Excellence in Action: Becoming a Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at the Togus VA Medical Center

For physicians specializing in pulmonary disease and critical care, finding a professional environment that balances high-acuity clinical practice with a supportive, mission-driven team is often a lifelong pursuit. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is currently offering an exceptional career pathway for a Board-Certified Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician to join the VA Maine Healthcare System. Located at the historic Togus campus in Augusta, Maine, this dual-capacity role as a Pulmonologist and Intensivist presents an outstanding opportunity to practice cutting-edge medicine while providing compassionate care to the men and women who served in the United States military.

This position is structured to offer an incredibly competitive annual salary ranging from $350,000 to $400,000. Beyond the competitive base pay, this opportunity provides a full suite of federal benefits, recruitment and relocation incentives, robust paid time off, and the complete absence of restrictive private-practice contracts. If you are a dedicated physician looking to escape the high-stress, production-driven demands of private practice while maintaining clinical excellence in a breathtaking location, this role is designed for you.

About the Agency: The VA Maine Healthcare System

The Veterans Health Administration is the nation's largest integrated healthcare system, utilizing state-of-the-art medical technology to serve millions of Veterans across the country. The VA Maine Healthcare System stands as a pillar of this network, caring for approximately 39,000 Veterans annually across 16 expansive counties.

At the heart of this system is the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, Maine. Established as the first veterans' facility in the country, Togus blends rich history with contemporary, top-tier medical services. The facility features:

A 67-operating bed acute care center encompassing general medicine, surgery, an emergency department, and acute psychiatric beds.
A modern, 100-bed Nursing Home divided into 50 Skilled and Long-Term care beds alongside a specialized 27-bed Dementia Care Unit.
A comprehensive network of Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) designed to bring world-class care directly into local communities.

Every professional within the VA adheres to the core "I CARE" values: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. This philosophical foundation shapes a supportive, patient-centered atmosphere where clinicians can focus entirely on patient outcomes rather than insurance approvals or billing metrics.

Job Responsibilities

As a combined Pulmonologist/Intensivist, your clinical schedule will be dynamic and split between critical care oversight and specialized pulmonary consultation. This position is integrated into a 24/7 operating model, though care is structured to protect physician work-life balance.

Primary ICU Duties

When scheduled for Intensivist shifts, you will direct the clinical management of all patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Togus campus. Working alongside surgical and medical attending physicians, residents, and specialized critical care nurses, you will provide immediate, proactive interventions to minimize ICU morbidity and mortality. Clear communication and close collaboration with the clinical team are central to ensuring clinical excellence in this fast-paced environment.

Consulting Pulmonology Duties

When you are not assigned to direct ICU coverage, you will transition to the role of Consulting Pulmonologist. In this capacity, your responsibilities will include:

Performing both inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including advanced bronchoscopies.
Conducting outpatient pulmonary clinics and providing inpatient consults for complex respiratory illnesses.
Formulating long-term management plans for chronic pulmonary diseases such as COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension.

Work Schedule and On-Call Rotations

The standard clinical schedule is exceptionally predictable: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding standard federal holidays. To ensure seamless coverage for our Veterans, this position requires participation in a 1-in-4 call rotation. Schedules may occasionally adjust based on emerging institutional needs and patient volumes.

Requirements and Qualifications

To ensure our Veterans receive the highest quality of medical care, candidates must meet rigorous academic, clinical, and administrative requirements:

Citizenship: Candidates must be United States citizens. Non-citizens are only considered in rare circumstances when no qualified U.S. citizens are available.
Education: An M.D. or D.O. degree from an accredited school of allopathic or osteopathic medicine. International medical graduates must possess active ECFMG certification.
Licensure: A current, active, full, and unrestricted medical license from any U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth.
Residency and Fellowship Training: Successful completion of an accredited residency program and a subsequent fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, recognized by the ACGME or AOA.
Board Certification: Active Board Certification in both Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine.
Certifications: Current and valid Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certifications are mandatory.
Physical and Background Standards: Candidates must pass a pre-employment physical examination, clear a drug screening, and complete a detailed background investigation. Annual compliance with the seasonal influenza vaccine is a mandatory condition of clinical employment.

