-call schedules and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Skills

English proficiency

Board eligible/board certified in Orth

Education

MD/DO degree

Board certification in Orthopedic Surgery

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & 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 ineligible to apply.

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
• 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 or board eligible in Orthopedic Surgery Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must be able to perform CPR per ACLS/BLS protocols.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 14th - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 20th - 2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates every 5 days
• Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 A.M
• - 4:30 P.M. - with an occasional Saturday clinic or a week day extended hour clinic
• however - subject to change - depending on the needs of the service/medical center
• 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 Clinical Duties: Orthopedic surgeons diagnose musculoskeletal problems - perform or prescribe treatments - and assist with rehabilitation
• Develops long-term strategies to treat illnesses - disorders - and issues relating to bones - joints - ligaments - tendons - and muscles
• Prescribes course of treatment for patients with injuries - disorders - or malformations and performs required surgery
• Participate in on-call schedule when assigned in a responsive and timely manner
• Conducts and supervises direct patient care - including some non-surgical treatment options
• Consult and work with radiologists - anesthesiologists - physical therapists and other medical experts
• Administrative Duties: Document all medical information in an electronic medical record
• Instructing and educating Residents Other duties as assigned