Physician - Section Chief (Hospice and Palliative Care)

Summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVHCS) Medicine Service is recruiting for a Physician (Hospice and Palliative Care) Section Chief. The position carries a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor (Clinician Educator track) in the Division of Palliative Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, with potential for additional appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine based on qualifications and experience.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases 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 Duties: Provide inpatient and outpatient palliative care attending coverage, including routine rounds on CLC Hospice residents. Serve as consultant to providers throughout GEC and the broader medical center; request consultation from within or outside the facility as needed. Arrange and coordinate hospice care both within and outside the VA system. Administrative Leadership Provide overall clinical and administrative oversight of the HPC Section, ensuring adequacy, appropriateness, and quality of care delivered. Supervise physicians, advanced practice providers, and clinical support staff within the section, including: time and leave approval; certification of time and attendance; performance reviews; performance pay determinations; and disciplinary actions as needed. Collaborate with the HPC Program Coordinator to develop program-specific performance measures and report cards, complete action plans, and liaise with VISN and national HPC leadership. Quality & Performance Improvement Monitor and evaluate the quality of HPC medical services as part of the overall quality assessment and improvement program. Ensure compliance with Joint Commission (JC) and Long-Term Care Institute (LTCI) standards as they apply to HPC programs. Support ongoing survey readiness in the CLC Hospice, including VA internal surveys and Periodic Performance Reviews. Education & Academic Collaboration Participate in formal and informal educational didactics for HPC fellows, residents, students, and other trainees. Provide medical supervision for residents and fellows through academic affiliate partnerships. Mentor and orient new employees joining the Palliative Care Section. Policy & Compliance Maintain familiarity with VHA directives and local policies affecting HPC and GEC programs. Assist in establishing and maintaining policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure comprehensive and timely HPC services across the NM VA. Serve as a resource to senior management and clinical/administrative leaders on issues affecting veterans who use GEC services. Work Schedule: Full Time

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Education

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 an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.