Salary Overview & Market Comparison

Compensation for physicians within the Department of Veterans Affairs is highly competitive and is structured using a formal pay-setting board. The base salary range for this role is $350,000 to $400,000 annually, depending on experience and credentials.

To understand the true value of this compensation package, it is helpful to compare the VA model directly with standard private-sector opportunities:

Benefit / Feature	VA Maine Healthcare System	Typical Private Practice Model
Annual Base Salary	$350,000 - $400,000	Highly variable (often dependent on RVU production)
Malpractice Protection	Fully covered federal liability with lifetime tail protection	Highly expensive premiums with variable tail coverage
Paid Time Off	50 to 55 days annually	Typically 15 to 25 days annually
Retirement Structure	Traditional Federal Pension + 5% matching 401(k)	Basic 401(k) with variable corporate matching
Employment Contract	No restrictive physician contract; moonlighting allowed	Restrictive covenants and non-compete clauses
CME Support	Up to $1,000 annually + 5 paid days off	Highly variable and often unpaid

Unrivaled Federal Benefits

Working for the VA offers a comprehensive suite of benefits that private-sector healthcare employers simply cannot match. Highlights of this premium package include:

Unmatched Paid Leave: Enjoy 26 annual leave days, 13 sick days, 11 paid federal holidays, and up to 5 days of paid professional leave for CME activities.
Dual-Layered Retirement Plan: Rest easy knowing you are building a traditional federal pension (with 5-year vesting) alongside a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) that features up to 5% agency matching contributions.
Complete Malpractice Protection: Practice with absolute peace of mind. The Federal Tort Claims Act covers all clinical operations, providing free liability protection and built-in tail coverage.
Health and Wellness Plans: Choose from a wide variety of premier federal health, vision, dental, life, and long-term care insurance programs, many of which can be carried directly into retirement.
No Restrictive Contracts: Avoid the legal traps of modern medicine. There are no non-compete clauses or geographic restrictions, and approved local moonlighting is fully supported.

Application Tips and Strategic Advice

Applying for a federal role requires careful attention to detail. Follow these insider tips to ensure your application stands out to the hiring committee:

Leverage the CV Bypass: The USAJOBS system enforces a strict 2-page limit on documents uploaded to the standard "Resume" slot. To ensure your full academic CV is reviewed, download the standard 1-page template via the VA Careers portal and upload it to the restricted "Resume" slot. Then, upload your full, multi-page clinical CV into the "Other" document slot.
Detail All Clinical Milestones: Be sure to list precise dates (month/year) for your medical school, residency, fellowship, state licensures, and board certifications on your uploaded documents.
Secure Your Certifications: Verify that your ACLS and BLS certifications are fully current and explicitly listed in your profile.
Claim Veterans' Preference: If you are a military Veteran or eligible spouse, upload your DD-214 and a completed SF-15 to ensure you receive appropriate hiring preferences.

Q: Are sign-on bonuses available?

Yes. Recruitment or relocation incentives (sign-on bonuses) are fully authorized for highly qualified selectees.

Q: Is this position covered by a collective bargaining agreement?

Yes, this position is officially represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) bargaining unit.

Q: What is the lifestyle like in Augusta, Maine?

Located just a short drive from vibrant Portland and the gorgeous Maine coast, Augusta offers access to rich cultural experiences and incredible outdoor recreation. Residents enjoy boating and hiking in the summer, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, and spectacular autumn scenery.

The dual role of Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at the Togus VA Medical Center is more than just a job; it is a highly rewarding medical calling. This unique position blends a lucrative $350,000 to $400,000 compensation package with an unparalleled work-life balance and the deep fulfillment of serving America's Veterans. If you are ready to elevate your career and enjoy a pristine New England lifestyle, submit your application for the Togus VA Medical Center today.

