Physician (Supervisory Psychiatrist ) - EDRP

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval - 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

• 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 in allopathic or osteopathic medicine.
• Degree obtained from a school approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Current full, unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, 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.
• Approved residencies include: (1) Programs accredited by ACGME or AOA for the year residency or fellowship was completed.
• OR (2) One year of post‑medical school training (first year of residency or transitional year) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of independent practice in the U.S. under a full license.
• OR (3) Non‑U.S. residency training followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the U.S., including duties related to the position.
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residencies who otherwise meet basic requirements are eligible to be appointed as Physician Resident Providers (PRPs) on an intermittent basis.
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (not a training license) and are not independent practitioners or privileged; they have a scope of practice for restricted duties under supervision.
• Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may be appointed as PRPs.
• In rare circumstances, the Facility Director may submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer for reasonable exceptions to the residency requirement for physicians with exceptional experience.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Board certification in psychiatry is preferred; current or prior supervisory psychiatry administrative experience within the past two years is preferred.
• Works well as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Demonstrates a high level of practice using evidence‑based medicine principles involving patients with complex illness.
• Excellent customer service skills (internal and external customers).
• Physical requirements: light lifting under 15 pounds, hand‑over‑hand transfer for 1 hour, near vision correctable at 13–16 inches to Jaeger 1–4, hearing (aid permitted), and emotional and mental stability.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit

Duties

• Serve as first‑line supervising authority for psychiatry staff within Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine Service.
• Provide leadership guidance—administrative and clinical—including supervision, consultation, and administration to staff in assigned areas.
• Offer administrative oversight and clinical consultation to interdisciplinary team members when not the designated first‑line authority.
• Provide clinical supervision to psychiatry residents, fellows, medical students, and other trainees as appropriate.
• Ensure timely access to care for patients assigned to the team in accordance with local and national policies.
• Monitor compliance of team members with VA performance measures, shaping provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures.
• Lead hiring efforts for new staff members for the team.
• Resolve conflicts among team members and adjudicate complaints or problems promptly and effectively.
• Conduct psychiatric evaluations across multiple clinical settings for veterans with diverse mental health problems, including psychosocial issues such as homelessness, unemployment, and poor family support.
• Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions, including diagnostic assessment, medication evaluation and management, suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention, and overall care of patients with psychiatric disorders.
• Practice evidence‑based pharmacological interventions to reduce psychiatric symptoms and improve interpersonal functioning and overall mental health.
• Ensure practice of psychiatric medicine complies with TJC, CARF, HIPAA, VA policies, clinical practice guidelines, national statutes, and regulations, documentation standards, and mandatory continuing education.
• Participate effectively in team meetings, treatment planning conferences, and collaborate with multidisciplinary team members to enhance care coordination.
• Work collegially within a multidisciplinary team comprising psychologists, social workers, licensed practice counselors, nurses, and other support specialists.
• Order diagnostic tests and consultations, distinguish between normal and abnormal findings, and make appropriate treatment decisions.
• Participate in teaching and supervision of medical students, residents, and other trainees as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Additional responsibilities related to compensation and benefits: VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package including EDRP incentive (former participants ineligible), a work schedule Monday–Friday 8:00 am–4:30 pm, competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, 50–55 days paid time off per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, and possible 5 days CME), traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting), 401(k) up to 5% VA contribution, federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care insurance, 1‑year CME reimbursement per year, free liability protection with tail coverage, no physician employment contract or significant moonlighting restriction, and licensure from any U.S. state or territory.