Physician (Ophthalmology) - Virtual Eye Care Services Assistant Program Director

Physician (Ophthalmology) - Virtual Eye Care Services Assistant Program Director

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job), United States

Salary Range: $336000 - $390000 Per Year

Job Summary: The VISN 23 Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) Virtual Eye Care Services (VECS) Assistant Program Director is responsible for assisting with all activities related to the strategy and execution of telehealth initiatives in the VECS model. Candidates must reside within 50 miles of a VA facility. Internet speed tests may be requested to verify/determine suitability for remote work for candidates in consideration of this announcement.

Major Duties:

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Position is remote eligible and is currently exempted from return to office (RTO) requirements. Remote exempted positions are reviewed every 6 months and DOES NOT imply permanent remote work status. This position may be required to report to an office in the future. The VISN 23 VECS Assistant Program Director will provide direction and leadership to a team of professionals across disciplines to ensure that the VECS strategy is aligned with the goals and objectives established by senior management and well integrated with telehealth initiatives across the VA. Duties include but are not limited to: Administrative (Management) and Supervisory Responsibilities (50% of time) Provides leadership, direction, and management of clinical operations of the VISN 23 VECS Care Hub and multiple spoke sites. Develops and provides oversight to operational workflows as it relates to telehealth initiatives. Develops project resource projections and assesses impact of those projections based on business objectives on an on-going basis. Evaluates and prepares business plans and long-term strategic plans to articulate and further telehealth objectives across the enterprise. Holds all departments accountable for providing necessary input/participation and data on a timely basis to ensure strategic objectives are met. Leads all telehealth development activities for the VECS program including proposal scope development, business plan writing, project planning, and resourcing. Prioritizes and implements future use cases for telehealth initiatives within the VECS model. Develops, executes, and provides strategic planning for QA/QI initiatives for the Virtual Eye program and works with other telehealth initiatives on QA/QI for all programs. Clinical Responsibilities (25% of time) Provides clinical consultation to VISN 23 VAMC clinical staff both within and outside of the Virtual Eye Care Hub. Exact nature of clinical responsibilities may vary depending on incumbent's areas of expertise and service line needs. Academic/Teaching/Training (10% of time) Provides leadership, guidance, teaching and consultation on staff education and development to VISN 23 Virtual Eye Care clinical staff including residents and fellows, as well as other clinical trainees and clinical staff from other specialties such as primary care. Serves as planner, faculty and/or presenter for Employee Education System, Medical Center, and VA Network trainings as requested. Research/Program Evaluation (10% of time) Responsible for oversight and completion of research and program evaluations as directed by the Medical Center, VISN and VACO, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies (such as the Joint Commission). Consults with and serves as a resource for VAMC professional personnel concerning the successful implementation of health services related research. This includes submitting research and/or program evaluation proposals, serving as PI or Co-I on research projects, reviewing and rating research/program evaluation proposals and serving on research and program evaluation related work groups and committees. Other Significant Responsibilities (5% of Time) Performs other duties as assigned. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Multiple possibilities Monday-Friday with compressed tours available

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment 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 resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Additional Requirement: Board Certified or Eligible by the American Board of Ophthalmology Preferred Experience: Three (3) years of telehealth experience Prefer Experience with ocular telehealth At least Five (5) years of VA clinical experience Five (5) years of clinical teaching experience Three (3) years of demonstrated leadership experience within a multisite healthcare system; an example includes: participation on local (VA based preferred), regional and/or national committee, experience with program management (e.g., chief of section, chief of service). At least 2 publications or research work in the realm of ophthalmology, telemedicine, epidemiology, or health services. A dual degree such as MD/MPH, MD/MBA would fulfill this requirement. Prefer experience with project or change management Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: For administrative work: mild lifting (10-15 lbs.); mild carrying(11-15 lbs.); straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (5 hours); standing (4 hours); kneeling (1 hour); repeated bending (4 hours); sitting (6 hours) both legs required; ability to perform rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; normal peripheral vision in at least 1 eye (140 degrees horizontal and 90 degrees vertical)), hearing (aid permitted); emotional/mental stability. For clinical ophthalmology work: as above with the addition of far vision correctable in both eyes to 20/20 or 20/25, near vision of J1 or J1+ correctable in both eyes, fine stereovision (40 seconds of arc); ability to perform microsurgery which includes rapid mental and hand-eye coordination, high level of dexterity of the hands.

How to Apply: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. To apply for this position online, complete steps 1 and 2 above by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/16/2026 to receive consideration. Please note, this announcement may close prior to the closing date indicated if the position is filled through other means. If you are unable to apply online before the closing date click here and include the CBSY-12903102-26-SD in the Notes field. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-16