Chief Physician (Psychiatrist)

Veterans Health Administration • Gilbert, AZ

3h • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Physician (Psychiatrist) works in the Mental Health Service Line, which provides care across inpatient units, ambulatory programs, residential substance abuse and PTSD programs, the emergency department, medical-surgical psychiatric consultation, and geriatrics with extended programs. Psychiatrists in the service are able to perform and teach the services required in the practice of psychiatry to psychiatry residents.

This position requires on-site work at the Sgt. Alexander W. Conrad VA Clinic in Gilbert, Arizona. The Chief Physician provides direct administrative and professional supervision for mental health staff at Southeast, Northeast, and Rural Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), ensuring efficient operations and overseeing professional practice and services. The role also provides face-to-face and tele-psychiatric clinical care, including assessment, referrals, care coordination, admissions when needed, psychotherapy as appropriate to the physician’s training, and clinically indicated psychopharmacology.

The position develops, implements, and documents treatment plans for an assigned patient caseload, completes clinical reminders promptly, and assumes professional responsibility for clinical assessments, patient care decisions, and documentation. The physician serves as a resource to professional staff on mental health service development, participates in Mental Health Executive Committee and other VA committees or task forces, and may take leadership roles in state and national professional organizations. A compressed work schedule may be available with supervisor approval.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive salary, annual performance bonuses, regular salary increases, paid leave, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. A relocation incentive may be available for a highly qualified candidate. There is no Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• United States citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an eligible alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements.
• Submit acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusing testing results in denial of employment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Complete all application requirements described in the Required Documents section.
• A probationary period may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification is required for possible CME reimbursement; the announcement does not otherwise state it as a general qualification for this position.
• A highly qualified candidate may be eligible for a relocation incentive.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct administrative and professional supervision for mental health staff at Southeast, Northeast, and Rural Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
• Ensure efficient operation of the applicable CBOC areas.
• Supervise staff and perform complex professional management and administrative responsibilities.
• Oversee the professional practice of psychiatry, including services conducted by trainees, consultants, and paraprofessional staff, and ensure psychiatrists at the respective CBOCs meet requirements.
• Consult with and serve as a resource for professional staff regarding the development of mental health services.
• Serve on the Mental Health Executive Committee and medical center, health care system, VISN, and/or national VA committees or task forces.
• Participate in leadership roles within state and national professional organizations.
• Provide face-to-face and tele-psychiatric clinical services, including assessment, referrals, care coordination, admissions when necessary, psychotherapy as appropriate to training, and psychopharmacology as clinically indicated.
• Develop, implement, and document treatment plans for an assigned caseload, including prompt completion of clinical reminders.
• Assume professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.
• Perform and teach psychiatric services to psychiatry residents.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and a possible five-day paid absence for CME.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.
• Possible relocation incentive for a highly qualified candidate.
• No significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree