Pulmonologist opportunity with Loan Repayment in Des Moines, IA

Physician – Pulmonologist
Central Iowa VA Health Care System – Des Moines, Iowa

The Central Iowa VA Health Care System is seeking a board-eligible or board-certified Pulmonologist to join our dedicated team in Des Moines, Iowa. This is a full-time, permanent position caring for Veterans in a collegial, mission-driven environment with strong institutional support and an attractive total rewards package.

Discover Des Moines, Iowa

In the heart of the Midwest, Des Moines offers big-city amenities with a welcoming, accessible feel and short commutes. As Iowa’s capital city, it features a strong, diversified economy, affordable housing, and a vibrant downtown with arts, entertainment, and dining along the riverfront. Families enjoy quality public schools, numerous parks and trails, and a calendar full of community events and festivals.

Why you and your family will love Central Iowa

• Affordable cost of living and housing, allowing you to enjoy more home and more savings compared with many coastal and urban markets.
• Short average commute times, with easy access to the medical center from family-friendly neighborhoods and suburbs.
• Thriving downtown with locally owned restaurants, breweries, live music, and cultural attractions including the nationally recognized Pappajohn Sculpture Park and Principal Riverwalk.
• Extensive outdoor recreation, with nearby state parks, bike and running trails, and four distinct seasons that offer year-round activities.
• Strong education options, including well-regarded public and private schools and nearby colleges and universities.
• Family-oriented community with frequent festivals, farmers markets, and sporting events that make it easy to feel connected and at home.
• Central location with convenient air and highway access to Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and other Midwest destinations.

About VA Central Iowa

VA Central Iowa Health Care System includes a main medical center in Des Moines and multiple Community Based Outpatient Clinics serving Veterans across the region. Our teams provide comprehensive acute medical, surgical, and specialty care, as well as rehabilitation and mental health services, all guided by the needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers. You will join an experienced, multidisciplinary team that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and evidence-based care.

Position Highlights

• Provide pulmonary medicine consultation and follow-up care for inpatients and outpatients at the Des Moines VA Medical Center and affiliated community clinics.
• Work closely with pulmonary clinic staff, respiratory therapy, and other specialties to develop and implement individualized plans of care.
• Participate in inpatient care, including consultation, collaboration with hospitalists, and involvement in discharge planning and interdisciplinary care conferences.
• Educate and counsel patients about their conditions, treatment options, procedures, and medications.
• Collaborate with nursing, social work, mental health, pharmacy, and other disciplines to ensure seamless, coordinated care for Veterans.
• Potential to supervise or serve as a collaborating physician for Physician Assistants, including providing clinical oversight.
• Complete timely documentation and encounters in accordance with medical staff bylaws and VA policy.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, process improvement projects, and committees where pulmonary expertise is needed.

Typical work hours are Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with alternative schedules considered at the time of hire.

Compensation and VA Total Rewards

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package for physicians, including competitive pay and robust benefits.va+1

• Competitive salary range of $300,000–$400,000 per year, with final compensation determined by a formal pay-setting process that considers education and length of practice.
• Annual performance bonus and regular salary increases.
• Generous paid time off: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, plus potential additional paid absence for continuing medical education.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting, plus a federal 401(k)-style plan with up to 5% employer contribution.
• Comprehensive federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care coverage, with many programs available into retirement.
• One full, unrestricted medical license from any U.S. state or territory accepted.
• Student loan repayment potential through the Education Debt Reduction Program, with possible reimbursement up to $200,000 over one to five years (eligibility and award determined by VA Education Loan Repayment Services).
• Possible annual CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians, plus free malpractice coverage with tail.
• No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Basic Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship (non-citizens may be considered when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, in accordance with VA policy).
• Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
• Current, full, unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state or territory or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of an accredited residency training program in an appropriate core specialty leading to board eligibility in pulmonary medicine.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and ability to meet all VA credentialing and privileging requirements.

Join a mission-driven team in Des Moines and help deliver exceptional pulmonary care to the nation’s Veterans while enjoying an outstanding quality of life in Central Iowa.va+1

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 VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VACIHCS) operates a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical facility in Des Moines, with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Mason City, Fort Dodge, Knoxville, Marshalltown and Carroll. The medical center provides acute and specialized medical and surgical services, residential outpatient treatment programs in substance abuse and post-traumatic stress and a full range of mental health and long-term care services, as well as sub-acute and restorative rehabilitation services and a domiciliary.

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