Job Title

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System is seeking a Gastroenterologist to provide comprehensive care for patients who have illnesses within the scope of Gastroenterology, with an additional focus on patients with hepatitis. This position will be located at the Health Care Center, Ambulatory Surgery Center in Harlingen, TX. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) The Gastroenterology staff physician should be skilled in providing patient care and in coordinating the activities of other health care providers. He/she should be an effective teacher for fellow staff members, house staff medical students and in allied health care disciplines. It is desirable that the physician have demonstrated research abilities. He/she will be currently licensed in a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia and should preferable be a certified or qualified for examination by the American Board of Internal Medicine, or other appropriate specialty certifying boards. Duties include the following: The Gastroenterology staff physician is responsible for providing primary, secondary, and tertiary care in both hospitalized and outpatient settings, identifying patients' health problems and designing diagnostic and therapeutic plans to meet these needs. He/she is responsible for coordinating activities of other health service personnel, resolving problems affecting patient care and providing appropriate education for the patient/family members regarding the patient's care, patient's illness and its management. A major percentage of the physician's time will be devoted to patient care. Depending on other activities, sufficient time will be allotted to administrative duties. Procedures: The Gastroenterology staff physician will be responsible to perform diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower gastrointerstinal endoscopy and colonscopy procedures. * Liver Biopsy * Small Bowel Biopsy * Dilation of the esophagus (bouginage) * Esophageal motility * Upper Gl endoscopy * Colonoscopy & Flex Sigmoid * Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography * Polypectomy * Laparoscopy (Peritoneosopy) * Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy * Laser: Photocoagulation of vessels * Laser: Tumor Ablation * Gastric lavage & cytology * Sclerotherapy of esophageal varices * Esophageal ligation or banding of varices * Endoscopic ultrasonography with or without fine needle aspiration biopsy * Placement of esophageal stent The incumbent must demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide patient care appropriate to the age of the patients served. The incumbent provides patient care which is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the young adult (age 18-40), middle adult (age 41-65), and older adult (age 66-older) patient. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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