Physician - Gastroenterologist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

• **This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30th, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 9th, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: Monday - Friday and some Saturdays, 7:30am - 4:00pm 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 This position is in the Specialty Care Service at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The staff physician will report directly to the Gastroenterology Section Supervisor and the Associate Chief of Staff of Specialty Care (ACOS). Provides direct outpatient clinical care for outpatients with gastroenterology problems and consultation to VAPIHCS clinical staff within outpatient clinics at the ACC and CBOCs through face-to-face visits in the clinics including CBOC travel, as well as virtual visits through telehealth or telephone, and e-consults as required. The incumbent provides gastroenterology services to Veterans who reside in a large geographical area including multiple CBOCs (Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, and Guam). Will be required to travel to the CBOCs located within VAPIHCS. Schedule will be based on identified Veteran needs. Clinical duties include examining patients suffering from GI and liver disorders, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, elevated LFT's, hepatitis, and/or cirrhosis. The gastroenterologist may work with primary care physicians on a consulting basis when a patient has symptoms that suggest a GI issue. Examinations for GI patients may include rectal examinations and endoscopy procedures, currently done off-site. The incumbent serves as the GI subject matter expert and provides clinical oversight to the advanced practice registered nurse. Provides guidance, teaching and consultation on staff education and development to the Gastroenterology Service clinical staff as well as teaching to medical staff trainees rotating on the Gastroenterology Service. Protected research time may be provided to the incumbent if they desire to have a program of research. Performs other related duties as assigned by the Gastroenterology Section Supervisor and ACOS SC.

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 evaluation. 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.