Psychologist needed to work in beautiful Central NY. $220k Student Loan Reimbursement

The Syracuse VA is seeking a Psychologist to care for our veterans in Syracuse, NY. 

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


Why work here? 

1. Mission-Driven: Syracuse VAMC provides a unique opportunity to serve veterans, contributing to the well-being of those who have served the country. The sense of mission and purpose in treating veterans is deeply fulfilling. We offers a wide range of services including primary care, specialty care, mental health, and advanced medical and surgical care. This allows physicians to work across diverse medical fields and gain broad experience.
2. Research and Education Opportunities: Our affiliation with SUNY Upstate Medical University provides opportunities for engaging in cutting-edge research and academic collaborations. Physicians can also participate in teaching and mentoring medical students and residents.
3. Professional Growth and Training: Emphasis on continuous education and professional development. Access to various training programs, workshops, and courses designed to enhance skills and knowledge, including the online Federal Training system. 
4. Integrated Care Model: Patient-Centered Approach that focuses on holistic care, integrating multiple disciplines and services to provide comprehensive treatment, which can be highly rewarding professionally.

Reasons to live in Syracuse:

1. Affordable Cost of Living:
• Neighborhoods to Consider:
• Fayetteville: Offers family-friendly suburban living with excellent schools and parks.
• Manlius: Known for its beautiful landscapes and high-quality schools, great for raising a family.
• DeWitt: Convenient access to shopping, schools, and recreational facilities.
2. Quality Education for Children:
• Notable School Districts: Westhill, Fayetteville-Manlius, and Jamesville-DeWitt are among the highly rated school districts, providing excellent educational opportunities.
3. Cultural and Recreational Activities:
• Neighborhoods to Consider:
• University Hill: Close to Syracuse University with access to cultural events, athletic facilities, and vibrant community life.
• Strathmore: Offers historic charm, close-knit community, and proximity to parks such as Onondaga Park.
4. Proximity to Natural Beauty and Outdoor Activities as well as Major Urban areas:
• Central NY is minutes from thousands of acres of NY State Wilderness, hundreds of lakes and water ways and a short drive to the Adirondack Park, Thousand Islands and Mohawk Valley 
• Syracuse is less than three hours form Albany and Buffalo and five hours from NYC, Boston, and Toronto
5. Convenience and Accessibility:
• Downtown Syracuse: Offers an urban lifestyle with amenities such as restaurants, theaters, and nightlife, yet is close to the Syracuse VAMC for a short commute.
• Westcott: A diverse and vibrant neighborhood with unique shops, cafes, and a strong sense of community, within a short drive to the VAMC.

Summary:

Syracuse offers a rich blend of professional and personal benefits. By working at the Syracuse VAMC, a medical doctor can look forward to a fulfilling career with opportunities for medical advancement and research, all while enjoying the perks of living in a city with a strong sense of community, high quality of life, and access to excellent schools and recreational activities.

About the Syracuse VA Medical Center The Syracuse VA Medical Center, part of VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York opened its doors on June 14, 1953. The Medical Center utilizes state-of-the-art technology to provide a full range of patient care services, education and research. The 106-bed general medical and surgical facility provides comprehensive:

• Primary Care
• Mental Health
• Tertiary care
• Long-term care
• Physical Medicine
• Rehabilitation
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Dentistry
• Geriatrics

The Syracuse VA Medical Center also operates a Community Care Center that provides a community day program, mental health intensive case management program, homeless veteran program, and vocational services.

The Department of Veterans Affairs named the Syracuse VA Medical Center as a Center of Excellence for its Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom and Polytrauma programs. The Syracuse facility is also the principal referral center for neurosurgery and urological renal stone treatment, serving all of upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania veterans.

Syracuse VA provides primary and behavioral health care in a 13-county area of Central New York through eight community based outpatient clinics in Auburn, Binghampton, Carthage, Cortland, Ithaca, Massena, Oswego, and Rome.

The Syracuse VA Medical Center has an active affiliation with the State University of New York Upstate Medical University where over 650 of their students, residents, interns, and fellows receive training at the Medical Center each year. The Syracuse VA has eight affiliated nursing education programs and a physician assistant externship with LeMoyne College and a long-standing educational partnership with Syracuse University for field experience for audiology, speech pathology and social work students.

There is a $2.5 million research and development program that includes 95 studies on a variety of topics. The research program is fully accredited by the National Commission of Quality Assurance.

Syracuse recently completed a six-floor addition that houses a new spinal cord injury/disease center with a therapeutic pool, expanded outpatient services, dialysis program, and six new operating rooms. The Medical Center continues renovations for an expanded parking garage and recently completed construction on a new MRI suite, heart catheterization suite and a state-of-the-art emergency department. Information about the Syracuse area can be found at the Chamber of Commerce.

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