Staff Physician (Primary Care)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval—award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years)—are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

• Meet basic requirements listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
• Currently employed physicians in VA who met the requirements for appointments under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree in medicine or osteopathic medicine from an VA-approved school for the year studied.
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or District of Columbia.
• Residency training: Must have completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA physicians in academic training may be required to be board certified for faculty status. Approved residencies include (1) ACGME-accredited programs, (2) AOA-accredited programs, or (3) other residencies with five years of verified U.S. practice deemed appropriate by the local Medical Staff Executive Committee.
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA-accredited residency programs who otherwise meet the basic requirements are eligible to be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs).
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee‑basis.
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; they will have a scope of practice allowing certain restricted duties under supervision.
• Surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Preferred experience: Board‑certified in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Two years of primary care experience, including full scope of women's health primary care.
• Physical requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on duties, vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. In most cases, specific conditions may be compensated with prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

• This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until September 30, 2026. Initial cut‑off date for referral of eligible applications is June 1, 2026, with subsequent cut‑offs on the 1st of each month.
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as‑needed basis until positions are filled.
• The incumbent serves as the PACT Physician Primary Care at Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Healthcare System (ATLVAMC) and Community‑Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). The incumbent is directly supervised by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Primary Care.
• Clinical responsibilities: Provide primary care services for a panel of assigned patients. Perform exams, document notes per policy, and manage patient care. Screen patients for further care, evaluate unscheduled patients, order diagnostic studies, carry out health promotion, expedite consultations, and schedule special tests.
• Administrative responsibilities: Adhere to operational policies of primary care team; facilitate liaison with other health programs; comply with national and local performance measures; document CPRS procedures; participate in meetings; maintain BLS certification; respond to Patient Align Tracking System (PATS); assist with physician supervision of Restricted Practice Authority for NPs as needed; maintain mandatory educational classes.
• Other significant responsibilities: Academic/teaching/training opportunities available at clinics with residents or medical students.
• Work schedule: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, subject to change based on agency needs.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary with annual performance bonus and regular salary increases.
• Paid time off: 50–55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays and up to 5 days paid absence for CME).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(K) with up to 5% VA contribution.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care; many programs can be carried into retirement.
• Licensure: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• Contract: No physician employment contract; no significant restriction on moonlighting.
• Education debt reduction program: Learn more (EDRP Authorization; former participants ineligible).
• Contact: for EDRP questions/assistance.

EOE Statement

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.