Physician (Nephrology 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 Nephrology Section Chief will oversee the Nephrology section and provide comprehensive specialty services for both outpatients and inpatients. The ideal candidate will demonstrate sound decision-making skills in clinical and administrative areas. It is expected that the Nephrology Section Chief practices the full scope of general nephrology clinical care with expertise in AKI CKD ESRD HTN and fluid/electrolyte and acid base disorders and demonstrates expertise in appropriate renal procedures (renal biopsy). The Chief of Nephrology position is located at the Iowa City VA HCS and is under the supervision of the Iowa City VA HCS Specialty Medicine Service Line. Nephrology physicians are tasked with providing timely and courteous service to all Veterans seeking care. Nephrology providers include general nephrologists and transplant nephrologists with career roles as physician scientists who oversee research programs funded by VHA and educators who are part of the Carver College of Medicine.

Duties and Responsibilities for the VA Nephrology Section Chief include but at not limited to:

• Oversee all clinical operations of the Section (scheduling managing clinical consult services tele-nephrology and e-consults)
• Participate in quality assurance programs
• Assist faculty and facility to meet established performance measures
• Oversee recruitment efforts of qualified clinicians and physician scientists in collaboration with the affiliate
• Oversee expansion of clinical initiatives in collaboration with the affiliate
• Serve as a preceptor for medical students residents and fellows
• Work collaboratively with partners in the facility and VISN to ensure VHA metrics are met or exceeded.
• Attend clinical and administrative staff meetings as may be required or directed by the Chief of Specialty Medicine
• In all activities the candidate is expected to work collaboratively with the affiliate (Division of Nephrology Department of Internal Medicine UI Healthcare). In addition at the affiliate the candidate will:
• Participate in appropriate college department and division education committees
• Attend Divisional meetings and conferences at the affiliate
• Collaborate with the University of Iowa ACGME offices/leadership to ensure proper education of medical students residents and fellows

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.