Physician Assistant Dermatology

Martinsburg VA Medical Center Dermatology provides care for many medical and surgical skin conditions. Our dermatology services include:

• Medically necessary treatments for skin conditions like skin cancer and rashes.
• Specialized treatments for acute (short-term) and chronic (long-lasting) skin conditions like psoriasis eczema warts and fungal illnesses.
• Evaluation biopsy and treatment of cancerous or pre-cancerous skin conditions like abnormal moles and lesions.
• Referrals for complex conditions.
• Teledermatology (a telehealth resource) which gives patients quick access to expert opinions.

Scope of Practice Responsibilities: The PA assigned to Dermatology Medical Service will be accountable for:

1. Adhering to established Center policies and procedures and VA Directives.
2. Demonstrating leadership and accomplishment when providing support to the Chief of Medicine Medical Service and Medical Subspecialty Staff and assistance to representatives to various department/services within the VA organization.
3. Implementing and complying with administrative review of the services operations to assure compliance with all internal and external review requirements.
4. Clinical management of patients may include skills necessary for the stabilization of acute complications and may include the initiation of basic life support.
5. Patient education is primarily provided in an interactive setting with requires good interpersonal skills.
6. Under the direction of the Chief of Medicine shall be accountable for all clinical duties and assignments that he/she deems necessary.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Physical Requirements: Lifting up to 35 pounds intermittently; moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) intermittently; lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care; pulling intermittently; pushing intermittently; reaching above the shoulders intermittently both hands required; walking intermittently; standing intermittently; kneeling intermittently; and repeated bending.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

VHA Health Professions Trainee (HPT): VHA HPTs pending the completion of education or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. NOTE: This applies to current/past/upcoming VHA HPTs only. An HPT is an individual appointed to a temporary position in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC).

Physician Assistant Basic Requirements

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States 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 candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
• Education: Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Additionally candidates must meet one of the following:
  • Masters degree in any discipline or a
  • bachelors degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant
• Certification: Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam)
• Licensure: PAs must possess an active current full and unrestricted license to practice in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Grade Requirements.
General.

1. Recency and Quality of Experience. Recency or quality of training and experience as a PA should be carefully reviewed when determining the appropriate grade. To be creditable experience must demonstrate possession of knowledge skills and abilities related to the current practice of a PA. The importance of specific types of experience or training may vary per the intended assignment.
2. Grades. The level of PA practice may be performed based on a combination of education and experience. Beyond the minimum education requirements grade determination upon appointment and advancement is dependent more on acquired knowledge skills and abilities than baseline education. As the PA acquires the knowledge and judgment that accrues with experience the privilege of increased authority for patient care maybe expanded.
3. Research. At any grade PAs may assist in or conduct approved research projects relative to PA care that enhances their knowledge and skills in the profession

Grade Determinations:

Physician Assistant-I (PA-I)
Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. This is the entry level for PAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. The following list of knowledge skills and abilities (KSA) present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level PA. This practice may include but is not limited to:

• Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care.
• Ability to perform patient history and physical.
• Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient.
• Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

Physician Assistant-II (PA-II)
Experience and Education. The PA at this grade is at the intermediate grade level and has had progressively increasing responsibility and experiences as indicated in the KSAs listed below. Individuals will have demonstrated the ability to analyze and solve more complex medical problems than at the entry level grade and can utilize their training in the successful practice of patient care and participate in team problem solving. Individuals demonstrate the KSAs of PA-II intermediate level by:

• Two years of successful practice as a PA. OR
• Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA ARC-PA U.S. Armed Forces or another accrediting agency. OR
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify but should be able to demonstrate develop or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-II:

• Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems.
• Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.
• Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care.
• Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

Physician Assistant-III (PA-III)
Experience and Education. PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently practice within multidisciplinary teams and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by:

• Three years of successful practice as a PA. OR
• Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA ARC-PA U.S. Armed Forces or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA. OR
• A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify but should be able to demonstrate develop or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-III:

• Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.
• Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).
• Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.
• Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals health managers and other health care personnel.
• Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.
• Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.

Preferred Experience: 2 Years experience as a Physician Assistant/ APRN in Dermatology.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is 3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 1 to 3.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges universities schools or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information visit: