Summary The Optometrist will work under the Surgical Care Clinical Center within the VA Maryland Health Care System. This position is located in Baltimore, Maryland. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Major duties include but are not limited to: Clinical: Provides high quality care to outpatients by examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities, including the medical diagnosis and management of eye diseases. The practitioner will examine patients in the outpatient settings; make a diagnosis and develop and implement a treatment plan that may include a referral to the Low Vision Service and/or to the Ophthalmology Service. Keeps informed of developments in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education, both formal and informal. Successfully integrate patient care activities in Optometry Service and other patient care programs of the medical center and in the community. Consistently demonstrate expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients. Participates in multidisciplinary activities involving treatment plan and discharge patients. Participates as a peer reviewer when requested. Administrative: The practitioner will work directly with the Chief, Optometry Service to recommend, develop, implement and evaluate goals, objectives, and procedures related to the operation and functions of the Eye Clinics. The practitioner will work with the administrative and nursing staff at the relevant location to ensure clinics run efficiently. Participates in various facility programs designed to enhance and improve the delivery of patient care services such as Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) teams. Provide clinic direction, supervision and guidance to the Ophthalmic Health Technician(s). Assignments: Routinely serves as Attending Doctor in Primary Eye Care Clinics, involves direct patient care. Provides basic low vision services and may occasionally be assigned to the Advanced Low Vision Team Clinic (directing a multi/inter-disciplinary care team, prescribing custom-designed optical systems, electronic aids/devices, etc). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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. To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following basic requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. §7407(a). English Language Proficiency. Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). Education. Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed Licensure and Registration. Optometrists must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure. Residency Training or Comparable Experience. Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below:(1)Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed. OR (2)Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients. Preferred Experience: Preferred concentration in Ocular Disease. Grade Determinations: Staff Optometrist. None beyond the basic requirements. The individual must possess the experience to perform general optometry duties, including clinical oversight of trainees as needed, and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. Attending Optometrist. An Attending Optometrist teaches and supervises students, residents, and, or fellows in the delivery of optometric care to Veterans. The Attending Optometrist accepts full responsibility for adherence to the current care standards of directly assigned patients and for those assigned under the care of the supervised trainee(s). An Attending Optometrist may also serve as a Student Coordinator overseeing the clinical care, and facilitating the coordination of scheduling, periodic reviews, and didactic component for the students. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, and possessing privileges to perform all procedures being supervised, Attending Optometrists must demonstrate the following: (1) Board Certification: Attending Optometrists must be board certified by The American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry (ABCMO) or The American Board of Optometry (ABO); and (2) Meets one of the following criteria: (a) Faculty appointment(s) at a school or college of optometry, medicine, or other health care profession; or (b) Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is VM-15. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is VM-15. 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 Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care. 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.
