Summary

The Corneal/External Disease/Comprehensive Ophthalmologist is located in North West Health Care Center (NWHCC)at 9939 State HWY 151 San Antonio - Texas 78251. Responsibilities includes patient care - education and research in the Ophthalmology section of the Surgical Service. The scope of these activities covers hospitalized patients and all phases of ambulatory care. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program.

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: American Board of Ophthalmology certification or board eligible Completion of Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology approved fellowship in Cornea External Disease Competent in the diagnosis and treatment of complex corneal transplant patients (DSEK/DMEK - PK - DALK) Competent with ocular surface disease management and treating infectious and corneal conditions (keratitis - corneal ulcers - autoimmune-related corneal disease)
• Proficient in performing complex cataract surgery in complex corneal cases and advanced corneal transplant techniques
• Proficient in pterygium excision and pterygium excision and amniotic membrane transplantation
• Previous experience with resident clinical and surgical supervision
• Position requires teaching responsibilities
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• This vacancy will remain open until filled
• The first cut-off date is 09/30/2026
• Additional applications will be referred as needed
• (open continuous announcement)
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• 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
• 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 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• The Corneal/External Disease/Comprehensive Ophthalmologist is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with medical/surgical diseases of the eye and its possible associated systemic cornea/external disease and medical condition
• Competent in the diagnosis and treatment of complex corneal transplant patients (DSEK/DMEK - PK - DALK) Must be capable to perform comprehensive ophthalmologist when necessary
• Participates in patient care through hospital rounds - morning reports - conferences - consultations - participation in ambulatory care and other similar activities
• Participates in after hours call and serves as a back up to residents on call
• Participates in the teaching and developing resident physicians - and insures that the education experiences in Ophthalmology are of the quality and quantity expected by relevant accrediting bodies
• Serves as an important participant and counselor for on-going research activities - involving Ophthalmology
• Reviews research proposals and manuscripts and when appropriate - provides counsel to the course of their work
• Administratively - responsible to meet all patient care and medical record administrative requirements of the Veterans Health Care Administration as well as local hospital policy
• In addition - will participate in the evaluation of resident and/or ophthalmic technician performance
• Candidate will be responsible - for insuring the complex mission of the Ophthalmology section in the Veterans Health Care System in general is met in all phases of patient care - education - research and administrative functions.