Physician - Section Chief Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration•Victorville, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System is recruiting a Physician - Section Chief for Primary Care at the Victorville Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The position combines approximately 70% patient care with 30% administrative and supervisory duties. The physician coordinates outpatient care, evaluates and treats acute and chronic health problems, performs examinations and privileged office procedures, and ensures patients have clearly documented next steps in their care. The physician also serves as a clinic preceptor for students and residents and 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. Administrative responsibilities include reviewing service agreements; participating in committees and activities affecting patient care, access, staff performance, and morale; communicating and implementing policies and goals; using performance, budget, staffing, and other reports in decision-making; and directing continuous quality improvement. The position also supports strategic and budget planning, recommends staffing levels, develops relationships with internal and external entities, and addresses personnel matters such as selection, promotion, recognition, training, and problem resolution. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until positions are filled or January 19, 2027. The initial applicant referral cutoff is November 13, 2026, with later eligible applications referred at regular intervals. Recruitment or relocation incentives and relocation assistance may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to its eligibility and application requirements.

Requirements

Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
Current, full, 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, or another qualifying training and independent-practice pathway specified in the announcement.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Qualified candidates must be board certified or board eligible.
U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
Must undergo required background/security investigation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment urinalysis.
Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must complete the online onboarding process and all application requirements described in the announcement.
May be required to serve a probationary period.

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 and that the next steps of care are clearly indicated.
Precept students and residents in the clinic setting as assigned.
Serve as 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 included in approved privileges.
Participate in activities, committees, and boards affecting patient care, Veteran access, staff performance, and morale, as assigned.
Communicate policies, procedures, performance goals, strategic plans, and initiatives to staff and support their implementation.
Use performance reports, benchmark data, budget and expenditure documents, staffing information, and other reports in decision-making.
Direct ongoing measurement and improvement of quality, timeliness, and patient satisfaction, and coordinate high-quality, timely, patient-centered care using quality measurement tools.
Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external entities.
Provide input for the Primary Care Service annual strategic and budget plan and recommend adequate qualified staffing for patient care, treatment, and services.
Take appropriate action on promotions, selections, rewards and recognition, training, and problem resolution related to the service.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as determined by the Chief or Primary Care Service.

Benefits

Recruitment or relocation incentives (sign-on bonus) may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Permanent Change of Station relocation assistance may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, up to $200,000 subject to eligibility, approval, and program terms.
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, 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 may be carried into retirement.
Possible $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time physicians with board certification.
Free liability protection with tail coverage.
No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.