Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until August 10 - 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applicants will be May 22 - 2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until position is filled.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) 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 (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1 - Part II - Pre-Placement Physical Examinations and Evaluations.

Duties

• The Tucson VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Full-Time - Permanent Physician (Rheumatology) and reports directly to the Chief of Rheumatology
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved 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 $1 -000 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 The duties include but are not limited to: The Southern Arizona VA Health care System (SAVACHS) is seeking to add a full-time rheumatologist to our Rheumatology Division
• Commitment to excellence in patient care and an interest in teaching are essential
• A record of contribution to the scientific literature is preferred - as is a willingness to participate in clinical trials
• The Tucson VA is a tertiary care facility providing a full range of clinical services including complex coronary angioplasty - electrophysiology - cardiac surgery - neurosurgery - Mohs surgery and structural heart procedures
• It has been a flagship quality provider within the VA and was a 2012 winner of the prestigious Robert W
• Carey Performance Excellence Award
• We are in a growth area for the VA
• Consequently - the VA is open to major capital investment in our facility
• we are in the design phase for a new outpatient clinic building
• SAVACHS is the principal teaching affiliate of the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine - Nursing - and Pharmacy
• Candidates must be eligible for a faculty appointment with the University of Arizona commensurate with clinical experience and academic achievement in order to facilitate teaching of medical students - residents and fellows
• All our division members participate in outpatient clinic services including fellows clinic and in the inpatient consult service
• Our hospitalist service reduces the demands of in-patient care on our subspecialty divisions
• The incumbent is expected to actively participate in quality improvement activities and comply with rules and regulations of the agency - facility and department
• The incumbent will also support a satisfactory process for supervision and training of fellows - residents and medical students from University of Arizona College of Medicine rotating through the Rheumatology division
• Like all Rheumatology division members - the candidate must maintain American Heart Association BLS certification
• A commitment to compliance with VA and SAVAHCS regulatory requirements is expected
• Investigators with VA Merit Review Awards are afforded up to thirty-five percent protected time for research
• The successful candidate will enjoy the security of VA salary funding - the generous federal benefits package - our lovely southWestem climate - the professional advantages of academic affiliation - and a medium size city with the cultural enrichments of a major university
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8am - 4:30pm