Neurosurgeon

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) are looking for a physician with interest in outcomes and comparative effectiveness research to join the team of VCU neurosurgeons at the VAMC. Neurosurgeons with spinal surgery expertise as well as non- surgeons will be considered for this position. This position will be centered at the VAMC, with protected time for research and with an academic appointment at VCU. One of the primary goals of this position is to build a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach to patients with spinal symptoms. Existing research/QA staff include a PhD in neuroscience dedicated to outcomes research, a research coordinator, a clinical nurse coordinator, and collaborators in pain management, PM&R, psychiatry, and addiction medicine. A robust pain clinic manages patients with chronic pain. This clinic provides resources for patients with nonsurgical problems so that the neurosurgeons can concentrate on surgical care.

    Two and a half days per week will be allotted for research and program development. Comparative effectiveness and multidisciplinary team development are required areas of specific interest for this position. Qualified applicants will have a history in spine outcomes research and or development of cross departmental pathways in spine care. Qualified applicants that are not surgeons will be considered if they have the demonstrated expertise. Only candidates with a background in comparative effectiveness or outcomes research will be considered. The applicant should have a strong ability in working collaboratively with both clinical and research teams. Resident supervision and mentoring are important components of the position.

    The Richmond VAMC serves as one of the two teaching hospitals for the VCU Department of Neurosurgery. The VAMC Section of Neurosurgery consists of four part-time physicians, two rotating VCU/VAMC residents, and three midlevel providers, with 24/7 resident, intensivist, and in-house hospitalist coverage.  Surgical Services at the Richmond VAMC spans 12 specialties including heart transplant, LVAD, Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, robotic surgery, and hybrid techniques. The operating room has both ENT and Neurosurgical Stealth stations and an O-arm for navigated spine surgery. 

    The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is America’s largest, most technologically advanced healthcare system, providing care at 1,298 healthcare facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. In addition to the honor of serving America’s Heroes, a career at VHA provides a robust total reward$ package and offers many benefits including:

    —Flexible work schedules and shifts.   

    —Low patient-provider ratios   

    —Robust insurance coverage

    —The ability to work anywhere in the country with one active license.   

    —Stable employment with competitive salary and regular pay increases

    —55 days annual paid time off (26 days paid annual leave, 13 days paid annual sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, 5 CME) in addition to other leave options including paid parental leave.

—Generous education support programs, including loan repayment and reimbursement   

—Unprecedented federal retirement benefits including a traditional pension (5 years’ vesting) and a federal 401K (TSP) with up to 5% in employer contributions

    —VA’s Diversity, People & Culture   

    In addition to the above, the VA offers a Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices)

More about the area:

If we told you exactly what makes the Richmond Region awesome, we’d be selling it short. So, we’ll let this region speak for itself, and invite you to discover how it speaks to you. Here, you’ll find an understated authenticity, and a special something that people find hard to define. That’s just how we like it. And if you like rich culture, incredible food, deep historic roots, gorgeous natural landscapes, creative vibes, and diverse, welcoming community, you’ll love it here, too. Richmond is a vibrant and diverse city in central Virginia with an easy drive to Washington DC, Virginia Beach, and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west including Shenandoah National Park. Richmond straddles the James River, which is a significant part of the city’s landscape, and it offers whitewater rapids running through the downtown district with a beautiful array of parks and outdoor activities along the riverfront. The Richmond Region speaks to different people in different ways. We encourage you to explore with an open mind and open ears and take in everything RVA has to offer in your own unique way. 

Since 1946, the Richmond VAMC has been improving the health of the men and women who have so proudly served our nation. We consider it our privilege to serve your health care needs in any way we can. Services are available to more than 200,000 veterans coming from 52 cities and counties covering 22,515 miles of central and southern Virginia and parts of northern North Carolina.

VHA Mission StatementHonor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

VHA Vision StatementVHA will continue to be the benchmark of excellence and value in health care and benefits by providing exemplary services that are both patient centered and evidence based.

This care will be delivered by engaged, collaborative teams in an integrated environment that supports learning, discovery and continuous improvement.

It will emphasize prevention and population health and contribute to the nation's well-being through education, research and service in National emergencies.

Core Values - "I CARE"

• 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.

Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

In addition to our main facility in Richmond, we offer services in our Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and Emporia community-based outpatient clinics.

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