Physician (Dermatology Section Chief)

Summary

The Dermatology Section Chief serves as the clinical and administrative lead for Dermatology services at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. The incumbent is responsible for delivering high-quality, evidence-based dermatologic care across outpatient clinics, procedural dermatology (excluding Mohs micrographic surgery), inpatient consults, and teledermatology.

Duties

• Provide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic dermatologic conditions for Veteran patients.
• Perform dermatologic procedures excluding Mohs: shave, punch, and incisional biopsies; benign and selected malignant lesion excisions; cryotherapy; ED&C; intralesional injections; phototherapy oversight; patch testing where available.
• Conduct inpatient and ED consults; support hospitalist and surgical teams in dermatologic co-management.
• Utilize teledermatology (store-and-forward and video visits) to expand access across the facility and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
• Care for dermatopathology services, ensuring timely and accurate pathologic interpretation and follow-up.
• Manage referrals for advanced derm-oncology care and all Mohs cases to VISN centers and/or community care; ensure documentation, communication, and follow-up plans are established prior to referral completion.

Leadership & Administration

• Lead strategic planning, service design, and operational oversight for the Dermatology Section.
• Develop and manage clinic templates, panel size, provider schedules, and procedural blocks to meet access targets.
• Oversee staffing, recruitment, onboarding, competency validation, mentoring, and performance appraisals for dermatology staff.
• Collaborate with Medicine Service leadership, Group Practice Management, Business Office, Telehealth, Pharmacy, and Nursing to optimize workflows and resource allocation.
• Steward equipment, supply formularies, and minor capital requests; support P&T matters relevant to dermatology.
• Lead policy development and routine review (e.g., procedural safety checklists, biopsy tracking, pathology reconciliation).

Qualifications

• United States 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to independently generate timely, accurate, and complete clinical documentation.
• Ability to document care within the electronic medical record, communicate with internal staff through approved instant messaging systems, and engage with patients via secure messaging in accordance with VHA policy.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.