Physician (CHIEF SURGICAL SERVICES)

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 executive leadership and strategic direction for all programs and operations within Surgical Service.
• Maintains overall responsibility for clinical quality, patient safety, and access to surgical care across all surgical specialties.
• Develops and implements strategic plans to support growth, efficiency, and modernization of surgical programs.
• Ensures compliance with all VHA directives, Joint Commission standards, accreditation requirements, and medical center policies.
• Collaborates closely with the Chief of Staff and Medical Center Director in establishing surgical service and organizational priorities and operational goals.
• Collaborates with clinical and administrative services, including anesthesia, dental, medicine, sterile processing, nursing services, education and research, human resources, fiscal, supply chain, safety, etc.
• Handles personnel management responsibilities and accountability activities for surgical service.
• Oversees recruitment, retention, and professional development of surgeons and surgical service staff to maintain a highly qualified workforce.
• Provides mentorship and leadership development to section chiefs and emerging clinical leaders within Surgical Service.
• Led continuous quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing surgical outcomes, patient safety, and operational performance.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of surgical service programs using performance metrics, clinical outcomes data, and patient satisfaction indicators.
• Promotes an interdisciplinary approach to patient care by collaborating with other clinical services and administrative departments.
• Ensures appropriate credentialing, privileging, and ongoing professional practice evaluation for surgical service staff in accordance with VHA policy.
• Directs resource management including staffing, equipment acquisition, supply utilization, and budget planning for Surgical Service.
• Participates in executive leadership committees, clinical governance boards, and facility strategic planning initiatives.
• Supports academic and educational missions including resident education, clinical training programs, and professional development activities.
• Effectively and professionally represents Dayton VAMC on relevant facility, VISN, national committees, workgroups, etc.
• Supports and promotes organizational priorities, high reliability principles and a just culture.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• 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.

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.
• 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.