Physician - Chief of Endocrinology

Veterans Health Administration • Iowa City, IA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System is seeking a part-time Physician - Chief of Endocrinology for the Specialty Care Service Line at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa. The Section Chief oversees the Endocrinology Section’s clinical operations, research activity, and education of health profession learners. The role supervises Endocrinology providers and is responsible for maintaining high standards of clinical, research, and educational excellence and professionalism. The Chief serves as clinical director for inpatient consultation services, outpatient clinics, and procedural units, ensuring care meets hospital policies, community standards, and VHA benchmarks. The position promotes safe, patient-centered care and collaboration across services, including the Emergency Department and other subspecialty sections and clinics.

The Chief oversees systems redesign, quality improvement, and assurance programs; promotes evidence-based care and peer review; and participates in clinical reviews and administrative activities as directed by the Chief of Medical Service. The role fosters transparent communication, collegiality, and interdisciplinary teamwork while making effective use of resources. The Chief maintains medical knowledge and technical skills, ensures provider competency and current privileging, and provides endocrinology evaluations and treatment in clinics, inpatient wards, and the Emergency Department. Clinical responsibilities may also include non-traditional care such as clinical video telehealth (CVT) and electronic consultations to improve access.

The Section Chief is encouraged to maintain research funding and support the section’s research program, which may include bench, clinical and translational, or health services research. The Chief also collaborates with the University of Iowa Division of Endocrinology to support an outstanding educational curriculum in endocrinological diseases.

The position offers a competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, paid time off, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; alternative hours may be agreed upon at hire. A physician employment contract is not used, and there is no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or an 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 another qualifying training and independent-practice pathway specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must pass applicable pre-employment drug screening, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation; selected applicants must complete onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must meet the announcement’s application and required-document requirements.

Nice To Haves

• One or more years of supervisory experience as a section chief of physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants.
• Familiarity with electronic records systems.
• Research experience or funding in bench, clinical and translational, or health services research is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the operational aspects of the Endocrinology Section, including clinical care standards, research development, and education of health profession learners.
• Supervise Endocrinology providers and ensure their clinical, research, and educational performance and professionalism meet high standards.
• Serve as clinical director of inpatient consultation services, outpatient clinics, and procedural units.
• Ensure endocrinology care complies with hospital policy and meets or exceeds community standards and VHA benchmarks.
• Promote smooth, safe, patient-centered inpatient and outpatient care through collaboration and communication with the Emergency Department, subspecialty sections, and admitting clinics.
• Oversee systems redesign projects, quality improvement, and assurance programs for the Endocrinology Section.
• Champion evidence-based quality initiatives and participate in peer review and other clinical review processes, including tort claims and management reviews.
• Perform administrative activities as directed by the Chief of Medical Service.
• Foster transparency, communication, collegiality, and patient-centered interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Use resources effectively and adapt to organizational changes through leadership and flexibility.
• Maintain current medical knowledge and technical skills, and document and ensure Endocrinology providers’ competency and current privileging.
• Perform endocrinological evaluations and examinations for established and newly consulted patients in clinics, inpatient wards, and the Emergency Department.
• Use non-traditional care options, including clinical video telehealth and electronic consultation, to improve access to endocrinology care.
• Maintain research funding for the Chief’s program when applicable and support the growth of the section’s research operation.
• Collaborate with the University of Iowa Division of Endocrinology on the educational curriculum in endocrinological diseases.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of annual paid time off, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement.
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.
• No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

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