Physician Chief of Medicine

The Salem VAMC holds academic affiliations with a number of institutions including the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (students and residents) the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (students residents and fellows) and the Jefferson College of Health Sciences (students). As such the incumbent is expected to support these affiliations through teaching and clinical activities that enhance the clinical learning environment at the Medical Center. The incumbent will also support these affiliations by acquiring faculty appointments as required serving as a Medical Center representative on affiliate academic committees as needed and shaping policies and practices at the Medical Center as appropriate in order to meet affiliate or accrediting body requirements.

The Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a Joint Commission Accredited Level 1c facility providing comprehensive care to both ambulatory and critically ill patients through Primary Care Tertiary Care and Long-Term Care in areas of Medicine Surgery Mental Health Extended Care and Rehabilitation Spinal Cord Injury along with Supportive and Social Services.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Approved for highly qualified applicant

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 $1000 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

The Chief of Medicines duties will include but are not limited to:

• Provides quality patient-centered patient care to presenting adults age 18-65 and older adults age 65 as assigned by the Salem Veterans Affairs Chief Of Staff; stabilizes presenting patients under the age of 18 as required prior to transfer to an appropriate site of care.
• Demonstrates sound decision-making skills both clinical and administrative which bring credit to the profession and serve to enhance the distinct and contributory role of physicians.
• Facilitates the delivery of appropriate patient care in collaboration with other health professionals medical center staff and management.
• Orders and interprets appropriate diagnostic tests necessary to complete the ED evaluation.
• Stabilizes all critically ill or injured patients.
• Admits patients to the hospital or discharge them from the ED with appropriate follow-up.
• Discusses treatment plan(s) with patients and or family/caregivers (following COBRA and HIPM guidelines).
• Exhibits leadership in suggesting and with management approval instituting changes in patient care programs based on current concepts and findings from clinical research and guidelines. Keeps informed of developments in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education both formal and informal.
• Supports the safety occupational health and fire protection program by the application of approved standards regulations practices and work methods.
• Completes all medical record documentation in CPRS within prescribed timeframes.
• Utilizes problem solving methodologies to resolve problems that impact patient care or staff performance.
• Plans implements and evaluates care based on the age specific requirements of the patient.
• Participates in the formal education of medical students and residents by presenting teaching rounds lectures conferences etc.
• Participates in grading sessions for medical students and residents assigned to their service.
• Demonstrates and trains medical students and residents in relevant medical procedures that are required to provide optimal patient care appropriate.
• Assists in conducting studies regarding treatment modalities outcomes and other aspects of patient care.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• 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.
• 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: (1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) b) OR
  (2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)OR
  (3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) 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.
  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 or fee-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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

• maintains both BLS and ACLS certification
• Leadership experience at least 1 year with supervisory experience