Physician - Transplant Hepatologist

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education Debt Reduction Program

Sign-on Bonus (Recruitment Incentive)

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Pittsburgh is seeking a Liver Transplant Medical Director to lead the VA liver transplant program, optimize donor and recipient pathways, and coordinate care across specialists. You will oversee evaluations, pre- and post-transplant management, and work with national partners to ensure high-quality veteran outcomes.

The role emphasizes clinical excellence, program leadership, education, and integrated team-based care within a nationally recognized VA transplant

Qualifications

• MD/DO degree from an accredited medical school.
• Current, full, unrestricted medical license in the United States.
• Board certification/eligibility in Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology.

Responsibilities

• Lead VA Liver Transplant Center as Medical Director across evaluations, optimization, and post-transplant care.
• Coordinate with hepatology, surgery, psychology, addiction medicine, pharmacy and social work teams.
• Develop and implement AUD care pathways for transplant patients.
• Participate in weekly tumor boards and transplant huddles; supervise transplant selection and multidisciplinary clinics.
• Oversee telehealth clinics and long-term post-transplant follow-up and referrals nationwide.

Skills

Gastroenterology

Transplant Hepatology

Leadership

Team-based care

Education

MD/DO degree

Board-certified in Gastroenterology & Transplant Hepatology

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
• Preferred Experience: Candidates should be board eligible or certified in Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology - with accredited fellowship training in Gastroenterology - fellowship training in Transplant Hepatology as well as competence in general GI endoscopy
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching - standing - walking - and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care
• This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level - during the provision of patient care - including retrieval of needed equipment - supplies and to make contact with the patient
• This position requires the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care
• This position is typically non-sedentary - and frequently involves being in the standing position
• This position requires moving about accomplish tasks - such as assisting with patient ambulation and moving one patient area to the next
• This position requires the raising of objects from a lower position to a higher position or the movement of objects horizontally position to position
• Lifting may be done to move a patient from one location to the next - i.e.- from the exam table to the chair - and in the movement of equipment or supplies.

Duties

• This role blends clinical excellence - program leadership - education - and collaborative team-based care
• As the Liver Transplant Medical Director - you will be a key member of a nationally recognized transplant center within the VA system - working closely with National partners to deliver liver transplant evaluations - optimize Veteran transplant candidates - and ensure continuity of care post-transplant
• Major Duties include - but are not limited to: Veteran-Centered Liver Transplantation Diagnose and manage the full spectrum of chronic liver diseases - including hepatitis C - NAFLD/NASH - autoimmune liver disease - and alcohol-associated liver disease
• Coordinate and conduct comprehensive pre- and post-liver transplant evaluations - including medical optimization and longitudinal transplant care in partnership with VA transplant centers
• Actively participate in multidisciplinary transplant boards and collaborate with hepatology - surgery - psychology - addiction medicine - pharmacy - and social work teams
• Development of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Optimization Program Lead the design and implementation of a dedicated AUD care pathway for Veterans with alcohol-associated liver disease being considered for transplant
• Work alongside transplant psychologists and addiction medicine specialists to provide integrated - evidence-based care-including structured behavioral interventions - abstinence monitoring - and relapse prevention plans
• Establish robust post-transplant monitoring and support protocols tailored to the needs of Veterans - including coordination with VA mental health services and community resources
• Other Key Duties Active participation in the weekly Tumor Board to evaluate and discuss complex oncology cases
• Attendance at the weekly Transplant Huddle to coordinate care and align on patient management strategies
• Leadership of the Transplant Selection Committee - guiding multidisciplinary decisions on transplant candidacy
• Engagement in the Liver Transplant Multidisciplinary Clinic - working closely with a team of specialists to provide comprehensive patient care
• Management of a personal Telehealth Clinic - offering remote consults and continuity of care for transplant patients
• Oversight of post-transplant monitoring and long-term care - ensuring optimal patient outcomes and addressing complications
• Review and acceptance of referrals from VA referral centers nationwide - ensuring timely access to transplant services
• Triage of clinical calls from referring VA facilities - providing expert guidance on the care of veteran patients
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants 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 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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8a-4:30p