Optometrist

Quick Facts

• Role: Clinical Optometrist (in-person and virtual/telehealth)
• Focus: Prevention and wellness; comprehensive, high-quality eye care for Veterans

Description

The Clinical Optometrist provides high-quality eye care to Veterans through in-person examinations at the Syracuse VA Eye Clinic and via virtual care through the Technology-based Eye Care Services (TECS) program. The position is fully integrated into an interdisciplinary telehealth care team and practices to the full scope of eye care based on education, training, licensure, and competency. The role emphasizes prevention and wellness, access, and quality measured by patient satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and treat patients with medical and surgical eye diseases through in-person clinic care
• Provide virtual screening and follow-up eye care through TECS, maintaining in-person quality standards
• Diagnose and treat patients with medical diseases through assigned ophthalmology and optometry ambulatory and bed-based resources
• Participate in hospital rounds, morning reports, conferences, consultations, ambulatory care, and assigned call duty
• Read TECS photographic sets in a timely manner and follow TECS protocols and procedures
• Participate in national peer review
• Identify patients needing a higher level of care and refer to Ophthalmology, with ophthalmologist support
• Coordinate and contact patients to arrange follow-up care and ancillary tests
• Participate in education of optometry students and assist with recruiting for other locations as able
• Recruit qualified individuals for the TECS program and provide education about TECS to new sites

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship (non-citizens only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy)
• Proficient written and spoken English
• Doctor of Optometry degree from a VA-approved school/college accredited by ACOE
• Current full and unrestricted optometry license and required state/territory/DC registration; maintain licensure
• Residency training approved by VA or 2 years of licensed clinical optometric practice managing medically complex patients
• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Complete VA online onboarding and all pre-employment requirements; provide acceptable identification
• Selective Service registration (if applicable)
• Seasonal influenza vaccination requirement

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 50–55 days/year (annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible CME-related paid absence)
• Traditional federal pension (with vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contributions
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options
• CME reimbursement: possible $1,000/year (full-time; board certification)
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage
• No physician employment contract and no significant restrictions on moonlighting
• Full-time schedule; hours discussed during interview