Physiologist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Whole Health Service at VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System - Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka, KS.

The Physiologist is responsible for independently carrying out highly specialized diversified restorative physical fitness therapeutic care programs for Veterans.

Basic Requirement: The following are basic requirements for appointment as a Physiologist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which all applicants must met.

Basic Education: Bachelor's or higher degree in one of the basic animal sciences or physiology; or a related discipline or field of science that included at least 24 semester hours in the basic animal sciences, of which 10 semester hours were in animal physiology.

Note: Courses such as anatomy; cytology; invertebrate and vertebrate zoology; embryology; entomology; animal, dairy, and poultry husbandry; nutrition; genetics; and physiology may be used to meet the 24-semester-hour requirement in the basic animal sciences.

Courses in physiology, animal or human physiology, cellular physiology, or courses that were well oriented toward animal or human physiology, e.g., some advanced courses in biochemistry, are qualifying as animal physiology courses.

Courses in related fields such as cytology and microbiology (including microbial physiology) may also be qualifying, provided the course work dealt directly with the application of scientific principles underlying animal physiology, or with the methodology and techniques applied in animal physiology work.

(UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript, your application may not be reviewed.) Minimum Requirement: In addition to meeting the basic requirements one of the following minimum requirement criteria must be met to be qualified for this position.

Specialized Experience (GS-11): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e., GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Qualifying examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: designing and modifying individualized exercise programs using exercise physiology principles and knowledge of chronic and age-related conditions; administering and interpreting physical performance and exercise tests to assess functional capacity and guide care; monitoring participant safety during exercise, including applying basic life support (BLS) as needed; applying clinical knowledge (e.g., pathophysiology, medications, diagnostic data) to adapt exercise interventions; and collecting and analyzing program or research data to evaluate outcomes and support evidence-based improvements.

(CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry, such as beginning and ending dates of employment, duties performed, and/or total hours worked per week.) OR, Education (GS-11): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

This education must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

NOTE: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study.

If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

(UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript, your application may not be reviewed.) OR, Combination (GS-11): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., 36 semester hours of graduate education) may be combined with experience.

(UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript, your application may not be reviewed.) AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C.

7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Customer Service Learning Oral Communication Quality Management IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements: The work involves a wide range of physical demands from sedentary work in a standard office setting to moderate to heavy physical demands which include the ability to lead exercise classes, move exercise equipment, and transfer patients in an emergency setting.

On occasion, the incumbent will be required to lift over 50 pounds.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Developing and implementing tailored exercise programs based on each Veteran's age, health status, and functional ability, using diverse formats including individual, group, and virtual care Administering performance measures and applying a wide range of fitness techniques to support Veterans with disabilities, injuries, or chronic conditions, adjusting plans to meet evolving needs Tracking, analyzing, and interpreting program data (e.g., outcomes, attendance, caseload) to assess effectiveness and guide continuous improvement Scheduling and coordinating services, conducting ongoing assessments, administering fitness tests, and documents progress while monitoring Veterans' responses to treatment Identifying abnormalities and continuously modifying interventions, environments, and tools to meet each Veteran's evolving physical, functional, and sociocultural needs Ensuring safe treatment environment, maintaining equipment and supplies, providing injury prevention counseling, and completes timely, policy-compliant documentation Serving as a key leader providing expert guidance to clinical teams on physical activity procedures, treatment approaches, and standards of care Explaining evaluation methods, interventions, and treatment rationale to Veterans, ensuring clear understanding and engagement in individualized plans of care Promoting self-management by educating and motivating Veterans and collaborating with families and care teams to support adherence, prevention, and long-term health outcomes Leading development and implementation of Gerofit physical activity programs, policies, and long-term strategies aligned with Whole Health goals, integrating research-based approaches to improve outcomes and reduce health risks Overseeing multidisciplinary exercise programs, establishing quality assurance and performance monitoring, and collaborating with teams to create clinical tools and guidance for diverse patient needs Designing and delivering educational materials and training for patients and staff, supporting outreach efforts, incorporating technology into learning, and helping secure resources to sustain program success Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 08:00 a.m.

to 04:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved