Summary

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

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/eligible in Anesthesiology - and the ability to do anesthesia for basic cardiothoracic cases
• Preferred Experience: Fellowship training in critical care - cardiac or regional anesthesia - and experience in performing the range of cases listed in the duties section of this vacancy announcement
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting and carrying (45lbs and over) - straight pulling and pushing - standing for extended periods - sitting - bending - ability to wear lead aprons for x-ray cases.

Duties

• **This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until May 14 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applicants will be 11/28/2025
• 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 Anesthesiology Service at the New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) is a collaborative department comprised of anesthesiologists and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists - along with anesthesia residents and medical students participating through rotations
• The service provides a comprehensive range of perioperative care - including preoperative optimization of surgical patients - intraoperative management with involvement in clinical pathways such as ERAS - postoperative care and management-including participation in the surgical intensive care unit-and both acute and chronic pain management services
• NMVAHCS functions as the tertiary referral center for patients across New Mexico and southern Colorado
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance 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 As an Anesthesiologist at NMVAHCS - you will provide anesthesia services in both operating room and non-operating room settings
• Your responsibilities will primarily include supervising CRNAs and residents - with occasional opportunities to personally perform cases
• The scope of procedures include - but are not limited to - cardiac surgery - vascular surgery - general surgery - orthopedics - ENT - and urological procedures
• There is a growing demand for non-OR anesthesia across various departments - such as gastroenterology - interventional radiology - behavioral health - cardiology - pulmonary - and MRI
• Opportunities for patient care - research - and teaching are also available
• The NMVACHS has an academic affiliation with the University of New Mexico (UNM)
• This position has the possibility of obtaining a clinical appointment at the UNM
• This position allows time for academic study and responsibilities - and also carries the possibility of a joint faculty appointment at the UNM - School of Medicine - Department of Anesthesiology
• Work Schedule: Anesthesia OR schedule is Monday-Friday - 6:30am-3:00pm with the possibility of rotating evening shifts and after hours home call.