Staff Physician/Orthopedic Surgery

<p>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.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation 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 visn15edrp@va.gov, 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 The VA St. Louis Health Care System is seeking a Board Certified or Board Eligible Orthopedic Surgeon to join our Surgical Service. The selected candidates will deliver high-quality, Veteran-centered orthopedic surgical care and must be experienced general orthopedic surgeons with fellowship training in a subspecialty such as Shoulder & Elbow, Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Trauma, or Adult Hip & Knee. Clinical Responsibilities Outpatient Care: Conduct comprehensive orthopedic evaluations, including new consultations, pre-operative assessments, and post-operative follow-ups. Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with patients and referring providers. Inpatient Care: Provide inpatient consultations and manage orthopedic admissions, including pre- and post-operative care. Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and coordinate care with hospitalists, rehabilitation, nursing, and ancillary services. Ensure continuity of care during transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings. Operative Care: Perform a full range of orthopedic surgical procedures within the scope of the surgeon's subspecialty (e.g., joint reconstruction, shoulder/elbow repair, trauma stabilization). Maintain proficiency in advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive, image-guided, and robotic-assisted procedures. Participate in the development and implementation of robotic surgery protocols and ensure safe, effective integration of robotic technology into orthopedic surgical care. Care Coordination: Collaborate with primary care, physical therapy, prosthetics, pain management, and other specialties to ensure integrated, Veteran-centered care. Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences and surgical planning meetings. Facilitate timely communication with referring providers and ensure appropriate handoffs. Educational Responsibilities Supervise and mentor orthopedic surgery residents and medical students in both clinical and operative settings. Ensure compliance with ACGME and affiliate training program requirements. Resident Supervision and Site Director Responsibilities Serve as the primary liaison between the VA Orthopedic Surgery Section and the Washington University Orthopedic Residency Program. Coordinate resident schedules, clinical rotations, and operative assignments to ensure a robust and educational experience aligned with ACGME requirements. Administrative Responsibilities Participate in Surgical Service meetings, peer review, and quality improvement initiatives. Collaborate with nursing leadership, OR managers, and APP supervisors to improve workflows and patient outcomes. Ensure timely and accurate documentation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Collaborating Physician and Clinical Oversight Serve as the designated collaborating physician for Physician Assistants (PAs) assigned to the Orthopedic Surgery Section. Review and co-sign PA documentation as required by VA policy and state licensure regulations. Research and Development (as applicable) Support or participate in clinical research initiatives aligned with orthopedic innovation and Veteran care. Promote scholarly activity, including publications, presentations, and quality improvement projects. Dimensions of Practice Veteran-Centered Care: Prioritizes the needs, preferences, and values of Veterans in all aspects of care delivery. Clinical Competence: Demonstrates mastery in orthopedic surgical techniques and evidence-based practice within the chosen subspecialty. Educational Competence: Provides high-quality teaching and mentorship; contributes to academic program development. Work Schedule: Full-Time tour of duty, actual tour to be negotiated upon selection.</p><h3>Requirements</h3>U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.<h3>Education</h3>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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.