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Summary The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Associate Chief of Imaging Service (Nuclear Medicine) Physician. The Associate Chief of Imaging Service (Nuclear Medicine) Physician will function in the Imaging Service. Responsibilities The Imaging Service at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System in Cleveland, OH is seeking a full-time, permanent Associate Chief of Imaging Service (Nuclear Medicine) Physician to lead and oversee the entire Nuclear Medicine section. The selected candidate will be responsible for establishing and reviewing imaging procedural protocols, coordinating with the Imaging Service Chief, Administrative Officer, and supervisory technologists to ensure service quality and compliance. As the authorized user and director, the incumbent, will oversee all aspects of the division's adherence to NRC regulations, with support from the radiation safety officer and the chief nuclear medicine technologist. This role will also be central to the department's peer review and Regulatory Compliance efforts, including chairing the Quality Assurance Committee and providing expertise on standards set by agencies such as the Joint Commission, FDA, and Office of the Inspector General. The incumbent will contribute to resource management and fiscal planning to optimize operational efficiency, including staffing, equipment, and facility allocation. In addition to administrative duties, the incumbent will participate in clinical imaging practices, which include but are not limited to: - Performing routine and emergent interpretation and reporting of nuclear medicine studies for both inpatients and outpatients - Ensuring high-quality imaging, clinical collaboration, and compliance with accreditation standards from organizations such as the American College of Radiology, Joint Commission, and other regulatory bodies - Advising collaborating physicians on clinical indications, limitations, and risks associated with diagnostic and therapeutic use of radioactive materials - Establishing and enforcing radiation protection standards for patients and staff - Monitoring safe handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive and hazardous materials, ensuring procedures are effective and current - Staying current with relevant regulations and ensuring adherence across all operations - Supervising nuclear medicine technologists regarding dosages, techniques, positioning, policies, and protocols - Prescribing radiotracers and dosages for individual patients - Maintaining quality assurance over radionuclide preparation and administration, ensuring regulatory compliance and safe management of radioactive substances Clinically, the incumbent will serve as a the physician responsible for interpreting nuclear medicine imaging studies within the scope of approved clinical privileges. Responsibilities include reviewing exam requests for appropriateness, developing imaging protocols, and supervising medication administration. The incumbent must ensure timely, accurate communication of results, particularly for critical findings. The entire Imaging Service collaborates extensively across specialties including Cardiology, Oncology, Endocrinology, Neurology, and Surgery to deliver integrated, patient-centered care. There are numerous opportunities to engage with academic partners within the Cleveland medical community. Our service is involved in advanced academic research in molecular imaging, theragnostic, and imaging outcomes. We operate a comprehensive imaging fleet, including three state-of-the-art PET/CT scanners, gamma cameras, and five SPECT/CT systems. Our PET program features a variety of radiotracers such as FDG, amyloid tracers, dotatate and PSMA, with plans to expand into cardiac perfusion PET. We also have a robust theragnostic program providing targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies for prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and bone metastases (e.g., Pluvicto, Lutathera, and Xofigo), in collaboration with Oncology and Radiation Oncology. Interested applicants can find more information and apply at: https://www.usajobs.gov VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 Incentives: A Relocation/Recruitment incentive may be available for highly qualified applicants. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. 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 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. Applicants must have completed a Nuclear Medicine residency or a Radiology Residency with a Nuclear Medicine Fellowship. 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Walking (1hrs); Standing (2hrs); Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental/ Emotional Stability. Education Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated.] NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. 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. VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. 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.