Physician (Multiple Specialties)

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.

About the Role

Begin your journey with purpose—and receive a minimum recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus as you join our team. Total compensation details are available at IHS Physician Total Compensation.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert patient-centered medical care including evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute, chronic, and preventive health needs within your 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.

Note: All grade levels may not be available at all locations. On-call hours or standby duty may be required.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required; Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• This position is covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Applicants must not have been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere to certain crimes.
• May be subject to Employee Health Policies, including Measles, Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations. Vaccine exemption requests may be available.
• Must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including licensure requirements. Failure to do so may result in adverse actions, up to removal from Federal service.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/ for details.
• Direct deposit is required for payment.
• Must successfully complete a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

Qualifications

To qualify, your resume must demonstrate sufficient experience and/or education to perform the duties of the position. Experience includes paid, unpaid, and volunteer work. You must clearly identify duties, responsibilities, and hours per week for each position held.

Basic Requirements

• Degree: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or equivalent from a school in the U.S. or Canada, accredited by recognized bodies (e.g., Council on Medical Education of the AMA, AOA, or U.S. Department of Education).
• Foreign Medical Graduates: Must provide education and medical knowledge equivalent to accredited U.S. schools, demonstrated by ECFMG certification, a fifth pathway certificate, or successful completion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination.
• Licensure: Current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician from a U.S. State, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or territory.
• Graduate Training: At least 1 year of supervised clinical experience (e.g., internship or first year of residency) in an accredited program.

Minimum Qualifications by Grade Level

• GS-13: 3 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience.
• GS-14: 4 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience.
• GS-15: 5 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent experience.

Experience may not substitute for residency training essential for specialized duties, except when a peer panel determines professional practice experience is equivalent to graduate training.

Specialties

Applicable specialties include but are not limited to: Anatomic & Clinical Pathology, Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, General Surgery, Hospitalist, Informatics, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Oral Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Palliative Care, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine, Primary Care, Psychiatry, Radiology, and Tele-Psychiatry.

Board Certification is preferred but not required. All qualifications must be met by the respective cut-off day of rating to be eligible for consideration.

Education

You are strongly encouraged to submit transcripts or a list of courses (titles, credit hours, grades). Unofficial transcripts are accepted in the application; official transcripts are required prior to receiving an offer. Only degrees from schools accredited by institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Verify accreditation at https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Benefits

• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, based on years of Federal service.
• Newly-appointed Federal employees may receive credit for directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service, which can determine annual leave accrual rate.
• This position may be covered by a Bargaining Unit.