Psychiatrist- Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The SUD Psychiatrist is a core member of the interdisciplinary substance use treatment team responsible for the psychiatric care and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. The psychiatrist works closely with psychologists social workers addiction therapists peer specialists and nursing staff to deliver evidence-based recovery-oriented care.

Key duties include but are not limited to:

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for Veterans with substance use disorders including assessment of co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions.
• Initiate and manage pharmacologic treatments including buprenorphine and other MAT options in accordance with VA policy and clinical guidelines.
• Provide integrated care for Veterans with dual diagnoses including mood anxiety trauma-related and psychotic disorders.
• Collaborate closely with the interdisciplinary SUD team to coordinate individualized treatment planning and progress monitoring.
• Participate in group or individual psychiatric follow-up as clinically indicated.
• Complete all documentation requirements in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) in accordance with VA standards.
• Provide consultation to other providers and teams on the diagnosis and management of substance use and co-occurring disorders.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings case reviews and clinical huddles to support integrated treatment delivery.
• Monitor patient safety and contribute to suicide prevention practices through risk assessments safety planning and appropriate care coordination.
• Remain informed of and compliant with all relevant VA policies federal regulations and Joint Commission standards.

Work Environment and Supervision:
The SUD Psychiatrist works within a multidisciplinary team located in the outpatient substance use clinic. The psychiatrist exercises independent clinical judgment in their area of practice and is supervised by the Psychiatry Section Chief (or designee). They are ultimately accountable to the Chief Mental Health.


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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.