Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery – VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System

The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (#2 ranked cardiothoracic surgery program in the VA system) seeks an outstanding Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon to lead our high-performing team. This is a premier opportunity to advance innovation, mentor future leaders, and sustain excellence in a program renowned for its exceptional clinical outcomes—all while serving our nation’s Veterans.

Note: Our program focuses on advanced cardiac surgery (TAVR, LVAD, ECMO) and does not perform heart transplants.

Why Join Us?

National Recognition: Lead one of the VA’s top-ranked cardiothoracic programs (#2 nationally), with outcomes that rival private academic centers.
Cutting-Edge Practice: Drive innovation in TAVR, LVAD, ECMO, and complex cardiac surgery—supported by robust research infrastructure.
VA Total Rewards:

• Competitive Salary + Annual Performance Bonus
• Generous PTO: 50-55 days/year (leave, holidays, CME)
• Federal Pension & 401K (5% match)
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – Up to $200K in student loan repayment*
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentive for eligible candidates
• Malpractice Coverage + Tail Insurance
• No Employment Contract | Moonlighting Allowed

Academic Leadership: Collaborate with Case Western Reserve University, mentor trainees, and lead outcomes research with VA funding opportunities.

Role Highlights

• Serve as the clinical, administrative, and academic leader for a high-volume Cardiothoracic Surgery service.
• Oversee a diverse team of surgeons, APPs, and trainees in a culture of excellence.
• Sustain top-tier outcomes in TAVR, LVAD, and complex cardiac surgery (no heart transplants).
• Chair the section’s research program—statistical expertise and VA grant experience preferred.
• Ensure highest safety/quality standards (Joint Commission, VA benchmarks).

Ideal Candidate

• Board-certified in Cardiothoracic Surgery with 5+ years of advanced experience (LVAD, TAVR, ECMO).
• Proven leadership (prior Chief/Division Director or Associate Professor+ preferred).
• Passion for Veteran care, teaching, and outcomes-driven research.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

How to Apply

Schedule: Monday–Friday (8:00 AM–4:30 PM)
Location: Cleveland, OH – A thriving metro with top schools, cultural amenities, and affordability.

Lead Where It Matters Most.
? Apply Now: Send your CV/Resume and Cover Letter to terrance.anderson@va.gov  | ? Contact: terrance.anderson@va.gov (832) 417-0937

Focusing on treating the whole Veteran through health promotion and disease prevention, VA provides comprehensive, seamless health care and social services for 112,589 Veterans across Northeast Ohio. 

With 18 locations of care, including 13 outpatient clinics, two community resource and referral centers, a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center, a chronic dialysis center and an outpatient surgery center, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s quality services are easily accessible to Veterans in 24 counties. 

VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System contributes to the future of medicine through education, training, and research programs.  We are committed to delivering the highest quality and safest health care to our nation’s Veterans.

VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is part of Veterans Integrated Service Network 10 (VISN 10), which includes 10 VA Healthcare Systems, the independent Columbus, Ohio Ambulatory Care clinic and a network of 63 VA Outpatient Clinics that provides care to more than 685,000 Veterans throughout the lower peninsula of Michigan, Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana.

National and Regional Referral Services:
• Cochlear Implants
• Cardiac Surgery
• Invasive Cardiology
• Polytrauma Care
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Teleretinal Imaging
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Gambling Disorder Treatment
• Substance Abuse
• Women’s Military Sexual Trauma
• Blind Rehabilitation
• Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center
• Comprehensive Reference Clinical Laboratory Services
• Left Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Destination Implantation

Special Programs:
• Open Heart Surgery
• Care of the Seriously Mentally Ill
• Geriatric Research Education and Care Center
• Substance Abuse Care
• Women's Health Programs
• Hemodialysis
• Center for Stress Recovery
• HIV/AIDS Care
• Nuclear Medicine
• Pathology Reference Laboratory
• Sleep Disorder Program
• Functional Electrical Stimulation
• Advanced Platform Technology

Affiliations
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry
Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing

More than 2,000 students, trainees, residents, and fellows are trained at the medical center each year, encompassing 26 disciplines and involving more than 200 affiliations with schools, colleges, and universities.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service