Behavioral Health Physician I (formerly Psychiatrist I)

The Job

Our doctors work a 4/10 schedule! Telework available up to 64 hours per pay period!

Be an agent of change and make a difference in delivering health and wellness to millions of residents.

Join a team that is passionate about the services they provide and is committed to making a difference throughout San Bernardino County.

Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program - Up to $105,000 loan repayment for three (3) years of service. National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program - Up to $75,000 loan repayment for two (2) years of service or may be able to completely pay off student loans with continued service. (Must work in an NHSC approved site) 5% differential pay for ABPN Board Certification

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is recruiting for Behavioral Health Physician I's who function as Staff General Psychiatrists who assume medical responsibility for adult and/or child and adolescent patients under their direct care and supervision in outpatient clinics. Incumbents may also be assigned to work in specialty areas, such as outpatient forensics, correctional mental health services, Clozaril, diversion, quality improvement, or informatics.

Serving as a physician in San Bernardino County's Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) presents the opportunity to change the lives of people living with severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders through direct service, training the next generation of physicians, acquiring and advancing in leadership experiences, facilitating innovation, and practicing integrative medicine. DBH physicians are passionate and committed to advancing the practice of medicine by caring for the whole person and collaborating with other county departments and professionals to bring access to care at the forefront of technology and medical advancements. Essential duties include conducting comprehensive psychiatric assessments/evaluations and mental status examinations (MSEs) of patients, providing multi-axial diagnoses according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) approved by the American Psychiatric Association; developing and implementing individualized mental health treatment planning for assigned patients; providing competent psychotropic medication treatment and other psychiatric treatments to meet the needs of assigned patients; and performing related tasks as required.

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is responsible for providing mental health and substance use disorder services to county residents who are experiencing major mental illness or substance abuse related issues. DBH provides mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services to all age groups, with a primary emphasis on treating children/youth who may be seriously emotionally disturbed, adults who are experiencing a serious and persistent mental illness, and individuals who are experiencing substance use disorders. DBH also provides an array of outreach/engagement, prevention, and early intervention services. DBH's core values are service, integrity, accountability, and trust. DBH is a unique County Department comprised of eight (8) direct service areas: Community Outpatient and Transitional Age Youth Services; Youth Collaborative and Justice Involved Services; Substance Use Disorder and Recovery Services; 24 Hour and Specialty Services; Adult Justice Involved and Diversion Services; Medical Services; Community Engagement and Equity Services; Office of Patients' Rights and five (5) indirect service areas: Administrative and Fiscal Services; Public Relations and Outreach Services; Program Support Services; Disaster and Safety Unit; and the Office of Compliance. The Department currently has a workforce in excess of 1500 positions and an approximate $800 million-dollar annual budget.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must meet all of the following requirements: Education: Graduation from an accredited school of medicine is required. Residency: Completion of a residency in psychiatry approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education is required. A copy of the certificate of completion of residency MUST be submitted with the application. Note: Applications will be accepted from candidates within twelve (12) months of completion of residency. Applicants must provide a letter of verification from their residency program which verifies the anticipated date of completion. License: Possession of a valid Physician's and Surgeon's certificate issued by the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California is required. Applicants MUST indicate number and expiration date on question #1 of the Supplemental Questionnaire in order to be considered for this position. Certification: Possession of a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate is required. A copy of the DEA certificate must be submitted with the application.

Desired Qualifications

Applicants fluent in American Sign Language, Arabic, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, and/or Vietnamese are strongly encouraged to apply. Additional compensation is associated with positions requiring the use of bilingual skills. Testing of bilingual skills may be required to receive additional compensation. The ideal candidate will be certified as a Diplomate by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. (Candidates who are certified should submit a copy of their certificate with the application). Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills and have experience collaborating in multidisciplinary treatment teams and developing strong relationships with community providers. Experience working with the seriously mentally ill, eating disorders, under-served populations, and with children and adolescents is highly desirable.

Selection Process

Application Procedure: There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on the information provided in the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of your qualifying experience, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department. Please ensure all relevant experience is indicated in the Application and responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire, as resumes and other attachments will not be reviewed for the competitive evaluation. Completing your application with statements such as "see/refer to resume" or "see attached" rather than completing your work history may affect your eligibility or competitive evaluation score. Be sure to clearly describe your experience in meeting the minimum requirements. If you require technical assistance, follow this link to review the Government Jobs online application guide or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by your internet connection, computer, or browser when submitting an application. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and need accommodations during the testing process, please submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of the recruitment filing deadline. Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans and their spouses or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans' Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the Veterans' Preference Policy. For more important details, review the Applicant Information and County Employment Process.