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The VA Puget Sound Healthcare System (VAPSHCS) is actively recruiting a Board-Certified Chief of Gastroenterology to help care for our veterans – America’s heroes.  The selected candidate will be appointed to the full-time faculty at the University of Washington at the Associate or Full Professor rank (without tenure due to funding), commensurate with experience. This position has an annual service period of 12 months [July 1-June 30]. University of Washington faculty engage in teaching, research and service. The anticipated start date will be January 1, 2023.

The Gastroenterology Section at the VAPSHCS consists of a team of gastroenterologists, hepatologists nurse practitioners, nurses and other staff that are involved in patient care, research and education of the next generation of health care providers. The Gastroenterology Section provides a wide range of services including general and interventional endoscopy (e.g. ERCP, EUS, radiofrequency ablation), wired and wireless pH monitoring and manometry. We have faculty with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal malignancies and hepatology, as well as clinical research with several funded investigators. In addition to leading this outstanding section and providing direct patient care, the candidate would be actively involved with education and teaching of gastroenterology fellows training gastroenterology fellows, medicine residents, medical students, & other providers. 

The VAPSHCS is a Joint Commission accredited, referral level 1a/high complexity, 459 bed facility serving Veterans in Washington State, including the rapidly expanding Puget Sound area. This exciting job opportunity awaits you in our, state-of-the-art VA facility in the city.  VAPSHCS is among the VA Medical Centers that have been improving the health of the men and women who have so proudly served our nation. In addition to an outstanding Gastroenterology Section, we have high quality general surgeons, interventional and general radiologists and gastrointestinal pathologists.

It is expected the candidate will have expertise in the management of Gastroenterology or Hepatology diseases and disorders, and the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high quality, evidence-based care to Veterans across the spectrum of disease severity. This includes the ability to identify patient needs and to provide the care needed to promote improvement. Candidate is required to have at least 5 years of experience providing moderate sedation for endoscopic procedures.

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens (permanent residents may be appointed only if it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens).
• Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in the U.S.
• Board Certification in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology (or foreign equivalent)
• Medical Degree (or foreign equivalent)

Community Information

The VA Puget Sound Health Care System, with divisions in Tacoma (American Lake) and Seattle, is the largest and most comprehensive VA facility in the Pacific Northwest region. The Health Care system is a major referral medical center, serving veterans from Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Veterans are referred to the health care system's nationally recognized Spinal Cord Injury Center of Excellence; marrow transplant unit; deployment health clinic; radiation therapy program; rehabilitation program; prosthetics and limb loss prevention program; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center; GRECC; Center of Excellence in substance abuse treatment and education; and HSR&D program. Additional outpatient clinics provide primary care, specialty care, and mental health care at both divisions. Additionally, there are 15 inpatient beds with staff from the American Lake Division stationed at Madigan Army Medical Center. The VA Puget Sound Health Care System manages and operates several Community Based Outpatient Clinics in western Washington to bring primary care closer to Veterans. An additional clinic is planned for the South Sound area. The Health Care System also operates a Mobile Medical Unit and makes monthly visits to the rural communities of Aberdeen, Shelton, and Morton

Affiliated with the University of Washington and more than 50 nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, social work, and psychology schools, VAPSHCS trains over 1,590 allied health care professionals each year in audiology and speech pathology, dietetics, radiology, optometry, podiatry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, recreational therapy, psychology, health information management, information technology, medical informatics, and other health care programs. The healthcare system receives more than $33 million in research from VA and non-VA funding. This strong, diversified base of support maintains the competitive edge of VAPSHCS as a leader in world-class research for such areas as hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer disease, prosthetics and amputee care, rehabilitation, mental health, neurodegenerative disorders, obesity, cancer, and pulmonary diseases. The system also is a polytrauma network site, providing lifelong rehabilitation and care coordination for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom combat-injured veterans.

Benefits and Features

Expected Salary range will be competitive for a well-qualified Board-Certified gastroenterologist and include industry leading full benefits and features a package to support high quality professional practice and favorable work-life-family balance. The VA provides employees with a robust benefits package and fosters an environment where more time is spent on medical practice and less on business tasks. VA does this by offerring:  paid time off in the form of 26 days paid annual leave, 13 days paid sick leave per year, 11 Federal holidays with pay, and 5-dDays paid absence to attend approved CME courses. Insurance to include health-dental-vision care insurance programs to choose from with premiums partially paid by VA; flexible spending accounts; term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government; and long-term care insurance available as an option. Federal Retirement Plan thru the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) - A three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits; 2) FERS-FRAE basic benefits (pension); and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan, with up to five percent government matching contributions.  An Educational Debt Reduction Program may be available for qualified candidates. 

To Explore This Physician Opportunity Further

Please forward a copy of your cover letter and curriculum vitae to Henry "Hank" Laguatan, VA National Healthcare Recruitment Consultant at Henry.Laguatan@va.gov or call (206) 459-7927.