Physician (Primary Care) - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive/EDRP Authorized

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Corpus Christi (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off: 50-55 days per year

Malpractice liability protection

Federal pension and 401(k)

EDRP – Student Loan Repayment

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Corpus Christi is seeking a Primary Care Staff Physician to lead multidisciplinary teams and provide comprehensive care to Veterans. The candidate must possess a Doctor of Medicine or equivalent, along with a valid medical license and relevant experience.

This role includes responsibilities such as delivering evidence-based medical care and fostering excellence in patient service. Benefits encompass generous paid time off, retirement plans, and potential recruitment incentives.

Qualifications

• Must meet the basic requirements and any additional requirements listed.
• Currently employed physicians in VA meeting prior qualifications are deemed qualified.
• Exceptions for residents requires consideration of composite experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive care to Veterans.
• Deliver medical care per clinical guidelines utilizing evidence-based tools.
• Demonstrate excellence in customer service with Veterans and staff.

Skills

Proficiency in spoken and written English

2 or more years of VA or DOD experience

Board certified or eligible by a recognized certifying body

Experience in women's health-care duties

Experience ordering appropriate tests and coordinating care

Education

Doctor of medicine or equivalent degree

Current full and unrestricted medical license

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) 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.

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 physicians 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
• 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: 2 or more years of VA or DOD experience
• Board certified or eligible by a nationally recognized certifying body – American Board of Internal Medicine or American Board of Family Medicine
• Previous experience providing effective medical treatment – consultation – and coordinating care in the outpatient or ambulatory primary‑care setting
• Previous experience in women’s health‑care duties including assessment and treatment of female patients – including pelvic examinations – pap smears and other related gender‑specific health care of women – reviews diagnostic studies and reports abnormal findings
• Experience ordering appropriate tests including lab and imaging studies and incorporating results for a comprehensive treatment plan to include coordinating care between various specialties and disciplines
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices – hospitals – warehouses – and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026.
• The initial cut‑off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 20, 2026.
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as‑needed basis until positions are filled.
• The Primary Care Staff Physician functions as the physician leader within a multidisciplinary PACT team or as a float or gap provider assigned to provide comprehensive – collaborative acute and continuity care to an assigned panel of Veterans as well as to patients outside of the assigned panel when veteran care indicates a need for such.
• Medical care is delivered in accordance with current clinical proactive guidelines with attention to prevention via utilization of evidence‑based clinical decision‑making tools.
• In addition to the provision of high‑quality medical care, PACT physicians demonstrate excellence in customer service via compassionate and informed interpersonal relationships with Veterans – family members – and staff.
• The PACT physicians report directly to the assigned Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and ultimately to the Associate Chief of Staff for Primary Care (ACOS/PC).
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
• VHA Physician Total Rewards.
• Work schedule: Monday – Friday, 08:00 am – 04:30 pm.
• Recruitment incentive (Sign‑on bonus): Authorized for highly qualified candidate. EDRP – Student Loan Repayment: Learn more.
• EDRP Authorized. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Contact [e-mail] – the EDRP coordinator for questions/assistance. 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 days of paid absence for CME).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) 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.