Physician (Gastroenterology Section Chief)

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care you will operate in a model with three core elements seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

The Chief of Gastroenterology position is located at the Iowa City VA HCS and is under the supervision of the Iowa City VA HCS Specialty Medicine Service Line. The incumbent participates oversees and collaborates to ensure that all applicable clinical functions which include outpatient and inpatient consultative medical care are performed. GI Physicians are tasked with providing timely and courteous service to all Veterans seeking care. Some of the GI providers are physician scientists oversee research programs funded by VHA. Learners including medical students residents and fellows from the affiliate rotate through the VA GI consultation service and in the outpatient clinics and endoscopy suite. Duties include but are not limited to:

• In collaboration with the affiliate oversee scheduling and coverage of the inpatient consult service the outpatient clinics the outpatient and inpatients endoscopy procedures and the completion of E-consults.
• Work collaboratively with partners in the facility and VISN to ensure timely triage of incoming consultations.
• Attends and provides input as appropriate to the outpatient clinic management and other committees and councils as needed.
• Attends clinical and administrative staff meetings as may be required or directed by the Chief of Specialty Medicine.
• Participates in strategic planning for the service and oversee the expansion of clinical initiatives as agreed upon with facility leadership.
• Actively promotes performance improvement measures within the Gastroenterology Section by working with nursing and scheduling partners and leading quality improvement initiatives.
• Collaborates with the University of Iowa ACGME offices/leadership to ensure proper education of medical students residents and fellows.
• Communicates and treats customers (patients visitors volunteers and all Medical center staff) in a courteous tactful and respectful manner.
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures and handles conflicts and problems in dealing with the customers constructively and appropriately.

Conditions of employment

• 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 ( 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 physician(s) 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.

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 medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. 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 medicine or surgery in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) b) OR
  (2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)OR
  (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences.
  Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather they are to have a scope of practice that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.