Physician - Interventional Pain Medicine

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.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: Monday - Friday and some Saturdays, 7:30am - 4:00pm 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 This physician serves as a licensed independent practitioner (LIP) and physiatrist (PM&R) with subspecialty training and/or demonstrated competency in interventional pain medicine, practicing at VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System (VAPIHCS). The physician provides expert evaluation and management of acute and chronic pain conditions, performs interventional pain procedures within approved privileges, supports interdisciplinary rehabilitation and pain management services, and ensures high-quality, patient-centered care for Veterans across VAPIHCS facilities. The physician works under the chain of command of the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) PM&R or their designee, with clinical oversight by the Chief of Staff. New privileges are subject to Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) with direct observation/proctoring for a defined number of cases (per facility bylaws, e.g., first 5-10 of each new procedure type) before conversion to unsupervised (OPPE) status. Advanced/neuromodulation procedures may require an additional proctoring period and/or co-management with Neurosurgery/Anesthesia Pain Medicine per local policy. Trainees (residents/fellows) performing procedures must be supervised in accordance with VHA Directive 1400.01, Supervision of Physician, Dental, Optometry, Chiropractic, and Podiatry Residents. Work is evaluated for clinical effectiveness, compliance with policy, quality of care, and contribution to service-level goals. Major duties include but are not limited to: Perform comprehensive musculoskeletal, neurologic, and pain-focused history and physical examinations, including functional assessments and rehabilitation planning. Diagnose and provide non-operative management of acute and chronic pain conditions (spine, joint, musculoskeletal, neuropathic, myofascial, cancer-related, and post-amputation/phantom limb pain). Develop and oversee multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial pain treatment plans consistent with the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain and the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management. Provide chronic pain assessment and management with emphasis on multimodal, non-opioid- focused approaches and appropriate tapering or cross-titration to partial agonist opioid therapy when indicated. Order and interpret diagnostic studies relevant to PM&R and pain medicine (e.g., X-ray, MRI, EMG/NCS, ultrasound as privileged). Refer and coordinate with Whole Health, behavioral health, physical/occupational therapy, addiction medicine, surgical specialties, social work, nurse educator, pharmacy, and primary care. Needle electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) for evaluation of radiculopathy, plexopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and myopathy. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar epidural steroid injections (interlaminar and transforaminal approaches). Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joint (zygapophyseal) injections. Medial branch blocks (diagnostic). Sacroiliac joint injections. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)/neurotomy - cervical, thoracic, lumbar medial branches. Cooled or pulsed radiofrequency procedures (if separately trained). Sacroiliac joint RFA (lateral branch). Peripheral joint injections/aspirations (shoulder, hip, knee, and other appendicular joints). Peripheral nerve blocks (e.g., genicular, suprascapular, occipital). Trigger point injections. Ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal and nerve injections. Regenerative/orthobiologic injections (e.g., platelet-rich plasma) - if approved under local policy. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor or department leadership.

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. 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. Complete TB Testing and Immunization evaluations. 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.