Summary
The Assistant Chief of Psychiatry within the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service is responsible for assisting with clinical and administrative functions of the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service. The incumbent is responsible for participation in and oversight of appropriate performance improvement and system redesign activities - as well as for advancing the principles of appropriate management/standards of care applicable to our Veteran patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship
Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section38 U.S.C.
7402(c)
Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C.
7407(a)
Education
Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine
The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed
Approved schools are: 1
Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted - OR 2
Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted
For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above - facility officials must confirm that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements for the year the candidate graduated
NOTE: The Under Secretary for Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C.
7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research - academic - or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities
The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area
Licensure/Registration
Physicians must possess a current - full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a state - territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
The Physician must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active - current licensure
Residency Training
Physicians must have completed residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification
(NOTE: VA Physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education - the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) OR American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
OR One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
OR Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the Physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences
Exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. - not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis
PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
rather - they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
Additionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
Board Certification: Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA
however - three circumstances in VA require Physician board certification: If the position being filled is required to be a supervisor for medical students or Physician residents (including fellows) - the LCME - ACGME - or AOA standards requiring a particular board certification credential will apply
If the position being filled will have faculty status with an affiliated medical school (for example - in joint recruitments with affiliated medical schools) - then a medical school requirement for board certification will apply to the jointly recruited position
If the position being filled is required to be board certified by virtue of specific VHA policy (for example - as director of a cardiac catheterization laboratory or Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine) - then VHA policy requiring board certification will apply
NOTE: Board certification must be maintained for the duration of time that the employee is serving in a position that meets the circumstances listed above
Grandfathering Provision
Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all basic requirements for the occupation
Physical Requirements
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
English Language Proficiency
Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.
7402(d) and 7407(d)
Preferred Experience: Assisting with the clinical and administrative functions of the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G2 EFFECTIVE DATE: APRIL 28 - 2026
Duties
Assistant Chief of Psychiatry & Mental Health The Assistant Chief reports directly to the Chief of the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service
Assistant Chief: (50% Administrative Time) Attends to administrative assignments per the Service Chief - as the Assistant/Deputy Service Chief - primarily including or related to the duties below
Assistant Chief physician works collaboratively with the Service Chief and performs a variety of administrative duties for sections management and the development - administration - coordination and implementation of departmental policies and procedures
Serves as the Psychiatry/Psychiatrist Discipline Lead for the Service (or "Lead Psychiatrist")
Ensures clinical privileges and scope of practice for all psychiatric/physician providers meet VHA and all relevant statutory and licensure requirements
Provides discipline input into competencies and FPPE/OPPE (focused and ongoing profession practice evaluations) for these physicians - as well as the advanced practice nurses - and physician assistants - in compliance with State - and Federal / VHA requirements/directives
May also serve as primary supervisor for staff and sections as assigned by the Service Chief
Attend all relevant VA institutional committee meetings as assigned by the Chief of Psychiatry
Works with Psychiatry & Mental Health Service section leads (supervisors - unit managers - medical directors/section chiefs) to regularly assess Psychiatry Service Performance metrics and address identified deficiencies via gap analysis and creation of corrective action plans
Manages all the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service Physician - NP - PA - and Psychologist credentialing and works with the Credentialing Service to keep all required OPPE/FPPE up-to-date for any credentialed providers
Meets regularly with VA Utilization Management staff to understand and review relevant Psychiatry & Mental Health Service Inpatient bed utilization performance measures - and develop gap analyses and performance improvement plans where indicated
Additionally - the Assistant Chief assumes full responsibility for all Service Chief duties during their absence
Psychiatrist / Physician (50% - Clinical Time) Responsible for the oversight of all aspects of psychiatric care delivered to patients under his/her care - in the area of their primary assignment at the R.L
Roudebush V.A
Medical Center
Provide or assist residents and/or nurse practitioners in the process of evaluation and treatment of the patient under his/her care in the area of their primary assignment
Evaluate patients at the area of their primary assignment to assess changes in the physical and mental status during their care
Perform inpatient psychiatric evaluations and treatment for the patients admitted to the area of their primary assignment if applicable
Participate in Treatment Team meetings - and patient care discussions - to guide appropriate psychiatric care in the area of their primary assignment
Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1 -000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Work Schedule: Full time - 8:00am to 4:30pm
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
Contact Margaret Bordner - Margaret.Bordner@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
Total rewards package
VHA Physician Total Rewards.
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