Physician Cardiologist

The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Administer emergency cardiac care for life-threatening heart problems such as cardiac arrest and heart attack.
• Advise patients and community members concerning diet activity hygiene or disease prevention.
• Answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being.
• Calculate valve areas from blood flow velocity measurements.
• Compare measurements of heart wall thickness and chamber sizes to standards to identify abnormalities using the results of an echocardiogram.
• Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG) phonocardiogram echocardiogram or other cardiovascular tests to record patients cardiac activity using specialized electronic test equipment recording devices or laboratory instruments.
• Conduct exercise electrocardiogram tests to monitor cardiovascular activity under stress.
• Conduct tests of the pulmonary system using a spirometer or other respiratory testing equipment.
• Design and explain treatment plans based on patient information such as medical history reports and examination results.
• Diagnose cardiovascular conditions using cardiac catheterization.
• Diagnose medical conditions of patients using records reports test results or examination information.
• Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
• Inject contrast media into patients blood vessels.
• Monitor patients conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
• Observe ultrasound display screen and listen to signals to record vascular information such as blood pressure limb volume changes oxygen saturation and cerebral circulation.
• Obtain and record patient information including patient identification medical history and examination results.
• Order medical tests such as echocardiograms electrocardiograms and angiograms.
• Perform minimally invasive surgical procedures such as implanting pacemakers and defibrillators.
• Perform vascular procedures such as balloon angioplasty and stents.
• Prescribe heart medication to treat or prevent heart problems.
• Recommend surgeons or surgical procedures.
• Supervise or train cardiology technologists or students.
• Talk to other physicians about patients to create a treatment plan.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Pay: Competitive salary annual performance bonus regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave 13 days of sick leave 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
CME: Possible $1000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting
Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized

• 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.

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:
  • Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) leading to eligibility for board certification OR
  • Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) leading to eligibility for board certification OR
  • One year of post medical school training (internship first year of residency or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States OR
  • Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) 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.
  • Exceptions
  • 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.

Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent appropriate and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all basic requirements for the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed the following provisions apply:

• (1) Such employees are considered to have met the basic qualification requirements for the purposes of transferring or reassignment to another Physician position within VA.
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• (3) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• (4) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional certification that meet all the basic or assignment-specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential as a condition of employment in the assignment.
• NOTE: This provision is not intended to correct erroneous appointments and placements.

Preferred Experience: Board Certified 3-5 years experience.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all the activities of the position without restriction.

Education

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are:

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted.
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated.

NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research academic or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidates credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.