Seeking Talented General Cardiologist for Excellent Regional Oversight Taskforce - Seattle, WA

The VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in Seattle, WA, is seeking a highly motivated General Cardiologist to join the Medical Specialty Care Oversight Taskforce (MASCOT) within VISN 20. MASCOT is a hub-and-spoke cardiology network serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, with a special focus on veterans residing in areas with limited or no cardiology access.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide cardiology consultation and management for patients across the network, both onsite and via telehealth
• Develop a strong telehealth presence and serve as a consultant/resource for cardiology and primary care advanced providers in the region
• Build and nurture clinical relationships to further the hub-and-spoke cardiology program
• Diagnose and treat coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease, and heart rhythm disorders
• Outpatient consultative cardiology (including telehealth), inpatient consultation, cardiac study interpretation
• Expertise required in electrocardiography, ambulatory rhythm monitoring, stress testing, and echocardiography (board certification/eligibility in echocardiography expected)
• Supervise, mentor, and educate cardiology advanced practice providers within the network; coordinate care between facilities
• Report to the VISN 20 Cardiology MASCOT Director
• Travel may be required to multiple duty stations within VISN 20

About VAPSHCS: VAPSHCS is a Joint Commission-accredited, referral level 1a/high complexity, 459-bed facility serving veterans throughout Washington State, including the rapidly expanding Puget Sound area. Our facility is committed to improving the health of men and women who have proudly served our nation.

Ideal Candidate: The ideal cardiologist is devoted to advancing clinical excellence, research, inter-professional education, and is committed to VA’s values, merit promotion, equal employment opportunity, and positive labor relations. Academic appointment at the University of Washington School of Medicine is available based on experience.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive salary for Board-Certified Cardiologists
• Industry-leading benefits package:
  • Robust health, dental, vision, and life insurance options
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Retirement via FERS: Social Security, pension, Thrift Savings Plan with up to 5% government matching
  • Paid time off: 26 days annual leave, 12 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, 5 days CME leave
  • Long-term care insurance available
  • Educational Debt Reduction Program may be available for qualified candidates

To Apply: Send your CV and cover letter to Henry Laguatan, VA National Healthcare Recruitment Consultant:

• Email: henry.laguatan@va.gov
• Phone: (206) 459-7927

VAPSHCS has a busy 231 bed tertiary medical center in Seattle providing a wide array of inpatient and outpatient surgical, medical, rehabilitation, and behavioral health services. Additional ambulatory care services are also provided at the American Lake Division in Tacoma, Washington, and at seven community based outpatient clinics in western Washington.

With a reputation for excellence, innovation and extraordinary care of our Nation’s heroes, VA Puget Sound strives to lead the nation in terms of quality, efficiency and public service through its proven record of innovation and extraordinary care of Veterans. As the primary referral site for VA's northwest region, VA Puget Sound provides care for Veteran populations encompassing Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Oregon.

Since 1923, VA Puget Sound Health Care System has distinguished itself as a leader in teaching, research and patient care while earning prestigious recognition as part of the largest health care network in the country. We consider it our privilege to serve your health care needs of more than 80,000 Veterans living in the Pacific Northwest.

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

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Mission Statement

To fulfill President Lincoln's promise “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans.

Core Values

VA’s five core values underscore the obligations inherent in VA’s mission: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. The core values define “who we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans and eligible beneficiaries. Our values are more than just words – they affect outcomes in our daily interactions with Veterans and eligible beneficiaries and with each other. Taking the first letter of each word—Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence—creates a powerful acronym, “I CARE,” that reminds each VA employee of the importance of their role in this Department. These core values come together as five promises we make as individuals and as an organization to those we serve.

Integrity: Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.

Commitment: Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.

Advocacy: Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.

Respect: Treat all those I serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it.

Excellence: Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.

VA Puget Sound is primarily affiliated with the University of Washington Medical Center* and also maintains affiliations with over 50 other educational institutions. Each year, we train hundreds of medical residents and allied health professionals each year in audiology and speech pathology, dietetics, HRS&D, radiology, optometry, podiatry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, recreation therapy, psychology, health information management, information technology, medical informatics and other health care programs. Additionally, we train between 15-20 dental residents each year. We are also affiliated with several nursing schools, annually hosting over 500 nursing-auxiliary students and over 300 nursing-professional students.

Each year, VA Puget Sound funds over 700 medical and dental resident slots. Training is also provided to over 100 nursing and associated health trainees.