Physician Section Chief Compensation and Benefits Employee Occupational Health

Veterans Health Administration • Hampton, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Physician Section Chief oversees primary care delivered within Compensation and Pension and Employee Occupational Health at the Hampton VA Medical Center. The role supervises staff in collaboration with the Associate Chief and Chief of Primary Care and provides clinical care and program oversight across both areas.

The position includes conducting independent clinical evaluations of veterans for disability, pension, environmental hazard, and registry examinations, and collaborating with other healthcare resources to evaluate requested conditions for disability-rating purposes. It also provides therapeutic interventions, diagnostic assessment, medication evaluation and management, and oversight of diagnostic testing and treatment decisions.

In Employee Occupational Health, the physician performs pre-employment physicals and related urine drug testing, evaluates workplace injuries and coordinates workers’ compensation, supports advanced practice providers, interprets VA Employee Occupational Health guidance, and develops practice guidelines. The role also oversees the Hearing Conservation Program, Employee Assistance Program, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and the immunization program, and provides reports to Infection Control and Environment of Care Committees.

The Section Chief develops policies and procedures supporting effective management, ethics, safety, communication, and quality. The physician ensures compliance with applicable accreditation requirements, VA and VISN policies, clinical guidelines, regulations, documentation, continuing education, and privacy policies. The role also plans and oversees research programs and supports staff compliance with trainee supervision, clinical reminders, encounter and note completion, and performance measures.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. VA offers a comprehensive federal employee benefits package, including paid leave, retirement, insurance, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage.

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 residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to eligibility for board certification, or qualifying alternative residency training accepted by the local Medical Staff Executive Committee.
• 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.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must undergo required background and security investigation and, if selected, complete onboarding requirements.
• Applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated VA employment must undergo pre-appointment urinalysis; refusing the test results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must be physically and mentally able to perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must complete all application requirements specified in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• VA primary care experience in leadership.
• Previous supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee primary care services within Compensation and Pension and Employee Occupational Health.
• Supervise staff in collaboration with the Associate Chief and Chief of Primary Care.
• Perform pre-employment physicals and urine drug testing related to pre-employment assessments.
• Evaluate workplace injuries and coordinate workers’ compensation matters.
• Provide clinical support for advanced practice providers.
• Interpret VA Employee Occupational Health guidance and translate it into office practice guidelines.
• Serve as professional supervisor for the facilities Hearing Conservation Program.
• Administer the Employee Assistance Program and provide fitness-for-duty evaluations.
• Supervise the Employee Occupational Health immunization program and registered nurse, and develop and provide reports to Infection Control and Environment of Care Committees.
• Independently evaluate veterans for disability, pension, environmental hazard, and registry examinations.
• Collaborate with other healthcare resources to evaluate requested conditions for disability-rating purposes.
• Develop policies and procedures for effective management, ethics, safety, communication, and quality within the section and across related services.
• Provide therapeutic interventions, diagnostic assessments, and medication evaluation and management.
• Order diagnostic tests, distinguish normal from abnormal findings, and make appropriate treatment decisions.
• Ensure medical practice complies with accreditation requirements, VA and VISN policies, clinical practice guidelines, regulations, documentation standards, continuing education, and privacy policies.
• Plan and oversee research programs addressing program planning and relevant treatment approaches.
• Support staff compliance with trainee supervision policies, clinical reminders, encounter and note completion, and performance measures and indicators.

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 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 annual CME reimbursement for full-time employees 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