Optometrist

Summary

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in Charleston, SC, serves over 100,000 Veterans across coastal SC and GA. Highly acclaimed, it is one of the few Level 1A facilities in the nation to achieve a prestigious 5-star rating. The system continuously expands, offering care through its main medical center and multiple community clinics. The clinic is seeking a highly qualified Optometrist who is passionate and ready to serve veterans and their families.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 mission of the Optometrist is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing the highest quality care through clinical in-person exams at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System Eye Clinics including its CBOCs. To accomplish this mission, the Optometrist needs to be: Fully integrated into the interdisciplinary eye care team, providing the full scope of eye Services based on education, training, licensure and competency. Focused on prevention and wellness as the overriding philosophy of practice. A most cost-effective patient care provider while assuring adequate access, and maintaining a high level of quality as measured by patient satisfaction. The Optometrist is assigned to one or more of the aforementioned clinics. The incumbent provides comprehensive eye care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Optometry. Within the VA system, optometrists are allowed to provide medical care of the eye but are not permitted to perform any invasive procedures of any kind, including injections in or around the eye, regardless of state law. The scope of this position's activities covers screening and follow up eye care rendered by the clinic. The selected optometrist will also respect and follow any clinical care guidelines that are provided by the Chief of Ophthalmology clinic. Work Schedule: Full-Time, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Work schedule subject to change based on the needs of the service/clinic.

Requirements

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. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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.

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. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year 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.