Summary

The Miami VA Healthcare System's Surgery Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. You must be an excellent communicator and team player who is adaptable to the needs of a growing medical center.

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: Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: 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
• License and Registration: 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 (Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency/Fellowship 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)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
• (4) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of 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
• (5) (a) Residents currently enrolled in ACGME or 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 (that is - 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
• For more information - see paragraph 4b below.(b) 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
• Board Certification: Thoracic Surgery or Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Preferred Experience: Cardiothoracic experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019
• This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health
• This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs. - carrying objects up to 15 lbs. - frequent reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - hands and legs - use of cranes and motor vehicles - walking & standing up to 8 hours - bending and climbing and able to hear whisper
• The incumbent must be physically - emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Duties

• This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until filled
• Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis
• Eligible applicants will be referred each week for consideration until a selection is made
• This announcement was amended to correct salary - bargaining unit status verbiage - and to correct qualification standard due to the new Physician Qualification effective April 28 - 2026.This position HAS Bargaining Unit status
• In compliance with VA Policy & union requirements/recommendations for Title 38 clinical positions - internal facility employees must receive first consideration prior to hiring managers making selections externally to other applicants
• This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment/ Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized
• Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply for EDRP
• Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more
• 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 Physician (Cardiothoracic Surgery) duties consist - but are not limited to the following: Admit - evaluate - diagnose - consult and provide pre-intra - and postoperative surgical care to adult patients to correct or treat various conditions of the heart and relate blood vessels within the chest including surgical care of coronary artery disease - cancers of the lung - esophagus - and chest wall - abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves
• congenital anomalies of the chest and heart
• tumor of the mediastinum and diseases of the diaphragm and management of the airway and injuries of the chest - including trauma patients
• Performing medical evaluation - diagnose and treating conditions - injuries and diseases that affect the organs in the thorax and chest
• Performing a wide range of corrective and critical care operations - such as chest wall tumor resections - tracheostomies - lung transplants and pulmonary embolectomies
• Prescribes and/or recommends laboratory tests - diagnostic studies - and/or medications based on current medical center - VHA - and DEA policy and within scope of practice
• Will supervise medical students - residents and/or fellows
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday- 7:00am - 3:30pm(Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).