Physician-Hospitalist (Section Chief)

Veterans Health Administration • Louisville, KY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Section Chief Hospitalist at Robley Rex VA Medical Center provides leadership, clinical oversight, and operational management of the Hospitalist Program. The role ensures high-quality, patient-centered, and efficient inpatient medical care in compliance with applicable VA and regulatory requirements. The physician provides direct inpatient care as an attending physician and leads the hospitalist team, which includes staff physicians, advanced practice providers, and residents. The position also oversees inpatient Medicine Service operations, quality improvement, staff development and performance, recruitment, and compliance.

Requirements

• Board certified or board eligible in Internal Medicine.
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved and 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 residency training meeting VA requirements in an accredited core specialty training program leading to board certification eligibility, or qualifying alternative training and independent-practice experience described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Ability to pass required pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation; pre-employment drug screening applies to applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must complete the required application and onboarding steps.

Nice To Haves

• At least 2 years of teaching experience.
• Availability to work nights and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct inpatient care as an attending physician on the hospitalist service and maintain clinical proficiency.
• Lead the hospitalist team, including staff physicians, advanced practice providers, and residents.
• Develop and implement clinical policies, procedures, and protocols to optimize patient care and clinical outcomes.
• Oversee daily operations of the inpatient Medicine Service line, including bed management, patient flow, and coverage schedules.
• Coordinate with Nursing, Social Work, Pharmacy, Emergency Medicine, specialty providers, and other services to support interdisciplinary patient care.
• Lead or participate in hospital committees and quality improvement initiatives.
• Monitor clinical performance and patient outcomes, identify improvement opportunities, and implement evidence-based practices to meet or exceed quality benchmarks.
• Oversee reporting of performance metrics, adverse events, and utilization data.
• Mentor, train, and evaluate medical students, residents, fellows, and advanced practice providers.
• Organize educational sessions, case conferences, and journal clubs for the hospitalist group.
• Supervise and evaluate staff performance and conduct annual performance reviews.
• Recruit, retain, and orient new staff, fostering an inclusive and collaborative team environment.
• Ensure compliance with federal, VA, and Joint Commission standards.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record (CPRS).
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Chief of Medicine or Medical Center leadership.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, with possible student loan reimbursement of up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and program approval.
• 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 VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible CME reimbursement of $1,000 per year for eligible full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.
• No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

What This Job Offers

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