Physician-Primary Care-Assistant Chief/Deputy ACOS

Veterans Health Administration • Tucson, AZ

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Physician-Primary Care-Assistant Chief/Deputy ACOS serves in the Primary Care & Community Clinics Service (PCCCS) at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System (SAVAHCS). The position is the principal advisor on professional, clinical, administrative, and quality performance matters and reports to the Chief of PCCCS. The role is approximately 80–90% administrative and 10–20% clinical.

SAVAHCS is a network of health care facilities across Southern Arizona, including a medical center in Tucson and seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The organization describes itself as committed to patient-centered care, compassion, education, research, and clinical and organizational excellence.

The incumbent plans, implements, directs, and evaluates PCCCS activities, including staffing, budgets, equipment, and supplies. The role supports the service’s vision and mission, supervises assigned healthcare providers, and collaborates with service and administrative leaders to meet performance and productivity standards. It also includes clinical care for a panel of adult patients, using electronic medical records and coordinating diagnostic testing, medication, and specialty consultations.

The position is not eligible for telework. A compressed schedule of four 10-hour shifts, potentially from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM, may be possible. The announcement is open continuously until January 8, 2027; the initial referral cutoff is October 30, 2026, with additional referrals at regular intervals or as vacancies arise.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved/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 training program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment screening, including background/security investigation and physical evaluation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-employment urinalysis.
• Compliance with seasonal influenza vaccination requirements for VA healthcare personnel.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Completion of the online onboarding process and all application requirements in the Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Board certified or board eligible in Internal Medicine or Family Practice by ABIM or ABFM.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, direct, and evaluate PCCCS activities, including staffing, budget, equipment, and supply needs.
• Assist the ACOS/Chief of PCCCS in carrying out the vision and mission of SAVAHCS Primary Care.
• Conduct staff meetings and coordinate in-services and training for clinical employees.
• Supervise assigned physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare providers.
• Collaborate with PCCCS, Primary Care, Patient Care Service, and administrative leadership to meet performance measures and productivity standards.
• Interview candidates for subordinate positions and recommend hiring, promotion, or reassignment.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for patients’ longitudinal care.
• Develop, review, and implement clinic policies and procedures, subject to final approval by the Chief of PCCCS.
• Train clinic and ancillary staff on new policies and procedures.
• Review Veteran complaints; investigate, delegate, and prepare a coordinated response with clinic medical directors, nurse managers, and office managers or MSA supervisors.
• Provide comprehensive clinical care to a panel of adult patients.
• Optimize patient health through diagnostic testing, medication prescribing (including contraceptive medication), specialty-service consultation, and use of computerized/electronic medical records.
• Provide patient care in accordance with professional standards, core values, and service-excellence commitments.

Benefits

• 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 reimbursement of $1,000 per year for CME for full-time physicians with board certification.
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.
• No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be available.

What This Job Offers

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