About this role
Job SummaryThe Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMR) leads the service and reports to the Chief of Staff (COS). The oversee and is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the PMR service line. This position works in collaboration with the chiefs of various services within the Washington DC VA Medical Center (DCVAMC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, local University's and others as required providing a continuum of rehabilitation services for the DCVAMC.
QualificationsTo 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. Education. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic 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. License and Registration. 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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. Exceptions: 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 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. In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action. Board Certification. Physicians are generally not required to be board certified for employment in VA; however, three circumstances in VA require Physician board certification: (1) If the position being filled is required to be a supervisor for medical students or Physician residents (including fellows), the LCME, ACGME, or AOA standards requiring a particular board certification credential will apply. (2) If the position being filled will have faculty status with an affiliated medical school (for example, in joint recruitments with affiliated medical schools), then a medical school requirement for board certification will apply to the jointly recruited position. (3) If the position being filled is required to be board certified by virtue of specific VHA policy (for example, as director of a cardiac catheterization laboratory or Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine), then VHA policy requiring board certification will apply. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over), light carrying (under 15 lbs.), reaching over shoulders, , walking (8 hrs.), standing (8 hrs.), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13-16 in. to Jaeger 1-4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, use of both eyes, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted), hearing without aid, clear speech.
Major DutiesMajor duties include, but are not limited to: This position requires that the Chief provides leadership, direction and support to the PM&R service line which includes overall administrative and clinical care, teaching of medical students, residents and fellows and supervises professional and nonprofessional staff within the scope of their respective practice. This position includes First Line Supervision of most PM&R physicians and the Clinical Coordinator. Given the Supervisory responsibility the PM&R Chief will adhere to the Executive Career Field guidance. This position provides cross physician coverage as necessary within the service. Assumes temporary leadership responsibilities as requested by the Chief of Staff when/if requested. This position requires that the Chief: Have working knowledge of, physical medicine and rehabilitation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, kinesiotherapy, vision rehab therapy, and polytrauma/TBI. Be accessible and available to personnel in the PMR Service. Be responsible for integrating the core values and mission into the rehabilitation process Administration: Leadership responsibilities: Organizing staff meetings, communication both down to staff, across to other Service Chiefs, and up to Leadership, as well as crafting congressional responses, heads up and issue briefs, when requested to do so by VHA/VASLC Leadership. HR Management Staff Management Time and Leave Management Business Planning: Systems redesign; manage service DSS mapping (workload); staffing needs Clinical Management- direct and indirect patient care Supervision: This position reports directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff and provides supervision and guidance to fellows, residents, and medical students. The PM&R Chief, has full supervisory authority over the physician, chiropractic, physician assistant, nurse practitioner and nursing staff members who provide clinical and administrative support to PM&R Service. The incumbent oversees the daily operation of the service and ensures that agency policies and priorities are being followed. Supervisory work includes responsibility for planning and scheduling work The incumbent provides advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. Clinical Duties: Patient Care Medical/Clinical Knowledge Clinical Judgment Interpersonal and Communication Skills Professionalism Systems-Based Practice VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 $1,000 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pmRequirementsU.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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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.