The Salem VA HealthCare System Recruiting for Physician - Nephrologist

• Position: Nephrologist
• Salary: $240,000-$300,000
• Who May Apply: S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy

Why Salem?

The mission of the Salem VA Medical Center and clinics is to make a positive difference in the lives of the Veterans we serve by providing compassionate, comprehensive, and quality healthcare. The Salem VAMC is in the City of Salem and serves veterans throughout the state. This VA tertiary referral center is a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services. Authorized beds include 182 general medical, surgical, and psychiatry; 90 Extended Care Rehabilitation Center; 26 Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (10 long term Substance Abuse).

Come enjoy all that Salem and the surrounding area has to offer! Great people, communities, and schools! Our region of Virginia offers an affordable cost of living, stunning Blue Ridge Mountain scenery, strong community feel with downtown walkability, excellent schools, and abundant outdoor recreation, all within a safe, small-town atmosphere that blends suburban ease with access to big-city amenities in nearby Roanoke. Salem host numerous collegiate and amateur sporting events, including the NCAA Division III football championship (Stagg Bowl), what more could you ask for?

Job Description

Physician – Nephrologist

Salem VA Medical Center - Salem, Virginia.

-1.0 FTEE, Full-Time position

Practice Environment Description: The Nephrologist will deliver specialized nephrology care to patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Responsibilities include assessing and managing patients with existing or suspected kidney conditions. Treatment approaches may involve prescribing therapies such as dialysis (including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, and slow low-efficiency dialysis), providing bedside rounds for hospitalized patients, attending outpatient clinics, prescribing medications, requesting consultative services, giving discharge instructions, and making other physician-led decisions. The role also involves collaborating with current VA Nephrology staff, offering clinical and educational support to nephrology residents and medical students, and contributing to the resident didactic and clinical training programs.

Highlights of this position include:

• Potential starting base salary: $240,000 - $300,000                                                                        
• Daily schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:45 am – 4:30pm, non-telework eligible, non-remote.
• On-call Weekday night coverage Monday-Thursday, 4:30pm-7:45am and weekend coverage (Friday 4:30pm-Monday 7:45am).
• Full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery from any U.S. State

 Additional requirements:

• Board certified or board eligible and BC/BE Nephrologist.
• Clinical Research and academic opportunities are encouraged.
• Salem VA HCS has affiliations with medical student, PA student and resident training programs.  There are opportunities to supervise resident and student trainees.

If interested, please email a copy of your current CV to me to schedule a time to discuss this exciting opportunity!

The VA Salem Healthcare System provides exceptional care that improves the health and well-being of veterans. Our teams work in an integrated environment that supports learning, discovery, and continuous improvement. 

Top 5 reasons to work for the VA:

1. Mission to Serve our Nation’s Heroes - the best patients in the world: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.” With these words President Lincoln affirmed the government’s obligation to care for those injured during war and to provide for the families of those who perish on the battlefield. 
2. The VA offers physicians and all employees industry-leading full benefits and features a package to support high quality professional practice & a favorablework-life-family balance.  Paid Time Off in the form of 26 Days paid annual leave, 13 Days paid sick leave per year, 11 Federal holidays with pay, and 5-Day paid absence to attend approved Continued Medical Education (CME).   VA offers a predictable work schedule and focuses on quality rather than volume.   
3. Federal Retirement Plansthrough the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) - A three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits; 2) FERS-FRAE basic benefits (pension); and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan, with up to five percent matching.  Additionally, VA offers Insurance to include Health-Dental-Vision care insurance programs to choose from with premiums partially paid by VA; Flexible Spending Accounts; Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available at the cost shared by the Federal Government; and long-term care insurance is available as an option.
4. Pay Flexibilities Regular market pay reviews, sign on bonus, up to $15,000 in Annual Performance bonus. 
5. Malpractice Insurance VA physicians are covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act - 28 U.S.C. § 1346 and 28 U.S.C § 2671.  Medical personnel have statutory immunity from “individual” malpractice liability while acting within the scope of employment; a VA physician cannot be sued in civil court for a malpractice (tort) claim.

The VA Salem Healthcare System provides you with outstanding health care, trains America’s future health care providers, and conducts important medical research.

Health care and services

We provide you with health care services at 6 locations in southwestern Virginia: our Salem VA Medical Center and 5 community-based outpatient clinics in Danville, Lynchburg, Staunton, Tazewell, and Wytheville, Virginia. To learn more about the services each location offers, visit the VA Salem health services page.

The VA Salem Healthcare System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the Mid-Atlantic Region. We’re an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 6 (VISN 6), which includes medical centers in North Carolina (Asheville, Durham, Fayetteville, and Salisbury) and Virginia (Hampton, Richmond, and Salem), and dozens of other health care facilities.

Research and development

We conduct research to discover knowledge, develop VA scientists and health care leaders, and create innovations that advance health care for Veterans and the nation. We offer Veterans the opportunity to participate in and benefit from our work. Our goal is to use research to promote better health and health care for all.

Teaching and learning

As a teaching hospital, Salem VA Medical Center provides a full range of services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. Our medical center has 3 active medical school affiliations with the University of Virginia School of Medicine, the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. We offer residency training in many major medical, mental health, and subspecialties. We also provide associated health training in psychology, optometry, social work, dietetics, and pharmacy. Overall, we have more than 80 affiliations with colleges and universities. We’re proud of our partnerships with top institutions and organizations that support the educational mission of the VA.

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

Salem VAMC is a hidden gem nestled in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Located in the Greater Roanoke area, known as a hospitable city that is watched over by the iconic neon Roanoke Star on Mill Mountain. With its outstanding quality of life, stunning natural beauty, and wide variety of activities, the region has been named one of the 10 Most Scenic East Coast Cities, Best Places to Live in Virginia, and Best Places to Raise Kids. With excellent schools for children, exquisite cuisine, and major universities nearby, the Roanoke area is an academic engine for all of Southwest Virginia! Visit the Salem - Roanoke Chamber of Commerce Page to see why this is the place to live, work and play!