The Chief of Ophthalmology is responsible for supervisory and programmatic oversight for Ophthalmology in the Surgical Service at Saint Louis VA and functions as the primary advisor to the Associate Chief of Staff for the Surgical Service. The Chief of Ophthalmology is expected to have the skill set to interact with the section staff, other Section Chiefs/Service Chief/Chief Medical Officers, and the System's Executive Leadership Team to promote excellence in an academic environment.
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 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 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), 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. 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 or fee-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. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Candidate must be eligible for a faculty appointment with an established affiliate partner of VA Saint Louis Health Care System. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work is largely office based and in a sedentary setting. No manual labor is required above ordinary situations. Incumbent must be capable of using a computer given that all clinical charting is electronic.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 Clinical Responsibilities Outpatient Care: -Provides comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of Veterans with acute and chronic eye diseases. -Performs outpatient procedures such as laser treatments, intravitreal injections, and minor surgical interventions. -Works closely with Advanced Practice Providers, Optometrists, Ophthalmology Technicians, and Nursing Staff to manage clinic flow and ensure continuity of care. Inpatient Care: -Provides consultation and management for hospitalized Veterans with ophthalmologic conditions. -Collaborates with Internal Medicine, Neurology, and other specialties in co-management of patients. Operative Care: -Performs routine and complex ophthalmic anterior segment surgeries -Ensures proper preoperative assessment, operative care, and postoperative management. -Provides leadership in the OR for ophthalmology cases, ensuring safety and efficiency. Emergency and On-Call Duties: -Provides timely evaluation and surgical intervention for ocular emergencies. -Shares equitable call coverage with other ophthalmologists in the section. Leadership and Section Chief Responsibilities - Provides timely evaluation and surgical intervention for ocular emergencies. - Shares equitable call coverage with other ophthalmologists in the section. - Supervises ophthalmology staff, optometrists, residents, fellows, technicians, and administrative staff. Team-Based Care -Provides leadership within a multidisciplinary team of ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, and technicians. -Works with nursing and technical staff to optimize patient throughput, testing, and surgical support. -Fosters a collaborative team environment and mentors junior staff. -Actively participates in interdisciplinary care teams and conferences. Teaching and Education -Provides clinical teaching for residents, fellows, and medical students. -Supervises and mentors residents in clinic, OR, and emergency settings.-Conducts training for ophthalmology technicians, optometry staff, and nurses.-Participates in educational conferences, case discussions, and morbidity/mortalityreviews. Administrative and Professional Duties -Participates in Surgical Service leadership meetings and committees. -Conducts performance evaluations and peer reviews for section staff. -Oversees credentialing, privileging, and continuing education. -Ensures accurate documentation in CPRS/ VistA /FEHR. -Engages in quality improvement projects and monitors section performance metrics. Research and Scholarly Activity (if applicable) -Encourages and participates in ophthalmology-related clinical research. -Facilitates collaboration with academic affiliates on research projects. -Supports staff involvement in scholarly projects and quality initiatives. Scope of Practice / Privileges -Clinical privileges include outpatient and inpatient ophthalmology care, routine and complex surgery, and emergency eye care. -Section Chief role includes administrative authority over section staff and operations. -Privileges and supervisory duties are subject to Professional Standards Board and Chief of Staff approval. Supervisory Controls -Reports to Associate Chief of Staff Surgical Service (Chief of Surgery).-Provides direct supervision of ophthalmology staff and oversight of APPs, nurses, technicians, and health professions trainees. -Work evaluated by Chief of Surgery through outcomes, quality metrics, and section performance. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm