Physician (Chief Nuclear Medicine Imaging Section)

Summary Imaging Service at Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ provides Radiology subspecialty inpatient, outpatient, & emergency services to Veterans across central Arizona.

With over 130 employees in 9 specialty divisions, including Staff radiology, Vascular & Interventional Radiology Services, CT Services, MRI services, Nuclear Medicine Services, Ultrasound Services, Breast Imaging Services, Diagnostic Radiology including fluoroscopic services, & Clerical Services.

Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Work Schedule : Normal tour of duty will be 0800 - 1630 HRS, Monday -Friday.

Tour of Duty could vary and will be determined based on departmental needs or as agreed upon with the Chief of Radiology.

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 Oversees both clinical and administrative functions of the Nuclear Medicine Service at the Phoenix VAHCS.

Ensures high quality imaging and a high level of collaborative clinical care as well as compliance with the standards of accrediting bodies such as the NHPP, American College of Radiology, Joint Commission, and the Inspector General's Combined Assessment Program.

Participate in committee meetings such as monthly departmental and section staff meetings, various tumor boards, Radiation Safety and other as assigned by Chief of Radiology.

Provide guidance to assigned staff in development and implementation of standards in Nuclear Medicine. Will serve as a Nuclear Medicine Radiologist, interpreting the entire range of standard nuclear medicine exams including SPECT, PET / CT, PET / MR.

In addition, the incumbent is expected to perform radiopharmaceutical therapies, have experience with Theragnostics and cardiac PET program.

Major duties include but not limited to the following : Directs nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, policies, protocols and projections.

Prescribes radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients. Monitors and maintains quality control of radionuclide preparation, administration, or disposition ensuring that activities comply with applicable regulations and standards.

Monitors handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed. Advises other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials.

Administers radioisotopes to clinical patients or research subjects. Directs the safe management and disposal of radioactive substances.

Monitors cleanup of radioactive spills to ensure that proper procedures are followed and that decontamination activities are conducted.

Ensures the testing of dosage evaluation instruments and surveys meters for proper operation. Maintaining personal dosimetry.

Responsible for the continuing education of the technical staff as well as performance improvement of the care and services provided by Nuclear Medicine Radiology Services.

Administration - Radiologists may participate in supervision of on-board personnel, evaluation of prospective new hires, oversee compliance with all applicable regulations / accreditation, and address patient complaints.

Radiologists will also participate in the random peer-review process of other physicians within the department. Radiologists may be required to respond to issues, inquiries and investigations from Congress, the White House, VA Central Office, and national investigative bodies.

Radiologists are encouraged to participate as a member of a variety of Radiology Service and PVAHCS-wide committees, including for systems redesign and quality improvement projects.

The incumbent will carry out administrative duties as assigned in a timely, resourceful, and efficient manner. He or she will demonstrate interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills that enable him / her to establish and maintain professional relationships with other professionals, whether they are supervisees, peers, or supervisors and leaders both at PVAHCS and at higher levels.

Patient Care- This responsibility will include : Evaluating and prioritizing radiology orders Ordering and evaluating appropriate laboratory studies Ordering hydration for CT exams (if applicable to area of practice) Protocolling and approving complex imaging exams Informed consent, including protocols for screening patients who require signature consent.

Timely and accurate reporting of a variety of complex imaging exams Notifying providers of critical imaging results Performing interventional procedures (if applicable to area of practice) Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background / security investigation.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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. Preferred Experience : Radiologists will be a fully trained, ABR board-certified / eligible with additional residency or fellowship training in Nuclear Medicine.

ABNM board certification or Certificate of added Qualification (CAQ) is preferred. Reference : VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard.

This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements : VA Handbook 5019 / 1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

Education 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.

Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Financial Disclosure Report : Not required Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.

e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.