Deputy Chief of Medicine

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major duties

The Deputy Chief of Medicine serves as a senior physician leader providing administrative, programmatic, operational, and clinical oversight across multiple specialty sections within Medicine Service. The role supports and advises the Chief of Medicine and assumes delegated authority for supervision and coordination of specialty programs including Gastroenterology, Hematology, Endocrinology, Respiratory Medicine (Pulmonology), Cardiology, Neurology, Nephrology, and Sleep Medicine. The Deputy Chief ensures the effective integration of interdisciplinary care, high-quality clinical services, Veteran-centered practices, access optimization, patient safety, and continuous performance improvement. Approximately 50% of the position involves direct clinical duties, and 50% comprises administrative, leadership, and operational responsibilities. Major Duties and Responsibilities: VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Provides direct operational oversight and supervision of specialty sections including gastroenterology, hematology, endocrinology, respiratory/pulmonary medicine, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, and sleep medicine. Ensures coordination of multidisciplinary care across inpatient, outpatient, and procedural environments. Collaborates with Section Chiefs, Associate Chiefs, nurse leaders, and administrative officers to ensure effective workflow, specialty access, consult management, scheduling optimization, and procedural coordination. Monitors clinic access, productivity, workload capture, timeliness of specialty care, and operational efficiency. Participates in strategic planning to improve access, enhance specialty integration, and streamline diagnostics, treatment pathways, and complex case management. Supports the Chief of Medicine in planning, developing, and evaluating specialty programs across the service. Leads efforts to improve specialty care delivery models, expand advanced procedures, and enhance coordination of subspecialty services across the main campus and CBOCs. Implements policies, procedures, and performance standards supporting specialty practice excellence. Directs continuous measurement and improvement of specialty care quality, including clinical guideline adherence, outcome measurement, and access performance. Ensures compliance with Joint Commission standards, VHA directives, infection control, accreditation requirements, and local policies. Participates in peer review, utilization management, patient safety programs, morbidity/mortality review, and high-reliability initiatives. Encourages specialty research, supports clinical education missions, and helps integrate evidence-based advancements into practice. Mentors trainees, residents, fellows (if applicable), and interdisciplinary staff to support professional development. Assists with resource planning, allocation, staffing models, and financial oversight across multiple specialty programs. Develops and monitors systems for evaluating fiscal performance and cost-effectiveness. Assists in recruitment, onboarding, competency assessment, supervision, and mentoring of specialty clinicians and staff. Supports peer review processes, performance evaluations, continuing education, and professional development initiatives. Communicates effectively with staff, Veterans, leadership, VISN representatives, and stakeholders. Represents Medicine Service at committees, councils, and interdisciplinary workgroups. Performs additional duties as assigned by the Chief of Medicine and may act on the Chief's behalf during absences. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Available to highly qualified candidates Relocation Incentive: Available to eligible candidates. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator, Cheryl Lahair, at cheryl.lahair@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Full-Time / Variable schedule.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the Physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Additional Requirement: Must be board certified. Preferred Experience: Three to 5 years of leadership experience, supervising, mentoring, or training medical residents, trainees, or interdisciplinary staff as well as budget planning, resource allocation and staff decision making. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be capable of prolonged sitting, standing, walking, computer use, and occasional lifting or carrying of light materials associated with clinical and administrative activities. The position requires the ability to function effectively in stressful environments with frequent interruptions, urgent situations, and competing priorities while maintaining professionalism, effective communication, and sound clinical and administrative judgment.

Education

Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the Agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.