Neurosurgeon

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) are looking for a physician with interest in outcomes and comparative effectiveness research to join the team of VCU neurosurgeons at the VAMC. Neurosurgeons with spinal surgery expertise as well as non- surgeons will be considered for this position. This position will be centered at the VAMC, with protected time for research and with an academic appointment at VCU. One of the primary goals of this position is to build a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach to patients with spinal symptoms. Existing research/QA staff include a PhD in neuroscience dedicated to outcomes research, a research coordinator, a clinical nurse coordinator, and collaborators in pain management, PM&R, psychiatry, and addiction medicine. A robust pain clinic manages patients with chronic pain. This clinic provides resources for patients with nonsurgical problems so that the neurosurgeons can concentrate on surgical care.

    Two and a half days per week will be allotted for research and program development. Comparative effectiveness and multidisciplinary team development are required areas of specific interest for this position. Qualified applicants will have a history in spine outcomes research and or development of cross departmental pathways in spine care. Qualified applicants that are not surgeons will be considered if they have the demonstrated expertise. Only candidates with a background in comparative effectiveness or outcomes research will be considered. The applicant should have a strong ability in working collaboratively with both clinical and research teams. Resident supervision and mentoring are important components of the position.

    The Richmond VAMC serves as one of the two teaching hospitals for the VCU Department of Neurosurgery. The VAMC Section of Neurosurgery consists of four part-time physicians, two rotating VCU/VAMC residents, and three midlevel providers, with 24/7 resident, intensivist, and in-house hospitalist coverage.  Surgical Services at the Richmond VAMC spans 12 specialties including heart transplant, LVAD, Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, robotic surgery, and hybrid techniques. The operating room has both ENT and Neurosurgical Stealth stations and an O-arm for navigated spine surgery. 

    The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is America’s largest, most technologically advanced healthcare system, providing care at 1,298 healthcare facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. In addition to the honor of serving America’s Heroes, a career at VHA provides a robust total reward$ package and offers many benefits including:

    —Flexible work schedules and shifts.   

    —Low patient-provider ratios   

    —Robust insurance coverage

    —The ability to work anywhere in the country with one active license.   

    —Stable employment with competitive salary and regular pay increases

    —55 days annual paid time off (26 days paid annual leave, 13 days paid annual sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, 5 CME) in addition to other leave options including paid parental leave.

—Generous education support programs, including loan repayment and reimbursement   

—Unprecedented federal retirement benefits including a traditional pension (5 years’ vesting) and a federal 401K (TSP) with up to 5% in employer contributions

    —VA’s Diversity, People & Culture   

    In addition to the above, the VA offers a Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices)

More about the area:

If we told you exactly what makes the Richmond Region awesome, we’d be selling it short. So, we’ll let this region speak for itself, and invite you to discover how it speaks to you. Here, you’ll find an understated authenticity, and a special something that people find hard to define. That’s just how we like it. And if you like rich culture, incredible food, deep historic roots, gorgeous natural landscapes, creative vibes, and diverse, welcoming community, you’ll love it here, too. Richmond is a vibrant and diverse city in central Virginia with an easy drive to Washington DC, Virginia Beach, and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west including Shenandoah National Park. Richmond straddles the James River, which is a significant part of the city’s landscape, and it offers whitewater rapids running through the downtown district with a beautiful array of parks and outdoor activities along the riverfront. The Richmond Region speaks to different people in different ways. We encourage you to explore with an open mind and open ears and take in everything RVA has to offer in your own unique way.