Summary

The Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS) is seeking a full-time Nuclear Medicine Section Chief to join the Imaging Service Line at the VAMC in Iowa City - Iowa. Note: This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT through August 18 - 2026. The first referral cut-off is June 15 - 2026 - at 11:59 p.m. EST - with monthly cut-offs on the 1st. Applications received after each cut-off will be reviewed as needed until the position is filled.

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - 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
• Exceptions: 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 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
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Additional Requirement: Certified by the American Board Nuclear Medicine
• The American Board of Radiology with Special Competence in Nuclear Medicine - or the equivalent
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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
• Nuclear Medicine Section Chief will be responsible administering all aspects of the Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT throughout the Iowa City VA Health Care System
• He/she must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to supervise and provide all nuclear medicine and PET/CT diagnostic services including - but not limited to: Planning for the provision of care - including adequate personnel - diagnostic equipment - and supplies to ensure availability of those procedures which are appropriate to the needs of the facility
• Providing timely patient care with acceptable turnaround times
• Ensuring equitable nuclear medicine physician duty assignments which are appropriate to training and experience
• Providing professional oversight to the nuclear medicine technologists
• Maintaining an acceptable level of personal clinical productivity
• Development of - and adherence to - standard procedures and protocols
• Development and monitoring of activities which improve patient safety - performance - and quality
• Maintaining a safe radiation environment
• Ensuring patient privacy and confidentiality of patient medical information
• Ensuring accurate CPT coding
• Ensuring compliance with all internal and external quality and radiation safety requirements - to include those of federal statues - VA policies/directives - The Joint Commission - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) - National Health Physics Program (NHPP) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
• Representing the Nuclear Medicine Section - Imaging Service - and/or ICVAHCS facility during accreditation - inspection - or investigational surveys regarding Nuclear Medicine
• Recommending privileging requirements for Nuclear Medicine - reviewing requests for clinical privileges and making recommendations regarding appointment and privileging action
• Maintaining performance and competence data on all Nuclear Medicine physicians in a timely manner
• Providing technical expertise input for Nuclear Medicine equipment and contracts
• Maintaining sufficient computer skills necessary to work with advanced PACS - 3-D Imaging Workstations and Voice Recognition systems
• Supervising training programs in Nuclear Medicine to include medical students - residents and technologist students
• Participating in business planning - supply/equipment acquisition - manpower and budget management for Nuclear Medicine
• Representing Nuclear Medicine on hospital committees as appropriate
• 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 annual paid time offer 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 Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
• Alternative work hours - if desired - should be agreed upon at the time of hire