Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program 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 review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

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 completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Physicians in VA who met the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements.

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.
• Doctor of medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an approved VA school.
• Current, full and unrestricted medical or surgical license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth or D.C.
• Residency training: completion of an accredited core specialty program approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs leading to 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education – the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) – in the list published for the year the residency (or fellowship if applicable) was completed.
• OR (2) 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.
• OR (3) Non‑U.S. residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified 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.
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and otherwise meeting basic requirements are eligible for appointment as PRPs (Physician Resident Providers) on an intermittent basis.
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (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.
• 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Preferred experience: cardiac stimulation devices, pacemakers, defibrillators, off‑pump CABG, TAVR.
• Physical requirements in accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit

Benefits

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.
• VHA Physician Total Rewards.
• EDRP authorized; former participants ineligible.
• Contact: View email address on click.appcast.io.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.
• Paid time off: 50‑55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, possible 5‑day paid absence for CME).
• Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life and long‑term care insurance (many federal programs carry into retirement).
• Full and unrestricted license required.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement if full‑time with board certification.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Responsibilities

• Provides clinical support and surgical interventions to the Cardiothoracic and Thoracic Surgery programs in the Buffalo campus and participates in the surgical and clinical care of eligible Veterans.
• Performs extensive cardiac surgical procedures, including CABG, mitral and aortic valve repair, tumor resections, thymectomy with VATS, insertion of ventricular assist devices (including ECMO), lung laceration repair, thoracotomy for exploration and biopsy.
• Delivers patient care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including examination, treatment, and follow‑up.
• Manages call coverage and urgent clinical services.
• Provides supervision of medical students and residents, both in outpatient clinics and during surgical procedures.
• Collaborates closely with midlevel providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
• Participates in quality improvement activities and fosters high patient and staff satisfaction.
• Engages in the robust research program of the institution.
• Guides, supervises, and teaches surgery residents and medical students, collaborating with our university affiliate.
• Participates in weekly morbidity and mortality surgical conferences and oversees the attending call schedule.
• Provides timely clinical evaluations of assigned staff members (OPPEs) and trainees.
• Ensures in‑patient and out‑patient consultations are addressed appropriately and documented timely, including dictation of operative reports, discharge summaries, and trainee supervision.
• Participates in VAMC committees and peer reviews as assigned.
• Provides comprehensive care of cardiothoracic and thoracic surgery patients across outpatient, inpatient, and emergency department settings, including pre‑operative evaluation, diagnostic work‑up, surgical intervention, post‑operative care, complication management, and discharge planning.
• Actively involved in quality measure improvement (e.g., EPRP, timely access to care, OR efficiency, cancellation rates, length of stay).
• Other related duties as assigned.
• Position reports directly to the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
• Work schedule: Full‑time, Monday‑Friday 08:00 AM to 04:30 PM (compressed schedules available).