Physician Pulmonologist

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 an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval (award amount up to $200,000 and eligibility period of one to five years) is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the application.

Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements 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. Currently employed physicians in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

• 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 an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from a VA-approved school.
• Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory or the District of Columbia.
• Residency training: physicians must have completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty program that leads to board certification.
• Residencies approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) for the year the program was completed, or one year of post‑medical‑school training followed by two years of independent practice, or non‑U.S. residency programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States.
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency programs who otherwise meet the basic requirements may be appointed as “Physician Resident Providers” (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis.
• PRPs are not independent practitioners and are not privileged; they perform restricted duties under supervision.
• In rare circumstances, the Facility Director may submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer to request reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for physicians whose record warrants such action.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Reference: VA Qualification Standards.

• Provide comprehensive outpatient care to veterans with respiratory disorders, including COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, pneumonia and sleep‑related disorders.
• Diagnose and manage a variety of pulmonology diseases in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Conduct comprehensive evaluations and management of respiratory conditions; determine when additional assessments or interventions are needed.
• Ensure timely access to pulmonology specialists through telehealth services and community care options.
• Develop individualized treatment plans, monitor patient progress, and adjust plans as necessary based on clinical findings and diagnostic results.
• Provide consultations and expert guidance to other healthcare providers on pulmonology cases.
• Educate healthcare staff on best practices for pulmonology prevention and control.
• Engage in clinical research and quality improvement projects related to pulmonology diseases.
• Implement evidence‑based practices and contribute to clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Participate in staff meetings, hospital committees, and the peer review process.
• Maintain VA training requirements, complete required documentation, and uphold credentials necessary for privileging.
• Participate in the Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE)/Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) processes.
• Adhere to employee health requirements and participate in Clinical Pertinence Reviews.
• Cooperate with and…