Physician (Chief of Orthopedic)

About the role

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) & 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 ineligible to apply.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction for all orthopedic clinical services, including inpatient, outpatient, and surgical care.
• Ensures delivery of safe, high-quality, and evidence-based musculoskeletal care to Veterans.
• Maintains overall responsibility for clinical outcomes, patient safety, access to care, and performance metrics within Orthopedic Surgery.
• Directly supervises orthopedic surgeons, advanced practice providers, and support staff within the section.
• Serves as a faculty member and actively participates in resident education, including teaching, supervision, and evaluation.
• Ensures appropriate supervision and graduated responsibility for residents in accordance with training program requirements.
• Collaborates with academic affiliates to support residency rotations, curriculum development, and program accreditation.
• Recruits, retains, and develops highly qualified orthopedic staff and faculty.
• Ensures compliance with VHA directives, Joint Commission standards, and facility policies.
• Leads quality improvement initiatives focused on surgical outcomes, patient safety, and process efficiency.
• Makes sure clinical performance data, including surgical volumes, complications, and patient satisfaction are monitored and evaluated.
• Oversees credentialing and privileging processes for orthopedic providers in coordination with the Chief of Staff.
• Manages section resources including staffing, equipment, operating room utilization, and budget needs.
• Collaborates with Surgical Service leadership and other clinical services to optimize patient flow and interdisciplinary care.
• Participates in medical center committees, governance councils, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Promotes a culture of professionalism, accountability, continuous learning, and Veteran-centered care.

Requirements

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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.
• 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.
• Medical Degree: 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.
• License: 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.
• Proficiency in Spoken and Written English.