Summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System in Albuquerque is seeking a Chief Anesthesiologist to lead clinical and administrative anesthesia operations. The NMVAHCS has an academic affiliation with the University of New Mexico and the position allows time for academic study and responsibilities. The facility fosters a collaborative/team approach that allows for some CRNA independent practice while providing safe Anesthesia care to Veterans.

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 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
• Additional Requirement: Qualified candidates must be Board Eligible or Board Certified in Anesthesiology (Anesthesia)
• Preferred Experience: Experience in doing the range of cases performed at this facility is preferred for the applicant applying for this position
• This position involves teaching of residents from the University of New Mexico
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Highly qualified individuals may be eligible for a recruitment/relocation incentive in accordance with agency policy
• To receive consideration for an incentive - the selectee must be among the best qualified and meet the criteria established in the VA Handbook 5007 Part VI Chapter 2
• Service agreement required
• 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 Major responsibilities and duties of the position include but are not limited to: Provide leadership with significant responsibility and accountability for all clinical and administrative operations associated with anesthesia services at NMVAHCS
• Oversee service and program operations - including both clinical care delivery and administrative functions across operating room and non operating room anesthesia locations
• Coordinate and work with all licensed independent providers - including physicians and CRNAs - to ensure safe - high quality anesthetic care for Veterans
• Collaborate with clinical services - interdisciplinary leaders - and executive management to support integrated perioperative care and operational effectiveness
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with medical center personnel - patients - families - and community stakeholders
• Direct perioperative care services including preoperative optimization - intraoperative clinical pathways - postoperative management - surgical intensive care participation - and acute and chronic pain management
• Work collaboratively with CRNAs
• Supervise residents - medical students - and SRNAs while supporting their transition to privileged practitioners and promoting a collegial team environment
• Serve as an administrator - educator - and consultant while supporting academic responsibilities and potential faculty appointment with the University of New Mexico
• Deliver anesthesia care independently and through supervision for a wide range of procedures including cardiac - vascular - general surgery - orthopedics - ENT - urology - and expanding non OR anesthesia services
• Participate in rotating evening - weekend - and holiday on call coverage while supporting the mission to provide excellent and safe anesthetic care to the nation's Veterans
• Performs other duties as appropriately assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 6:30am-3:00pm - with rotating on-call responsibilities during evening/weekend/holiday shifts.