Physician (Cardiothoracic Surgeon- Section Chief)

Quality Care Our Heroes Deserve

Now is the time to take your career to the next level and become part of the high-caliber talent that is VA. Experience what 250,000 current VA employees already have state-of-the art practice settings, access to the latest technology, a multi-disciplinary team environment and the opportunity to provide the men and women who have bravely served this country with the finest patient care, benefits and customer satisfaction. And with VA Patient Satisfaction Scores leading the healthcare industry, you'll be joining one of the most respected facilities in the Nation.

Nashville offers affordable living with picturesque seasons and an abundance of recreational and entertainment activities. Nashville, better known as "Music City USA," is the capital of Tennessee and home of the Tennessee Titans NFL and Nashville Predators NHL teams. Tennessee does not have a state income tax.

To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.

***PLEASE READ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY TO ENSURE THAT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ARE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE. *** YOUR GRADE AND SALARY WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON YOUR EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AND WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BOARD. NOTE: APPLICANTS MAY BE BOARDED AT A LOWER GRADE DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION.

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to

Relocation expenses ARE NOT authorized for this position.

Duties

VA Tennessee Valley Health Care System, Nashville Campus, Nashville, Tennessee is seeking a full-time Section Chief for the Cardiothoracic Surgical Department. This position is assigned to the Surgical Service, under the supervision of the Chief of Surgical Service. The incumbent supervises the organization and the administrative day-to-day activities of the Cardiac Surgery Department. He/She actively participates in the completion of performance evaluations of cardiac staff members and is responsible for the educational activities of residents and students assigned to the Cardiac Surgery rotation. The physician will also be involved in establishing a cardiac performance improvement program for the department.

Highly Preferred Qualifications

• Board Certified in Thoracic Surgery
• Experience teaching residents/medical students, as well as the oversight of care provided by residents and students.
• Experience performing minimally invasive cardiac valve surgery
• Experience performing heart transplantation
• Experience in establishing and maintaining a ventricular assist device program
• Experience performing multi-vessels off-pump bypass surgery consistently in patients with two and three vessel coronary artery disease
• Experience establishing a new cardiac program
• Experience in carrying out basic science translational research in the context of the global objectives of the VA.
• At least 8 years experience as a cardiac surgeon in a teaching environment

Key Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship
• Full unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration required.
• Must pass pre-employment examination.
• Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
• Background and/or Security Investigation required.
• English Language Proficiency required.

Required Skills:

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following Basic Requirements Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. 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 Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: (1) Schools of medicine holding regular institutional membership in the Association of American Medical Colleges for the year in which the degree was granted. (2) Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. (3) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure.

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. The physician must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. The facility Director may waive this licensure requirement if the physician is to serve in a country other than the United States and the physician has licensure in that country. English Language Proficiency. Physicians, including residents, appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

In describing your experience as a cardiothoracic surgeon, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience. 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. 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 Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: (1) Schools of medicine holding regular institutional membership in the Association of American Medical Colleges for the year in which the degree was granted. (2) Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. (3) Schools (including foreign schools) accepted by the licensing body of a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia as qualifying for full or unrestricted licensure. PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you will be asked to produce a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency. Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD-214(s), SF-15 (as applicable) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit

How you will be evaluated:

Your application, rsum, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be reviewed. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience. Bring your expertise to VA and be valued as part of a team that is recognized and respected for significant contributions to medicine. You'll enjoy a patient-focused environment, terrific benefits and incentives, and the ability to practice at any VA facility in the country. Equal Opportunity Employer