Emergency Physician

Physician – Emergency Medicine Opportunity – VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA

**Eligible for $200,000 in student loan repayment**

Description: The VA in Pittsburgh seeks a full-time, highly talented Emergency Physician to promote quality emergency care as a clinical expert in this environment, working cooperatively with ED Nursing Staff, other Medical and Surgical Services, laboratory, and radiology to accomplish patient, service, and facility goals. Maintains the accepted standard of care and scope of practice for a physician trained and practicing Emergency Medicine. Among the most innovative and forward-looking in the nation, the VA in Pittsburgh provides exceptional healthcare to our nation’s Veterans, trains America’s future healthcare providers, and conducts research that contributes to medical advancements.

Practice Highlights:

• Examinations: Perform appropriate medical screening exam on all patients checked-in to be seen in the ED. Uses assessment skills to examine patients thoroughly using appropriate clinical, laboratory, and other pertinent data. Demonstrates the ability to recognize the need for timely consultation, admission and specialized patient care. Obtains consults appropriately. Provides continuity of care by performing patient hand-off when transferring care of a patient to another physician.
• Diagnosis: Accurately interprets and evaluates clinical data for the purpose of determining diagnosis and clinical status.
• Therapeutic Ability: Initiate appropriate and timely treatment. Recognizes changes in behavior, symptoms, signs, and other pertinent facts about a patient and has the knowledge to modify, in real time, the plan of treatment. Should be cognizant of capabilities and limitations of the ED and of oneself.
• Effectiveness in Emergencies: Acts quickly to recognize emergency situations and makes timely necessary corrective action.
• Patient and Flow Management: Manages the medical issues in individual patients and prioritizes patient care based upon urgency of need. Maintains patient flow in order to maximize Emergency Department utilization.
• Documentation: Promptly and completely records physical examinations, re-examinations, and any significant changes in patient condition. Maintains clear, accurate, and current clinical records. Completes medical records per hospital regulations.

Basic Requirements:

• Doctor of Medicine degree or equivalent degree from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Preferred Experience:

• Board eligible/certified.

Work Schedule: Shift work 24/7 including nights, weekends, on-call, and holidays.

Benefits Highlights:

• Student loan repayment up to $200,000 on eligible loans
• Regular salary increases and annual performance bonuses.
• 50-55 days of paid time off (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 Federal holidays, up to 5 days for CME)
• Federal health/dental/vision/long-term care insurance offered.
• Malpractice insurance provided.
• No physician employment contracts and no significant restrictions on moonlighting.

Pittsburgh Highlights:

• Family-friendly city with low cost of living and affordable housing in green, beautiful neighborhoods
• Abundant historical/cultural sites and events including the Carnegie Museums (Art, Natural History, Science, and Andy Warhol), a multitude of other visual/performing arts institutions, and a lively music scene featuring local, national, and international stars.
• Plenty of outdoor activities with green parks for hiking/biking (Schenley Park, Frick Park, and Highland Park) and rivers for canoeing and kayaking.
• If you are a sports fan, Pittsburgh is home to the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates professional teams.
• Pittsburgh International Airport for ease of travel to your other favorite destinations.

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 2025, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $23,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $31,000.
• 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

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is an integrated healthcare system that proudly serves the Veteran population throughout the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. It is our mission to care for America’s Veterans and provide them with excellent health care.

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System consists of three divisions: a major medical and surgical tertiary care facility, a behavioral health facility, and a community living center and a Veterans recovery center, all complemented by five community based outpatient clinics.

The city of Pittsburgh has been repeatedly ranked as the most livable US city by such publications as The Economist, Places Rated Almanac, and Forbes Magazine. The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System offers a unique opportunity to practice in a leading US medical community within an affordable and thriving city.