We are excited to announce a key opening for the position of Urology Section Chief, an essential role that combines both administrative and clinical responsibilities within our Surgical Services team. This position not only allows for the practice of surgical procedures in a state-of-the-art operating room but also encompasses vital leadership duties within the department.

Key Responsibilities

The Urology Section Chief will be tasked with various critical duties, including:

• Patient Management: Reviewing and triaging both outpatient and inpatient consultations for new patients within mandated timeframes. You will engage in ward and ICU rounds and participate in initial and follow-up patient care as necessary.
• Continuum of Care: Overseeing each patient through the complete care continuum, from admissions and discharges to conducting detailed medical histories and physical exams. When surgical evaluations are not available, you'll be responsible for ordering necessary diagnostic tests and procedures before surgeries, as well as ensuring informed consent is acquired.
• Patient Education & On-Call Duties: Educating patients and their families will be a vital part of your role. You will also be required to provide a monthly on-call schedule to the surgical administration and participate in evening, weekend, and holiday on-call rotations as needed. Compliance with all medical documentation standards is paramount, including operation reports, discharge summaries, and clinical reminders.
• Quality Assurance: Striving for excellence in patient care delivery, you will meet and exceed compliance standards established by the Joint Commission and the VA Central Office, along with participating in external peer reviews.
• Teaching & Training: As part of our academic affiliation with Texas A&M Health Science Center, you will train and supervise medical students and residents throughout their surgical rotations.
• Veteran Patient Care: As the Urologist, you will manage the transfer of veterans from external facilities, provide medical advisory opinions, and engage in both internal and external peer reviews.
• Administrative Responsibilities: Attending surgical and medical staff meetings will be necessary, along with completing all required training through the Talent Management System. Performance appraisals for assigned staff and compliance with VA policies to ensure patient safety are also part of the role.

Work Schedule- This position is structured for Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., offering a balanced work-life opportunity.

Attractive Benefits and Incentives

The VA provides a robust total rewards package featuring:

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized

Compensation: Competitive salary, annual performance bonuses, and regular salary increments. Salary range: $300,000- $350,000.

Paid Time Off: Enjoy up to 55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 federal holidays, and a possible 5-day paid absence for Continuing Medical Education (CME).

Retirement Plan: Access a traditional federal pension (5 years to vest) and a federal 401K with up to 5% contributions from the VA.

Insurance: Comprehensive federal health, vision, dental, life insurance, and long-term care options, many of which can carry into retirement.

Licensure: One unrestricted medical license from any U.S. state or territory is required.

CME Reimbursement: Up to $1,000 annually qualifies for reimbursement.

Malpractice Coverage: Free liability protection with tail coverage included.

Contract Flexibility: No significant restrictions on external moonlighting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Board certification in Urology.
• Ability to offer medical opinions within various specialties.
• Experience as an operative surgeon with a background in robotic surgery preferred.
• 3-5 years of leadership experience in a medical facility setting.

For more information, contact Corina Sanchez, Physician and Provider Recruiter, at corina.sanchez@va.gov or by phone at 254-727-0952.

About Temple, Texas

Situated just 45 minutes north of Austin, Temple offers an ideal balance of small-town charm and urban amenities. The area is known for its safe, family-friendly environment and has a growing array of attractions, including beautiful parks, scenic trails, and unique neighborhoods. Recently recognized for its affordable cost of living by the Council for Community and Economic Research, Temple presents a wonderful opportunity to establish roots in a community that truly feels like home. To explore our accolades and recognitions, visit templetx.gov/awards.

We invite candidates passionate about urology and high-quality patient care to apply and become part of our dedicated team!

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.
• 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.
• Licensure and Registration: 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d).

About Central Texas Veterans Health Care System

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

Connections working at Central Texas Veterans Health Care System