Podiatrist (Internal to NTX Employees)

Summary

This is an open continuous announcement established to enable Podiatrist's within the VA North Texas Health Care System to communicate their desire interest for reassignment to different Podiatrist positions within the VANTXHCS.

Applicants to this announcement should update their application every 90 days to be considered for internal reassignments.

NOTE: This announcement will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed weekly or at the request of management.

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Duties

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The Podiatrist performs the full range of professional care & treatment of the feet, ankles, & associated structures of the legs to include evaluation, diagnosis, medical treatment, & in office minor surgical procedures & treatment of structural & functional anomalies, localized disease processes, trauma, & localized manifestations of systemic disease by medical/physical/mechanical means.

The Podiatrist will provide comprehensive care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Podiatry.

Duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Is an expert in the field of General Podiatry, performing diagnoses and treatment for the full range of cases, problems, and injuries encountered in the specialty.
• Applies extensive knowledge and understanding of medical sciences underlying the field of podiatry; pharmacology; and lower extremity biomechanics to perform various routine and complex medical procedures.
• Refers to a staff Surgical Podiatrist for surgical needs in a timely manner.
• Provides conservative care for a vast variety of foot and ankle problems to include foot and ankle imbalances, weaknesses, and deformities.
• Provides treatment that includes manipulation, strapping, casting, referral to Physical Therapy, and design, fabrication, and fitting of balance and orthotic devices. These include the most difficult biomechanical problems including balance and prosthetic devices to accommodate partial loss of a portion of the foot or to better maintain and align gait in the neurovascular deficient patient.
• Examines, diagnoses, and prescribes appropriate footwear, inspects for effectiveness and specifications in accordance with patient need. Prescribes laboratory procedures to assist in diagnosis and interprets results.
• Interprets x-rays for bone and joint pathology, deformities, trauma, and associated soft tissue structural changes.
• Uses fluoroscopy to locate and excise foreign bodies of the foot/ankle, and to examine osseous abnormalities of the foot/ankle.
• Selects, prescribes, and/or applies medical therapy to include topical, oral, and injectable medication and drugs.
• Advise patients on dosage and side effects of medications. Prepare complete medical records, including significant history and physical findings, pre-operative diagnoses and planned procedures.
• Diagnose and treat foot disorders to include the most difficult arising from non-systemic origin.
• Recognize systemic disease and disorders and refer patients for appropriate medical treatment.
• Independently examines, diagnoses, and medically treats non-systemic conditions (ankle and foot sprains, fractures or foot/ankle, benign tumors, cysts, burns, lacerations, puncture wounds, foreign bodies, abscesses, bacterial and mycotic infections, dermatitis, cellulitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, mycotic nail debridement, myositis, plantar fasciitis, hammer toes, bunion deformities, warts, ingrown nails, pes planus and pes cavus, and hyperkeratotic lesions and wounds of the feet/ankle).
• Consult with professional staff in the treatment of localized manifestations of systemic conditions, or the systemic conditions inducing or complicating foot pathology (diabetic ulcers, chronic wounds, abscesses, cellulitis, and osteomyelitis,).
• Performs multiple minor surgical procedures under local anesthesia on outpatients, to include, but not limited to, excision of pyogenic ingrown nails, foreign bodies, warts including electrocautery of wound, aspiration of ganglionic cysts, incision, and drainage of blisters and debridement of their base if infected.
• Performs injection therapy utilizing local anesthesia and injectable medication for such conditions as calcaneal bursitis, traumatic arthritis, or capsulitis of any of the pedal or ankle joints, tenosynovitis of the foot and ankle, plantar fasciitis, and myositis.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

Telework : Not available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Bargaining Unit: This position is bargaining unit.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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 ( 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Podiatrist Basic Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States.
• Education: Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~
• Residency Training: Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status. Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~
• Licensure and Registration: Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency: Physicians 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).

Staff Podiatrist Medical: None beyond the basic requirements. The individual must have completed an accredited residency, and/or possess experience to perform general podiatric duties and some specialized functions and procedures, without supervision. Staff podiatrists may also include attending podiatrists who train physician residents, assigned in facilities with residency training programs, and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine. These podiatrists perform office based procedures only and generally work a set 40-hour per week schedule.

Staff Podiatrist Surgical: Should be board qualified or board certified by a Council on Podiatric Medical Education certification board, or other equivalent certification to grant surgical privileges. The individual must possess experience to perform duties as a podiatrist and surgeon, and have completed an accredited residency, and/or possess experience to perform general and surgical duties and some specialized functions and procedures, without supervision. Staff podiatrist surgeons also includes attending physicians who train podiatrist residents, assigned in facilities with residency training programs, and consultants who are capable of giving authoritative views and opinions on subjects in their field of medicine. These podiatrists will perform office based procedures and operating room procedures and are responsible for surgical patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Added work responsibilities may include seeing hospital patients daily and carrying a pager or be available by phone for emergency consultations.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is VM-15. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is VM-15.

Physical Requirements: Physical activity includes sitting, standing (up to 2 hours), walking (up to 2 hours), heavy lifting (45 pounds or over), reaching above the shoulder, and repeated bending. Incumbent should be emotionally and mentally stable, and capable to perform the duties of the position.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

(1) Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine and surgery, approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatry Medical Association in the year in which the degree was granted.

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 for a podiatric 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.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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.

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.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.