Physician - Neurology Section Chief

About the Role

The Neurology Section Chief provides leadership and strategic direction for the Neurology Section within the Specialty Care Service. The incumbent is responsible for supervising neurologists and associated clinical staff, ensuring high-quality delivery of inpatient and outpatient neurologic care, and maintaining compliance with VA, VHA, and facility policies. The Section Chief oversees clinical operations, general neurology, subspecialty care (stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular conditions), diagnostic procedures (EEG, EMG/NCS, lumbar puncture), and tele-neurology services.

Responsibilities

• Supervise neurologists, advanced practice providers, and technical staff; oversee scheduling, workload distribution, and clinical productivity
• Manage Neurology clinic operations, including staffing models, access targets, consult management, and tele-neurology services
• Perform neurologic evaluations, procedures, and subspecialty care within the scope of privileges
• Oversee quality metrics, OPPE/FPPE processes, peer review, and compliance with credentialing/privileging requirements
• Collaborate with primary care, emergency medicine, radiology, rehabilitation, pharmacy, mental health, and social work to optimize multidisciplinary care
• Participate in teaching activities, staff development, and academic partnerships where applicable
• Provide leadership for all Neurology staff, establishing clinical priorities, managing workflow, and ensuring adherence to VHA and facility policies
• Exercise independent judgment in clinical and administrative decision-making, ensuring compliance with credentialing and privileging standards, and overseeing OPPE/FPPE monitoring

Qualifications

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
• 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
• 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
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

Preferred Experience

• Board certification or board eligibility from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
• Three to five years of specialized experience in neurology
• Experience working in an academic setting

Physical Requirements

• Moderate Lifting (15-44 lbs)
• Moderate Carrying (15-44 lbs)
• Light carrying (under 15 lbs)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (4-8 hours)
• Standing (4-8 hours)
• Repeated bending (4-8 hours)
• Both legs required
• Both eyes required
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of color
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Working alone

Pay

• Competitive salary
• Annual performance bonus
• Regular salary increases

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): 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), and 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. Contact Ms. Ronda Eady at ronda.eady@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator, for questions/assistance.
• 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

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm