Physician (Chief of Radiology)

Veterans Health Administration • Memphis, TN

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief of Radiology at VA Memphis provides clinical care across inpatient consultation and outpatient clinic settings and manages the Radiology Service, including Diagnostic Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Oncology. The Chief supervises other licensed independent practitioners (LIPs), staff, and trainees and is responsible for service operations, quality, and clinical standards. The position reports to the Chief of Staff.

The role requires maintaining clinical expertise and the ability to perform general examinations of established and newly consulted patients in clinics, inpatient wards, or the Emergency Department as needed. The Chief supports safe, patient-centered transitions and care, promotes access through non-traditional care models, and participates in teaching and research activities with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). Faculty appointment eligibility at UTHSC is required.

The Chief also oversees service compliance with agency regulations, medical staff bylaws, facility policy, and other requirements; recommends appointments and clinical privileges; and participates in accreditation readiness and clinical review activities. This is a Monday–Friday position, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. The VA may offer recruitment incentives or relocation assistance to highly qualified applicants. The role is not covered by a physician employment contract, and there is no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) 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 approved residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway specified by the VA.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Eligibility for a faculty appointment at UTHSC.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, onboarding, and drug testing for selected applicants in testing-designated positions.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership experience at the Section Chief level or above.
• Experience with an academic affiliate.

Responsibilities

• Provide inpatient consultation and outpatient clinical care in the discipline of Radiology, including general examinations as needed in clinics, inpatient wards, or the Emergency Department.
• Manage the Radiology Service, including Diagnostic Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Oncology.
• Supervise LIPs, staff, and trainees, ensuring high standards of clinical care, efficiency, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Ensure clinical care complies with hospital and VHA policy and meets or exceeds community standards and VHA national benchmarks.
• Promote smooth, safe, patient-centered care in outpatient and inpatient settings, coordinating with the Emergency Department, subspecialty services, admitting clinics, and outpatient care teams.
• Oversee the Service’s operational aspects, clinical standards, quality, and operations.
• Develop collegial working relationships with other Service and Section Chiefs across the medical center.
• Oversee systems redesign projects and quality improvement programs; champion evidence-based medicine and peer review to improve quality.
• Participate in tort claims, peer reviews, management reviews, administrative activities as directed, and organizational accreditation readiness.
• Foster transparency, communication, collegiality, and patient-centered interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Use resources effectively and adapt to change with leadership and flexibility.
• Maintain current medical knowledge and technical skills, and document and ensure the competence of LIPs within the Service consistent with their current privileges.
• Promote access through non-traditional care options such as CVT, VVC, e-consultation, group clinics, telephone clinics, and secure messaging.
• Participate in teaching and research activities with UTHSC, including resident mentorship during inpatient rotations and outpatient clinic precepting, as assigned.
• Recommend appointments and clinical privileges for division members and others requesting privileges, and ensure privileged individuals competently provide services.
• Monitor and ensure Radiology Service compliance with agency regulations, medical staff bylaws, facility policy, and other regulations.
• Carry out Service Chief responsibilities under the current VAMC Memphis Medical Staff By-Laws and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• May be eligible for a recruitment incentive (sign-on bonus) for highly qualified applicants.
• May be eligible for permanent change of station (relocation) assistance for highly qualified applicants.
• 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 absence for CME.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting 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 $1,000 per year CME reimbursement for full-time, board-certified physicians.
• Free liability protection with tail coverage.

What This Job Offers

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