Texas Sunshine, Protect Veterans Vision with Life Saving Care: Glaucoma Specialist South Texas VA

The Opportunity

The South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) in San Antonio, Texas is seeking a comprehensive ophthalmologist and a glaucoma specialist to join our team of 10 ophthalmologists. The position offers busy clinical and surgical practices. Responsibilities will include clinical care and resident supervision in both outpatient and operating room settings. The STVHCS Ophthalmology Department is affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and Department of Defense Ophthalmology Residency Program located at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center. STVHCS Ophthalmology services are located at the Northwest Health Care Center which opened in April 2022.  The Ophthalmology Clinic has 19 exam lanes, 2 procedure suites, anterior segment and retina lasers, and extensive imaging resources including 2 IOLMaster 700, 2 Humphrey Visual Fields, 2 CIRRUS OCT, 2 ultra-wide field fundus cameras, Eye Cubed ultrasound and Zeiss Forum imaging management system.  Adjacent to the clinic is a new, state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center (ASC) which features 3 operating rooms dedicated to eye surgeries including cataract, glaucoma, cornea, retina, and oculoplastic. The ASC is staffed by experienced eye nurses, eye scrub techs, and anesthesia. Glaucoma specialists will be able to perform cataract surgeries, incisional glaucoma surgeries, as well as the latest in MIGS including iStent, KDB, Xen, Omni, and Micro pulse.

Candidate Preferences: US citizen, BE/BC in ophthalmology, and active medical license in any state. Applicants for the glaucoma position must have fellowship training in glaucoma.

About San Antonio

San Antonio offers big-city amenities and world-renowned attractions coupled with a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Most famously known as the home of the Alamo to include the famous

River Walk, the spirit of the region expands beyond its tourist labels, offering a community rich in Spanish and Old West heritage.

The pace of life in San Antonio can be as active or as quiet as one chooses. Living in a destination city has its benefits. Families appreciate having year-round access to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio. Foodies enjoy every genre of cuisine from food trucks in downtown to the beloved Tex-Mex and barbecue fare. Theater, music, and art aficionados can attend productions at the Majestic Theater and the Tobin Center or exhibitions at the McNay Art Museum. Sports fans cheer on their NBA team, the San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio offers more than 50 major events and festivals throughout the year, including the Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony, the Texas Folklife Festival, and the famous Fiesta, a spirited 10-day salute to the Spanish heritage with numerous events citywide.

Why Work at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System?

• Serve our nation's heroes and provide them with the highest quality of care.
• Work with a team of dedicated and compassionate professionals.
• Enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package, including an education debt repayment program.
• Live in a vibrant and diverse city with a rich history and culture.
• Have a great work-life balance.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package. 
• Opportunity to work with a diverse patient population.
• State-of-the-art facilities and equipment
• Insurance to include Health-Dental-Vision care insurance programs to choose from with premiums partially paid for by VA.  
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Term Life Insurance, family and additional coverage options are available.
• Federal Retirement Plan thru 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 government matching contributions.
• Collaborative and supportive work environment
• Paid Time Off in the form of 26 Days paid annual leave. 13 Days paid sick leave per year. 10 Federal Holidays with Pay. 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses.

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of Veterans and enjoying a rewarding career with excellent benefits, we encourage you to apply for this position today!

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 paid Federal holidays per year
• 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 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• 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

South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) is comprised of two inpatient campuses: the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio and the Kerrville VA Hospital in Kerrville, Texas. STVHCS serves one of the largest primary service areas in the nation and is part of the VA Heart of Texas Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 17), with offices located in Arlington, Texas. South Texas provides health care services for 80,000 unique Veterans. The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital (ALMMVH), named after the nation’s most decorated World War II hero, is a quaternary care facility, which is affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Comprehensive health care is provided through acute medical, surgical, mental health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, geriatric, and primary care services. Comprised of a Spinal Cord Injury Center, a Community Living Center, a Domiciliary, and a Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). ALMMVH provides quaternary services including bone marrow transplantation, open-heart surgery, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. As a Level II Research facility ALMMVH has projects that include aging, cardiac surgery, cancer, diabetes and HIV. The facility has one of three National Institutes of Health sponsored clinical research centers in the VA. In addition, the Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center (GRECC) is a “Center of Excellence.” The Kerrville VA Hospital (KVAH), located 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, provides primary care, some specialty care, geriatric evaluation and management, palliative care, and long-term care services with a Community Living Center. Outpatient clinics offer primary care and some specialty care while sharing resources with each other and their respective communities. When required, Veterans are referred to ALMMVH or KVAH for specialty care including medicine, surgery, neuropsychiatry, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and long-term care services.