Physician - Geriatrics & Extended Care Section Chief

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit the EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amounts (up to $200,000) and eligibility periods (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the 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: Doctor of Medicine (MD) or an equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from a school approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year of completion.
• License: Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Residency Training: Completion of residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty program leading to eligibility for board certification. Acceptable pathways include:
  • Accredited residency/fellowship by ACGME or AOA listed for the year of completion.
  • One year of post‑medical school training (internship or transitional year) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of independent practice under a full license in the United States.
  • Non‑U.S. residency training followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (U.S. fellowships count toward this requirement).
• Exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/​AOA accredited programs may be appointed as “Physician Resident Providers” (PRPs) if fully licensed, serving on an intermittent basis with a limited scope of practice under supervision. Surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. Rare exceptions may be approved by the Facility Director and VISN leadership.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in Geriatrics‑Extended Care (GEC) program management and quality improvement.
• Completion of a Geriatrics or Hospice‑Palliative Medicine fellowship.
• At least two years of experience in Geriatrics Primary Care or Home‑Based Primary Care.
• Physician supervisory experience.

Physical Requirements

• Physical: Lifting, prolonged standing, sitting, frequent bending, stooping, walking, reaching, repetitive motion, and climbing stairs.
• Mental/Sensory: Logical thinking, information processing and retention, reading, recall, reasoning, complex problem solving, hearing, clear speech, writing, keyboarding, telephone use, and video connectivity.
• Work environment: Face‑to‑face patient care, use of IT software for virtual visits, timely navigation and documentation in electronic medical records, variable pace (steady to fast‑paced), multiple daily priorities, frequent intense customer interactions, and adaptation to a sometimes noisy environment.
• Safety: May require personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease, illness, or hazardous materials.
• Patient population: Individuals with communication difficulties, cognitive loss (including dementia), behavioral challenges, altered mentation, and stressed caregivers.
• Travel: Valid driver’s license required for independent home visits (up to 2 hours one‑way in a government vehicle) and periodic travel to other CVHCS sites.

Duties

• Provide day‑to‑day clinical activities, including patient care in Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) clinics, geriatrics consultations, Home‑Based Primary Care (HBPC), telehealth modalities, e‑consults, hospice & palliative care, non‑institutional care programs, and transitional care.
• Collaborate daily with interdisciplinary teams, referral sources, and stakeholders.
• Participate in program development, quality improvement, and systems redesign projects.
• Lead and supervise clinical staff (nurse navigator, nurse practitioner, physician assistant) and administrative personnel.
• Provide physician coverage for GEC programs, including non‑institutional care and contract community nursing home programs.
• Offer guidance and coaching to other physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and interdisciplinary staff.
• Complete home visits independently when assigned to HBPC.
• Document medical records and encounters promptly and accurately.
• Communicate with patients, families, treatment teams, community partners, and vendors.
• Engage in educational activities for trainees, including curriculum development, bedside teaching, formal didactics, and just‑in‑time teaching.
• Travel periodically to other clinics and Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

Pay

• Competitive salary.
• Annual performance bonus.
• Regular salary increases.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 50–55 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays, plus up to 5 days for CME).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care coverage (many plans portable into retirement).
• Licensure: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.
• CME Support: Up to $1,000 per year reimbursement (full‑time with board certification required).
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage.
• Contract: No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Work Schedule

Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.