Physician - Community Living Center Medical Director

Veterans Health Administration • Martinez, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Community Living Center (CLC) Medical Director provides administrative and clinical leadership, direct patient care, education, and mentorship to CLC nurse practitioners, physician staff, fellows, residents, and students. The position serves a 120-bed VA Community Living Center in Martinez that provides long-term care, short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing, respite, and inpatient hospice services.

The Medical Director oversees daily clinical operations across CLC units and works with nursing leadership on quality-improvement initiatives and service expansion aligned with Veteran needs. The role provides clinical consultation and mentorship in complex geriatric, palliative, and post-acute care; coordinates with the CLC Admissions Coordinator on appropriate admissions and bed utilization; and supports the education and training of students, residents, and fellows.

The position participates in peer review, morbidity and mortality review, survey readiness, and compliance with VHA performance measures and accreditation standards. It also leads or participates in interdisciplinary huddles, case conferences, and committees, and collaborates with the Department of Research on quality-improvement projects and scholarly activities. The position is onsite at the Martinez CLC, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; on-call work may be required as operationally necessary.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited school.
• 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 a specified qualifying alternative training and independent-practice pathway.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Complete required background and security investigation, onboarding, TB testing, and immunization evaluations; participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and annual Employee Health requirements.
• Meet applicable VA pre-employment requirements, including drug screening for selected applicants in testing-designated positions.

Nice To Haves

• Board eligible or board certified in Geriatric Medicine, or extensive geriatric experience including significant post-acute care clinical work and preferably leadership experience in post-acute care operations.
• Prior leadership as a Medical Director or service chief in a CLC or skilled nursing facility, or in post-acute or long-term care operations.
• Experience with quality-improvement projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching medical students, residents, and fellows.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day clinical operations across CLC units to support safe, timely, and effective care.
• Partner with nursing leadership to design, implement, and sustain quality-improvement initiatives and expand CLC services in alignment with Veteran needs.
• Serve as a clinical subject-matter expert for attending physicians and nurse practitioners, providing consultation and mentorship on complex geriatric, palliative, and post-acute care.
• Collaborate with the CLC Admissions Coordinator to support appropriate and safe admissions, optimal bed utilization, and transparent processes.
• Serve as the educational point of contact for medical students, residents, and fellows rotating through the CLC, and support the teaching mission with affiliated programs and facility leadership.
• Participate in peer review, morbidity and mortality review, survey readiness, and compliance with VHA performance measures and accreditation standards.
• Lead or participate in interdisciplinary team huddles, case conferences, and committees.
• Collaborate with the Department of Research on quality-improvement projects and scholarly activities.
• Provide direct patient care and mentorship to CLC nurse practitioners, physician staff, fellows, residents, and students.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential repayment of up to $200,000 for eligible applicants; approval, award amount, and eligibility period are determined by the VHA program office.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.

What This Job Offers

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