Summary The Postgraduate Primary Care Physician Assistant Residency Program is sponsored through the Office of Academic Affiliations. The Program Director is responsible for the overall organization, administration, review, development and evaluation of the Program. The Residency Program Director acts as the liaison to the Atlanta VA Education and Learning Resource Office and PA Programs both locally and nationally. Responsibilities The Scope of Practice is defined in applicable VA policies. The administrative responsibilities are determined by the PA biannually, if there are clinical duties included with the position, they are determined by the PA and the collaborating MD(s) biannually. In addition, in observance of federal, national, and local regulatory, policy, and accreditation requirements governing this Health Care System, this position encompasses the following examples of responsibilities. 1. Ensures that all trainees participate in required credentialing procedures and orientation process with identified established and current VA policies and trainee's role within the VA system. 2. Educates preceptors and provides established PA training guidelines from our academic affiliates and supervisory standards of practice established VA Medical Center policies and procedures. 3. Develops and provides continuously updated PA Resident Orientation Program. 4. Supports trainees to give feedback regarding supervising practitioners, the training program, and VA site. Reviews feedback thru the Learner's Survey during and after their training. 5. Ensures accurate account of the facility's participation in tracking PA Preceptors and trainees for purpose of Annual Health Service Training Report. 6. Provides a vital link between education and practice through routine meetings with PA Program Directors. 7. PA Representative from VA Medical Center may attend educational and academic meetings at the local and national level as necessary. 8. Maintains close relationship and open communication with VA preceptors to keep them informed of upcoming educational and training opportunities, changes, or conflicts in schedules and other issues as they arise. 9. Monitors the provision and documentation of the end of rotation evaluation by the Preceptor for PA trainee. 10. Guides action regarding trainee-related problems. 11. Analyzes data and develops reporting strategies for educational quality improvement, scholarly activities, and (where applicable) accreditation standards. 12. Facilitates communication with public/private partnerships and engagement with external community. 13. Commits to inter-professional health education, health care and life sciences research, and to building a stronger community of physician assistants, researchers, and students. 14. Advises senior administration on innovations in health care delivery and education and enhances the visibility and recognition of Physician Assistants. 15. Attends staff and committee meetings as assigned by the Chief of Staff (Executive Committee of the Medical Staff, Peer Review, Credentialing) 16. Responsible for all human resources, education, service care line, payroll, and occupational health administrative requirements, for example: Identification credentials, physicals if required, and required talent management training. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Work Schedule: 7:30AM - 4:00PM; Monday - Friday. (Subject to change based on agency needs). Telework: Ad-hoc Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Physician Assistant Basic Requirements Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~ Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Grade Determination. In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: Physician Assistant-IV (PA-IV). Positions may include but are not limited to: Facility or Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Lead PA, Facility PA Education Lead, PA Residency Program Director, or other Clinical and/or Administrative leadership assignments. PA (Facility Education Lead or Residency Program Director). PA Facility Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors are responsible for the management, structure, and administration of the PA clinical trainee program. They ensure programs comply with VA Office of Academic Affiliations standards and accrediting bodies of sponsoring affiliated institutions while activities are being held at VA facilities. PA Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors develop, implement, and enhance PA clinical education training programs. Experience. PA Facility Education Leads and PA Residency Program Directors require five years of experience, which include educational assignments, such as proctoring PAs or medical students, setting up continuing medical education for local VHA PAs or participating in community health events; serving as a PA director or assistant in a VHA residency program or stipend program; or serving as a member or staff of an academic PA program. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-IV: a. Ability to develop and update VA PA clinical rotation guidelines within each clinical specialty to ensure students and preceptors understand the responsibilities prior to and upon completion of each clinical rotation. b. Skills to maintain student evaluations and oversee changes that facilitate continuous enhancements and improvements of PA trainee clinical experiences. c. Ability to give quality systematic feedback to the practitioner within a broad range of medical and surgical experiences that meets ARC-PA and affiliated institutional standards. d. Ability to support trainees to allow open and ongoing feedback regarding collaborating practitioner, the training program, and VA site as a method of continuous improvement. e. Skill to properly record and maintain established affiliation agreements and subsequent supporting documents required for VA clinical training programs. f. Skill to maintain close relationships and open and ongoing communication with academic affiliates PA program directors and clinical coordinators participating in the PA trainee program. Preferred Experience: Subject Matter Expert of PA Policy. This is a heavily administrative position and clinical. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is PA-IV. Physical Requirements: This work is mostly sedentary and requires some standing, bending, and carrying light items. The incumbent must have the ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time to interact with the patients and other services. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
