Staff Optometrist

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until Filled. Eligible applications received will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

The VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System is recruiting for an Optometrist for a position at our Rochester VA Clinic. Rochester VA Clinic offers a wide range of health support and facility services for Veterans in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. Come join the team and see what Rochester has to offer!

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

The VA Finger Lakes Health Care System seeks a full time outpatient clinical Optometrist. The Optometrist functions as an independent practitioner exercising initiative and judgement in day-to-day activities.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Perform and document comprehensive or targeted eye examinations.
• Provide patient care following national guidelines.
• Accurately document patient care activities in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) per WTVAHCS requirements.
• Order diagnostic studies pertinent to ocular evaluations.
• Prescribe medications for ocular diseases in accordance with federal and state laws or refer patients to appropriate specialists if outside the scope of optometry practice.
• Obtain consent for procedures when necessary and document appropriately.
• Consult with other healthcare disciplines as necessary to complete patient evaluations and ensure integrated care.
• Engage in health promotion and disease prevention activities including patient education and shared decision-making.
• Maintain updated Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

• Support the Chief Optometrist and assist in all aspects of administrative duties as needed.
• Participate in the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures.
• Contribute to performance improvement initiatives within the Optometry Service.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification 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.

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 the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed Optometrists 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.

Staff Optometrist 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.
• Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in Optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice Optometry and maintain a current registration in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active current licensure.
• Residency Training: Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program or have comparable experience as described:
  • Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE in the list published for the year the residency was completed. OR
  • Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.