Physician - Section Chief Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Rancho Cucamonga, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System is recruiting Physician - Section Chiefs in Primary Care for its Victorville and Rancho Cucamonga Community Based Outpatient Clinics. This open continuous announcement will remain open until the positions are filled or January 19, 2027. The initial referral cutoff is November 4, 2026; eligible applications received afterward will be referred at regular intervals until the positions are filled.

The position is approximately 70% patient care and 30% administrative and supervisory work. The physician coordinates care for an assigned outpatient panel, evaluates and treats acute and chronic health problems, performs history and physical examinations, and ensures each patient has a clear care disposition and next steps. The physician may also precept students and residents and serves as the Primary Care Liaison to the Designated Women's Health Program.

The Section Chief leads and supervises Primary Care operations and medical providers, oversees medical practice standards, and provides backup cross-coverage for other operations, services, and sections. The role includes reviewing, tracking, and updating service agreements; performing office procedures within approved privileges; and completing other duties assigned according to service needs.

The physician participates in activities, committees, and boards related to patient care, Veteran access, staff performance, and morale. They work with stakeholders to communicate and implement policies, procedures, performance goals, strategic plans, and initiatives. The role uses performance and benchmark data, budget documents, staffing information, and other reports to support decision-making; directs continuous quality improvement; and plans and coordinates high-quality, timely, patient-centered care. The physician also helps maintain relationships with internal and external entities, supports annual strategic and budget planning, recommends staffing needs, and addresses personnel matters such as promotions, selections, recognition, training, and problem resolution.

The stated work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. VA benefits and incentives described include possible recruitment or relocation incentives for highly qualified candidates, eligibility for the Education Debt Reduction Program subject to program requirements, competitive salary and annual performance bonuses, regular salary increases, paid leave and federal holidays, federal retirement and insurance programs, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. No physician employment contract or significant restriction on moonlighting is specified.

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 board-certification eligibility, or qualifying alternative training and independent-practice experience described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Comply with required background and security investigation, onboarding, and applicable pre-employment drug screening.
• Register with Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Qualified candidates will be board certified or board eligible.

Nice To Haves

• More than 3 years of clinical leadership experience.
• More than 5 years of primary care experience.
• Skill with Microsoft Word, Acrobat, Excel, and database searching.
• VA or federal experience.
• Experience in women's health and chronic pain management.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care for an assigned panel of outpatients.
• Evaluate and treat acute and chronic health problems for scheduled and unscheduled clinic patients.
• Perform history and physical examinations.
• Ensure patients are appropriately dispositioned with clearly indicated next steps of care.
• Precept students and residents in the clinic setting as assigned.
• Serve as the Primary Care Liaison to the Designated Women's Health Program.
• Lead and supervise Primary Care operations and medical providers, overseeing medical practice standards and providing backup cross-coverage for other operations, services, and sections.
• Review, track, and update service agreements.
• Perform office procedures within approved privileges.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as determined by the Chief or Primary Care Service based on service needs.
• Participate in activities, committees, and boards affecting patient care, Veteran access, staff performance, and morale.
• Work with stakeholders to communicate and implement policies, procedures, performance goals, strategic plans, and initiatives.
• Use performance reports, benchmark data, budget and expenditure documents, staffing information, and other reports in decision-making.
• Direct continuous measurement and improvement of quality, timeliness, and patient satisfaction.
• Plan, coordinate, and ensure high-quality, timely, patient-centered care using multiple quality measurement tools.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance relationships with internal and external entities.
• Provide input for the Primary Care Service's annual strategic and budget plan and recommend adequate qualified staffing.
• Ensure appropriate personnel actions related to promotions, selections, rewards and recognition, training, and problem resolution.

Benefits

• Recruitment or relocation incentive (sign-on bonus) may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, subject to requirements; awards may be up to $200,000 over one to five years as determined by the program office.
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• 50–55 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible 5-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 can be carried into retirement.
• Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• 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