Physician Medical Director, Pain Service

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, GA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Director of Pain Management is the physician leader of the interdisciplinary Pain Management Team at the VA Augusta Health Care System. The role oversees the clinical, administrative, educational, and quality aspects of the pain-management program across the Downtown and Uptown campuses. The program follows the VHA Stepped Care Model for Pain Management and integrates pharmacologic, procedural, behavioral, rehabilitation, and Whole Health approaches to Veteran pain care. The Medical Director reports to the Chief of Staff through the Chief of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and serves as the physician member of the facility Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Triad.

The position maintains an active clinical practice evaluating and treating Veterans with complex chronic, cancer, post-surgical, and acute-on-chronic pain. It provides consultation to primary care, specialty care, mental health, palliative care, and Community Living Center providers; performs procedures within the clinician’s credentialed scope; and coordinates non-pharmacologic and Whole Health modalities. The Medical Director also supports safe opioid prescribing, reviews opioid- or pain-related adverse-event disclosures, and serves as a reviewing official for pain-management-related JPSR entries and RCA panels.

The role includes committee and program participation at facility, VISN, and national levels. The stated work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on agency needs. This is an open continuous announcement; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and remain on file until September 30, 2027.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package that may include recruitment or relocation incentives for a highly qualified candidate, competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, paid leave and federal holidays, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement for eligible full-time board-certified physicians, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. The announcement states there is no Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• 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 eligibility for board certification, or another qualifying training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass required pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Completion of required background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Compliance with the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position must submit to urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Ability to meet the position’s stated physical requirements, including lifting, carrying, pushing, reaching, hand use, walking, standing, vision, hearing, and mental and emotional stability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the interdisciplinary Pain Management Team and oversee the pain-management program across the Downtown and Uptown campuses.
• Provide comprehensive pain evaluation and management for Veterans, including complex chronic, cancer, post-surgical, and acute-on-chronic pain presentations.
• Apply the VHA Stepped Care Model for Pain Management, integrating biopsychosocial assessment, pharmacologic treatment, non-pharmacologic modalities, and Whole Health approaches.
• Coordinate Whole Health approaches such as acupuncture, yoga, tai chi/qi gong, and health coaching with the Whole Health program.
• Perform pain-related procedures within credentialed scope of privileges and as clinically appropriate to facility capability, including trigger point, joint, prolotherapy, PRP, and Botox injections.
• Provide consultation to Primary Care, Specialty Care, Mental Health, Palliative Care, and Community Living Center providers on complex pain patients.
• Ensure compliance with the Interdisciplinary Safe Opioid Prescribing Committee charter or facility equivalent.
• Review and adjudicate institutional and clinical disclosures involving opioid- or pain-related adverse events.
• Serve as reviewing official for pain-management-related JPSR entries and RCA panels.
• Serve on facility committees, including MEC, Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Opioid Safety, Pain Management, and Cancer Committee as applicable.
• Participate in VISN 7 Pain Management calls and national VHA PMOP Program calls.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of PM&R, or designee.

Benefits

• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate.
• 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 with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 annual CME reimbursement 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