Summary

Serves as the Chief Medical Officer for one of eighteen Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) of the Veterans Health Administration. VISN 6 delivers health care services through a network of community-based and home care services, linked access points, medical centers and clinics. VISN programs are coordinated with those of other VISNs located throughout the county. VHA Headquarters in Washington, DC, provides policy development and support to VISN operations.

Duties

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VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package.

Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Authorized

Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Authorized

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

Work Schedule: Full Time; Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

The Chief Medical Officer provides direct support to clinicians in all health care facilities and programs within the VISN and interface with Headquarters offices and officials as appropriate for coordination of services throughout VHA. Expert guidance is provided in such areas as clinical programming, established primary care networks, strategic planning for health care delivery, business planning, VISN coordination, academic affairs, human resources, credentialing and privileging, quality improvement and utilization management.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• The CMO, under a performance contract with the VISN Director, serves as advisor for all clinical operations within the VISN. He/ She has oversight responsibility for contracted service providers and ensures that the system and standards for credentialing and privileging providers are standardized across the VISN.
• The Chief Medical officer has major responsibility throughout the VISN and ensures that all programs are customer focused. He/ She will ensure availability primary care, specialty medicine, and mental health patient care services with ease of access to our patient population. He/she will spearhead VISN performance goals and standards for all providers.
• The CMO provides direct support to clinicians in all health care facilities and programs within the VISN and interfaces with Headquarter offices and officials as appropriate for coordination of care across the Network and nation. Expert guidance is provided in such areas as clinical programming, established primary care networks, strategic planning for health care delivery, business planning, VISN coordination, academic affairs, human resources, credentialing and privileging, quality improvement and utilization management. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for assuring the special programs (i.e., spinal cord injury, blind rehabilitation, Community Care Network oversight, etc.) are delivered and that communications with those monitoring and interested in the provision of special programs, is maintained.
• The CMO has knowledge of significant management professional issues that affects the overall operations and administration of VISN health care activities. Identifies and analyzes situations and directly advises the VISN Director and field and Headquarters staff of appropriate interventions to correct problems as they arise.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Podiatrist Basic Requirements

• Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~
• Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists 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 Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~
• Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

Preferred Experience: (1) The individual assigned at this level will be a qualified Doctor of Medicine (or Podiatrist or Dentist, as detailed in the Education section below) with demonstrated leadership ability. Current/former Chiefs of Staff, Deputy Chiefs of Staff, or those with detailed equivalent executive leadership experience will receive top preference among referred candidates. (2) Additional academic achievement such as a Master's in Business or Healthcare; Bachelor's Degree in Business or Healthcare; (3) Lead the successful design and implementation of clinical protocols. (4) Provided an experienced, clinical perspective to project workgroups & identified and engaged other clinicians where necessary to augment own area(s) of subject matter expertise. (5) Championed the roll-out and transformative use of a regional population health management system with an emphasis on clinical change management. (6) Facilitated the development of relationships with network partner providers to effectively implement evidence-based clinical protocols and pathways. This position heavily requires the ability to collaborate, listen, and persuade others in executing strategic initiatives.

Grade Determinations: Service Chief, Section Chief or Line Manager. A service chief or line manager podiatrist must demonstrate the following: (1) Outstanding professional ability in the practice of medicine or a medical specialty; and (2) Ability to guide the development and implementation of programs, within their respective domain. These programs would include, but are not limited to, medical practice, professional standards, personnel issues, and quality and performance improvement.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This position is at the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: Applicant must meet the physical standards established for this position. The physical requirements for this position may include the following tasks which may be performed intermittently: moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.); moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.); Reaching above shoulders; use of fingers; walking (up to 6 hours); Standing (up to 2 hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; mental and emotional stability required. Please see VA Directive and Handbook 5019 for more information.

Education

Education. Applicants must possess a doctor of podiatric medicine degree, or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in podiatric medicine and surgery. 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. (1) Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine and surgery, approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatry Medical Association in the year in which the degree was granted.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.