A Podiatrist diagnoses and treats ailments and abnormalities of the human foot and lower limb, deals with minor infections, injuries and deformities, and conditions resulting from other major health disorders such as diabetes.
The DPM is responsible for diagnosing and treatment of foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. Setting fractures, prescribing physical therapy or drugs, or performing surgery on feet, ankles, or legs; Treatment of Achilles tendinitis, ganglia of the feet, diabetic neuropathy, foot ulcers, gout, rheumatoid arthritis; stress fractures, or bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
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,
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.
Preferred Experience:
Demonstrated complex rearfoot/ankle experience required (to include Charcot reconstruction, ankle fractures, rearfoot fractures, limb salvage…). Research background preferred (National-level poster/manuscript submission/presentation, publication in peer-reviewed journals…) Demonstrated complex wound care experience
Reference:
VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Physical Requirements:
Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (1-4 hours), Repeated bending (1-2 hours), Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Mental and emotional stability
Environmental Factors:
Outside and inside, Constant noise, Dust, Working closely with others, Working alone