Career Center

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Board Eligible/Board Certified in Psychiatry Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The Physical Requirements of this position are concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and may include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies. Physician applicants must have the mental and physical ability to perform core privileges required by the specialty position in addition to any specialty privileges requested. Position requires walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting in the direct care of patients. There may also be extended periods of sitting. Work requires daily trips from employee's work-area to other areas throughout the Joint Ambulatory Care Center. ["The incumbent will serve as a fully qualified staff psychiatrist at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) providing recovery-oriented care to Veterans who present to the emergency room for acute management of their psychiatric symptoms. At the Houston VA, the mental health team is embedded in the emergency room and collaborates in a consultant role with the medical providers. The mental health ER team is comprised of psychiatrists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers and trainees from a variety of disciplines. The goal is the create 24 hour-7 days a week on-site coverage for the emergency room. Duties for this position include but are not limited to: Performs psychiatric evaluations, and treatment of patients with problems of personality, emotional adjustment, or mental illness. Prescribes medications as deemed necessary for the treatment of mental illnesses. Based on data gathered through assessment, plans an appropriate clinical treatment for individual patients. Recommends appropriate therapy based on precedent and standards of the profession. Develop a comprehensive treatment plan for a wide range of abnormal behaviors. Treatment includes adjusting therapy for the differential diagnosis of functional or organic disorders. Oversees other professional staff and trainees and works as a key team member providing comprehensive psychiatric care. Promotes a psychotherapeutic atmosphere among the professional treatment staff. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive has been authorized for well qualified applicants. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan reimbursement program within VHA. If selected for this position you must meet specific individual eligibility criteria in accordance with VHA policy 1021 and apply for EDRP within four (4) months of appointment. Final award amount and program start date is determined after review of a complete EDRP application and supporting documentation by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office.\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Demetrius Roberts at Demetrius.Roberts@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.\nPay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid Time Off: 50-55 days of annual paid time offer 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory\nCME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement\nMalpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided\nContract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting\nWork Schedule: Overnight Coverage, 10 to 12 hour shifts. No On Call Responsibility"]