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. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. The Hershel "Woody" Williams VAMC Optometry Service provides full-scope eye care in an outpatient setting. Optometrists within this service provide comprehensive eye care including the management or management of eye disease, consultations, and emergency and on-call services. They also perform related administrative duties as well as academic and research functions in support of eye care services. This announcement may be used to fill Staff Optometrist and/or Attending Optometrist positions. The Staff Optometrist will perform general optometry duties including clinical oversight of trainees as needed and some specialized functions and procedures without supervision. The Attending Optometrist teaches and supervises students, residents and/or fellows in the delivery of optometric care to Veterans. Major duties include but are not limited to: Clinical: Provides quality patient care to outpatients as assigned. Keeps informed of developments in the management and treatment of eye and systemic diseases through continuing medical education, both formal and informal. Successfully integrates patient care activities in Optometry Service and other patient care programs of the clinic and in the community. Consistently demonstrates expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multisymptomatic patients. Participates in multidisciplinary activities involving treatment plan and discharge of patients. Provides other clinical services as assigned consistent with clinical privileges as assigned by the Chief, Optometry Service. Administrative: Attends facility and service meetings and participates in committees as assigned by the Chief, Optometry Service. Assists in the development and implementation of care programs in Optometry Service. Performs other administrative duties as assigned by the Chief, Optometry Service. Academic(Attending): Provides guidance and supervision for optometry residents and optometry externs assigned by the Chief, Optometry Service. Participates in the formal education of residents, optometry externs, and other trainees by presenting teaching rounds, lectures, conferences, etc. Assists in the development and implementation of education and training programs for optometry externs and residents rotating through Optometry Service as assigned by Chief, Optometry Service. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc telework may be approved. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact visn5hredrpcoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. 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. Contract: No Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section 7402(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). 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: 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 Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients. English Language Proficiency. Optometrists appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). Staff Optometrist: None beyond the basic. Attending Optometrist: 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). Preferred Experience: Post Graduate residency program preferred with the ability to diagnose and manage complex ocular conditions/diseases. Experience working with optometry externs and/or residents, including providing clinical oversight, constructive feedback and support for developing clinical competencies is highly valued. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires a pre-employment physical. Requires light lifting up to 25 pounds; pushing; bending; reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing up to 8 hours. Must meet visual requirements to perform assigned duties. 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. 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.
