Surgical Critical Care Physician (Intensive Care Unit)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 290,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration’s Phoenix VA Health Care System seeks a Surgical Critical Care physician to oversee a dedicated team in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The role emphasizes clinical duties, on-call coverage, and leadership in patient care decisions.

The position requires an MD or DO with an unrestricted U.S. license, residency in an approved program, and board eligibility with potential board certification in general surgery.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible per VA policy.
• MD or equivalent degree from a school approved by VA.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in the U.S.
• Residency training approved by ACGME/AOA with board eligibility or equivalent.
• Board certification preferred in general surgery.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision and organization of a surgical critical care team.
• Deliver patient care in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
• Engage in on-call coverage as part of responsibilities.
• Make independent professional decisions regarding patient care.

Education

Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree

Current full and unrestricted medical license in US

Residency training in core specialty with board eligibility

Board certification preferred in general 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
• Preferred Experience: Board Certification is preferred in general surgery
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1 - Part II - Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 18 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be October 5th - 2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks
• 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
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• 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 Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be approved for highly qualified applicants
• 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-$2 -500 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 The Surgical Critical Care specialist is responsible for oversight and organization of a surgical critical care team to provide patient care for surgical patients in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of the Phoenix VA Health Care System
• Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations with infrequent recourse to supervisory guidance
• Responsible for advising - management and participation in specific clinical or administrative issues within the General Surgery Section including on call coverage
• Serves as a consultant and advisor to subordinates - peers - and administration
• Approximately 80% of time will be spent with clinical responsibilities - and 20% administrative
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00 A.M
• to 3:30 P.M
• Position also entails on-call duties.