Physician (Multiple Specialties)

About the role

At the Indian Health Service (IHS), physicians do more than practice medicine—they change lives. Guided by our mission to raise the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you'll deliver compassionate care where it's needed most. Your expertise brings healing and hope across generations. Begin your journey with purpose—and receive a minimum recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus as you join our team. For details on the total compensation package, see the IHS Physician Total Compensation page.

Duties

• Provide expert patient-centered medical care including evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute, chronic, and preventive health needs within specialty.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure safe, effective, and coordinated care, review conflicting medical evidence to reach final conclusions.
• Perform specialty-specific diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or surgical procedures consistent with training and credentialing including adjudicating complex disability claims.
• Contribute to teaching, mentorship, and professional development of medical staff, students, and trainees.
• Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, and clinical innovation initiatives to advance healthcare delivery.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• This is a competitive vacancy advertised under Direct Hire Authority; selections processed as new appointments to the civil service.
• Current civil service employees would receive new appointments but retain benefits, time served, and Federal entitlements.
• Position covered by Public Law 101-630 requiring contact or control over Indian children; must not have been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere to certain crimes.
• IHS Selectees working in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations; vaccine exemption requests may be available per National/Service Unit guidance.
• Selected individual must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements; failure may result in adverse actions up to removal from Federal service.
• On-call hours or standby duty may be required; position may involve rotating shifts (days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays).
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must set up direct deposit for payment.
• A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, per 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Qualifications

• Degree: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or equivalent from a U.S. or Canada school accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the AMA, AAMC, LCME, COCA of the AOA, or a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting body.
• Foreign medical school graduates must provide evidence of equivalency via permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, a fifth pathway certificate, or successful completion of the USMLE.
• Licensure: current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician from a State, DC, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• Graduate Training: at least 1 year of supervised clinical service (internship or first year of residency) in an ACGME/AOA accredited program.
• Minimum Qualifications by grade:
  • GS-13: 3 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience/training.
  • GS-14: 4 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience/training.
  • GS-15: 5 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience/training.
• Experience may not be substituted for essential residency training; exceptions possible via peer panel determination.
• Board Certification preferred, not required.
• Promotion potential to GS-14 or GS-15 grade level, subject to management discretion and regulatory/administrative approval.
• Education: transcripts or course list encouraged; unofficial transcripts accepted in application; official transcripts required prior to offer.
• Additional benefits: Federal annual leave accrual (4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period based on service); possible credit for prior non-federal or military service; may be covered by a Bargaining Unit; recruitment/relocation incentives may be authorized (service agreement required); eligibility for