Physician- Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Houston, TX, is a beautiful place to live and work. Houston is famous for its role in space exploration, as it is home to NASA. It is also known for its diverse and vibrant culture, which is reflected in its culinary scene, museums, and green spaces. Houston has a reputation for being an entertainment hub, with events like the rodeo, live concerts, and sports games. Galveston is a short drive from Houston where you can enjoy the beach, trails, and fishing spots.

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is a teaching hospital that provides a full range of services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. The medical center is on a 119-acre campus that features 350 acute care beds. We provide health care services at 12 locations in southeast Texas. 
 

Work Schedule: Full Time

Salary: $350,000 to - $375,000 per year

• 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

This full-time, Cardiothoracic surgeon position will be assigned to the Operative Care Line (OCL) at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, Texas, one of the most complex facilities in the VA healthcare system. The candidate will provide services of a Cardiothoracic attending staff surgeon. They will consult on a wide range of patients, order appropriate tests, evaluate the medical needs, and direct the course of cardiothoracic surgical treatment. They will perform cardiothoracic operations with the assistance of residents, fellows, and physician assistants, and will be responsible for supervising, teaching, and directing the post-operative care and follow-up.

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 Best Care and the Best Careers…

The mission of the Veterans Healthcare System is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services. To accomplish this mission, the VA needs to be a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system that provides excellence in health care value, excellence in service as defined by its customers, and excellence in education and research, and needs to be an organization characterized by exceptional accountability and by being an employer of choice.

The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, (MEDVAMC) is located on a 118-acre campus in the heart of the Houston’s medical community and was built in 1991. MEDVAMC is a state-of-the-art facility with 375 hospital beds, a 40-bed Spinal Cord Injury Center, and a 120-bed transitional care unit for long-term care. An automated, computer-controlled transport system delivers food, laundry, and supplies throughout the building. The six-story granite building is designed with four exterior sections and four atriums that contain patio gardens, wheelchair basketball courts, and a rehabilitation pool. Supported with more than $16 million annually, research conducted by MEDVAMC staff ensures Veterans access to cutting-edge medical and health care technology. With 563 active research projects, the MEDVAMC Research & Development (R&D) Program is an integral part of the medical center’s mission and plays a very important role in the health care Veterans receive. Nearly 3,500 health care professionals provide exceptional quality care to our Veterans. For more than 50 years, the MEDVAMC has provided clinical training for health care professionals. MEDVAMC now operates the largest VA residency program with more than 251 slots. The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center is providing “The Best Care” to our Veterans, and “The Best Careers” to our Healthcare Professionals…Join us!

What makes Houston a great city to live in… The sunshine, being able to play golf 365 days a year, international dining, a truly diverse culture, great education opportunities and the people. From business opportunities to recreation, from high culture to haute cuisine, the Houston region has it all! But this is only a fraction of what makes Houston a great place to call home. Living in the region will make you part of a global metropolis where ideas, vision and imagination are welcomed and embraced. To learn more about Houston…The climate, housing, cost of living and the education system please click on the link below:

http://www.houston.org/living-here/index.html