Physician (Regular Ft) Geriatrics

About the role

Provides comprehensive geriatric clinical care evaluation and management of geriatric syndromes (frailty, cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, gait disorders, incontinence, polypharmacy, and deprescribing).

Conducts structured geriatric injury and functional assessments and develops individualized, evidence-based care plans.

Advises Primary Care and specialty teams on geriatric care plans, complex decision making, and integration of palliative approaches into routine care.

Leads goals-of-care and end-of-life conversations with patients, families, and caregivers; coordinates closely with Palliative Care and Hospice.

Coordinates transitions of care among acute, post-acute, rehabilitation, PACE, and long-term care/nursing home settings to ensure safety, continuity, and quality.

Collaborates in an interdisciplinary model (pharmacists; PT/OT; social work; mental health; advanced practice providers) to optimize outcomes.

Participates in quality improvement (QI) initiatives targeting geriatric populations; applies systems-based practice to reduce harm and improve value.

Teaches and mentors learners (fellows, residents, students, APPs) via didactics, case conferences, and bedside teaching; contributes to curriculum development.

Documents thoroughly in the electronic health record; complies with regulatory, patient safety, and quality standards.

Responsibilities

Eligible for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), student loan payment reimbursement program. Must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within 4 months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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

• 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 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.
• 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.

• Additional Required Qualifications (Screen Out): Fellowship in Geriatrics Medicine

• Preferred Qualifications (Not Screen Out but Most Desirable):
• CAQ eligibility or certification in Geriatric Medicine, demonstrating advanced, board-recognized expertise in the care of older adults.
• Experience advising Primary Care and specialty services on complex geriatric care plans, including frailty, cognitive impairment, multimorbidity, and functional decline.
• Demonstrated excellence in transitions of care, including nursing facility communication, rehabilitation coordination, and post-acute follow-up.
• Experience with PACE programs, Home-Based Primary Care, long-term care, nursing home medicine, or inpatient geriatrics units.
• Documented record of teaching, curriculum development, quality improvement leadership, or participation in geriatric research initiatives.
• Experience caring for older patient population at the end of life, including palliative collaboration and facilitation of goals-of-care and advance care planning discussions.
• Proven competency in caring for older patient population at the end of life, including palliative care coordination, goals-of-care conversations, and comprehensive support for families.
• Strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills, including work with pharmacists, PT/OT, mental health, social work, and advanced practice providers.
• Ability to navigate complex healthcare systems, lead system-level improvements, and support development and expansion of geriatric programs.

• Additional Formal Training (Post-Residency): Completion of a 12-month ACGME-accredited Geriatric Medicine fellowship focused on the care of older adults.