Optometrist

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The Hershel Woody Williams VAMC Optometry Service provides full-scope eye care in an outpatient setting. Optometrists within this service provide comprehensive eye care including the management or management of eye disease consultations and emergency and on-call services. They also perform related administrative duties as well as academic and research functions in support of eye care services. This announcement may be used to fill Staff Optometrist and/or Attending Optometrist positions. The Staff Optometrist will perform general optometry duties including clinical oversight of trainees as needed and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. The Attending Optometrist teaches and supervises students residents and/or fellows in the delivery of optometric care to Veterans.

Major duties include but are not limited to:
Clinical:

• Provides quality patient care to outpatients as assigned.
• Keeps informed of developments in the management and treatment of eye and systemic diseases through continuing medical education both formal and informal.
• Successfully integrates patient care activities in Optometry Service and other patient care programs of the clinic and in the community.
• Consistently demonstrates expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill multisymptomatic patients.
• Participates in multidisciplinary activities involving treatment plan and discharge of patients.
• Provides other clinical services as assigned consistent with clinical privileges as assigned by the Chief Optometry Service.

• 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38 United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
• Education. Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Licensure and Registration. Optometrists must possess a 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 or Comparable Experience. 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 below:
  1. 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
  2. Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.
• English Language Proficiency. Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

• Post Graduate residency program preferred with the ability to diagnose and manage complex ocular conditions/diseases.
• Experience working with optometry externs and/or residents including providing clinical oversight constructive feedback and support for developing clinical competencies is highly valued.