Why This Physician (Pulmonary Disease) Incentive Offered Job Matters

Step into a prestigious, high-impact clinical leadership role with the VA in scenic Augusta, Maine, offering an unmatched $350,000 to $400,000 salary, extraordinary federal benefits, and the profound privilege of caring for America's Veterans.

Physician (Pulmonary Disease) Incentive Offered Job Overview

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Board-Certified Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician to join the VA Maine Healthcare System at the historic Togus campus. This dual-capacity role functions as a key Intensivist in our Intensive Care Unit and as an expert Consulting Pulmonologist. This position offers an outstanding work-life balance, comprehensive federal benefits, complete malpractice tail coverage, and generous recruitment or relocation incentives for highly qualified applicants.

Requirements for Physician (Pulmonary Disease) Incentive Offered

United States citizenship (non-citizens are only considered when qualified citizens are unavailable).
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from an accredited institution.
An active, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in any U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Completion of an ACGME or AOA-accredited residency and fellowship program in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Active Board Certification in both Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine.
Current, valid Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certifications.
Proficiency in both written and spoken English.
Passing of a pre-employment physical examination and drug screening.
Participation in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Compliance with background and security investigations.

Preferred Qualifications for Physician (Pulmonary Disease) Incentive Offered

Established clinical leadership experience in a high-acuity Intensive Care Unit environment.
Proficiency in complex inpatient and outpatient bronchoscopies and advanced pulmonary diagnostic procedures.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team setting.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Highly competitive salary range ($350,000 - $400,000) with performance bonus opportunities.
✓Authorized Recruitment or Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus).
✓Generous Paid Time Off: 50-55 days total per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays, plus possible 5 days for Continuing Medical Education).
✓Excellent retirement system: Traditional federal pension plan (vested in just 5 years) plus the Thrift Savings Plan (401k-equivalent) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
✓Premium federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance programs.
✓Continuous Medical Education (CME) reimbursement up to $1,000 per year (for full-time, board-certified staff).
✓Comprehensive, free liability protection with complete tail coverage provided.
✓No restrictive employment contracts and freedom to engage in approved local moonlighting.

💡 How to Apply Physician (Pulmonary Disease) Incentive Offered Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Physician (Pulmonary Disease) Incentive Offered Job

Click the online application portal link to log into or set up your USAJOBS account.
Verify that your professional profile is complete and upload your CV or comprehensive medical resume.
Complete the specialized occupational assessment questionnaire.
Download the mandatory standard Clinical Resume Document from the VA Careers portal.
Upload the unedited standard template page to the designated, page-restricted 'Resume' document slot.
Upload your complete, unrestricted CV into the 'Other' document upload field to bypass page-limit restrictions.
Submit your finished application before the final deadline to guarantee full evaluation.

💡 General Tips

Ensure your CV lists exact starting and ending dates (month/year) for all residencies, fellowships, and previous medical positions.
Do not compress your CV to fit a standard two-page limit; for this Title 38 role, comprehensive medical CVs are encouraged via the 'Other' document slot.
Double-check that your active board certifications, medical licenses, and BLS/ACLS expiration dates are clearly visible on your documentation.
Claim any eligible Veterans' Preference by uploading a legible copy of your DD-214 and, if applicable, an completed SF-15.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a state medical license from Maine to apply?

No. Because this is a federal position, you can practice with an active, unrestricted medical license from any U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth.

Are there sign-on incentives available for this position?

Yes. A recruitment or relocation incentive is authorized for highly qualified candidates who are selected for this role.

What is the typical weekly work schedule?

The standard schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays. This role also includes a 1-in-4 on-call rotation schedule.

How is my final salary determined?

Your compensation will be established by a formal physician compensation panel, which reviews your individual training, qualifications, professional experience, and local market rates.

Q: Do I need a Maine medical license to apply for this job?

No. You can practice at the Togus VA Medical Center with an active, unrestricted medical license from any U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth.