Physician - Medical Director Psychiatrist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the basic requirements and any additional requirements 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 physicians in the 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.
• Doctor of Medicine degree or equivalent obtained from a VA‑approved school in the year the course of study was completed.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, Commonwealth, or 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.
• Alternatively, one year of post‑medical‑school training followed by two years of independent practice, or non‑U.S. residency training followed by at least three years of independent practice in the United States.
• Residents currently enrolled in accredited residency programs may be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs) under specific conditions.
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians and may be appointed only on an intermittent basis.
• PRPs are not independent practitioners and will not be privileged; they have a scope of practice allowing them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision.
• Additional conditions allow reasonable exceptions for exceptional experience and qualifications.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Board‑certified physicians are preferred.
• Prior VA experience is preferred.
• Prior supervisory experience is preferred.
• Preferred: Verified independent practice and clinical experience in the United States.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Medical director of psychiatry at Fredericksburg Health Care Center responsible for managing psychiatric care in outpatient mental health clinics.
• Oversee medical care at the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a 349‑bed level 1a facility providing primary, secondary, and tertiary health care across multiple specialties.
• Supervise community‑based outpatient clinics in multiple counties and collaborate with the Virginia Commonwealth University affiliate.
• Coordinate clinical programs in rehabilitation, surgery, psychiatry, and dentistry, and support research centers such as PADRECC.
• Lead and develop the hospital’s total rewards package, recruitment incentives, and other compensation structures.
• Serve clinical duties, including history and physical exams, mental status examinations, intake assessments, diagnosis formulation, treatment planning, ordering laboratory and radiological assessments, initiations of consults and referrals, and maintaining documentation.
• Perform supervisory duties: hiring, orienting, addressing conduct and performance, conducting professional reviews, managing patient complaints, managing clinics, and overseeing time and leave.
• Work schedule Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (40 hours per week).
• Additional duties may be required as presented in the organization and covered by the position description.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
• Paid Time Off: 50–55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and up to five days paid absence for CME).
• Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care insurance (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).
• Full physician license required.
• Possible annual reimbursement of $1,000 for CME.
• Malpractice coverage: free liability protection with tail coverage.
• No physician employment contract and limited restrictions on moonlighting.
• Eligibility for Education Debt Reduction Program for qualifying candidates.
• Recruitment and relocation incentives (sign‑on bonus) may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.

Benefits

Physician will carry an outpatient clinical workload along with assigned administrative and professional responsibilities, and benefit from a comprehensive total rewards package, including health benefits, retirement plans, and potential incentives.

Contact Monique Head at View email address on click.appcast.io for EDRP questions and assistance.