Physician- Anesthesiologist (Cardiac)

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

• Welcome to Salt Lake City, where the serenity of a mountain getaway meets metropolitan energy. Forget what you think you know; adventure here isn't just on the slopes. Explore art, breweries, music and a vibrant culinary scene, all nestled against breathtaking landscapes. It's a city that challenges expectations, offering a unique blend of wild beauty and urban discovery. Frequently referred to as the "Crossroads of the West," its location is also ideal for longer road trips north to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and south to Utah's Mighty 5. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Up to $80,000 approved for a highly qualified candidate. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. 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 complete review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program. Contact Joshua Titensor, joshua.titensor@va.gov for questions/assistance. 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 Duties include but are not limited to: - Cardiac imaging (TEE, echocardiography interpretation) - Mechanical circulatory support device management (LVADs, ECMO) - Pharmacologic strategies for myocardial protection - Hemodynamic monitoring and management during high-risk cardiac procedures Perioperative Responsibilities: - Comprehensive cardiac evaluation: coronary artery disease, valvular disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease. - Risk stratification and optimization: medication management, fluid status, and anemia/blood conservation strategies. Intraoperative Responsibilities: - Induction and maintenance of anesthesia tailored to cardiovascular physiology. - Continuous monitoring: - Hemodynamics (arterial pressure, pulmonary artery pressures) - Cardiac output (thermodilution, esophageal Doppler, bioimpedance) - TEE to assess cardiac function, valves, cannula position, and immediate post-repair status. - Management of mechanical support (CPB, ECMO, ventricular assist devices) - Intervention for cardiac emergencies: arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, tamponade. Postoperative: - Critical care management in cardiac ICUs, including: - Hemodynamic stabilization - Arrhythmia management - Ventilatory support - Pain control: multimodal analgesia, regional blocks for cardiac surgery. - Coordination with multidisciplinary teams for continuity of care. Scope of Procedures: - Cardiac Surgery: CABG, valve repair/replacement, aortic surgery, heart transplantation. - Interventional Cardiology: TAVI/TAVR, electrophysiology procedures, percutaneous ventricular assist devices. - Mechanical Circulatory Support: LVAD placement, VA/VV ECMO initiation and management. - Special Populations: Pediatric cardiac anesthesia, adult congenital heart disease, pregnancy-related cardiac surgery. - Active role in surgical decision-making, quality assurance, and protocol development. - Participation in team-based briefings, handovers, and safety checklists. - Leadership in morbidity and mortality meetings, audit, research, and education. - Advanced knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. - Technical expertise in invasive monitoring, TEE, CPB, and circulatory support devices. - Competency in preoperative optimization, intraoperative crisis management, and postoperative critical care. - Ability to coordinate care with surgeons, perfusionists, and ICU specialists. Work Schedule: Adjusted work schedule 7:00am to 5:00pm, 40 hour workweek with 10 hour shifts (day off negotiable), call, some weekends and holidays required.

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/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.