Physician (SUD Psychiatrist)

Veterans Health Administration • Los Angeles, CA

26d • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System is hiring a psychiatrist to provide Veteran-centered substance use disorder (SUD) treatment as part of a multidisciplinary team serving Veterans at the National Center for Warrior Independence. The position provides comprehensive psychiatric assessment and treatment, including outpatient and addiction psychiatry services. The psychiatrist treats a broad range of conditions, including substance use disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, PTSD, psychosis, and psychiatric conditions in aging Veterans. The role may include serving as a mental health team leader, coordinating consultations and triage of specialty clinic referrals, and providing direct patient care in the section and at other sites within the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; on-call duties may be assigned.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and approval. The program may provide up to $200,000 in student loan repayment for an eligibility period of one to five years. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. The position has no physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or an 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 an applicable alternative training and practice pathway specified by VA.
• Board certification or eligibility with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) or American Osteopathic Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (AOBPN).
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Compliance with applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements, including drug testing for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Ability to meet the position's physical demands, including frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting equipment and/or patients, as well as maintaining an upright posture during patient care.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Fellowship training in Addiction Psychiatry or Addiction Medicine.
• Board certification or eligibility in Addiction Psychiatry or Addiction Medicine.
• Expertise or experience treating patients with opioid use disorder, including prescribing buprenorphine and methadone.
• Experience and interest in working with trainees.

Responsibilities

• Perform psychiatric evaluations for a diverse patient population and provide therapeutic interventions, including diagnostic assessment, medication evaluation and management, suicide risk assessments, crisis intervention, and ongoing care for psychiatric disorders.
• Provide psycho-diagnostic services and select appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques to deliver quality care.
• Ensure psychiatric practice complies with applicable TJC and CARF standards, HIPAA, VA policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, statutes and regulations, medical record documentation requirements, and continuing education requirements.
• Potentially serve as a mental health team leader, coordinating consultations and triage of specialty clinic referrals.
• Order diagnostic tests and consultations, interpret normal and abnormal findings, and make appropriate treatment decisions.
• Provide care for depression, anxiety, psychosis, PTSD, substance use disorders, and other psychiatric disorders in outpatient clinical settings.
• Conduct mental health assessments, including suicide-risk and diagnostic assessments for acute and chronic conditions.
• Provide crisis evaluation, intervention, and management.
• Treat patients with psychiatric pharmacotherapy within VA formulary guidelines and with non-pharmacological interventions, including psychotherapy.
• Perform on-call duties as assigned.
• Provide direct patient care to Veterans in the assigned section and at other VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System sites.

Benefits

• 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 five-day paid CME absence.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a 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 CME reimbursement of $1,000 per year for eligible full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• EDRP student loan repayment of up to $200,000, subject to individual eligibility and program approval.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

What This Job Offers

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