Medical Director Physician- Psychiatrist

Veterans Health Administration; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) seeks a psychiatrist to provide comprehensive psychiatric care, including addiction psychiatry, at a VA Medical Center. The role emphasizes diagnosing and treating adolescents and adults with mental health conditions, delivering pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, and coordinating care across teams.

The position offers a full-time schedule with benefits, opportunities for CME, and involvement in patient-centered, evidence-based treatment within the VHA system.

Qualifications

• Psychiatry eligibility includes treating adolescent and adult patients with mental health disorders.
• Experience with pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and behavioral therapies is required as part of the role.
• Must hold one full and unrestricted medical license from any US state or territory.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose, treat, and prevent mental, emotional, psychotic, mood, anxiety, and related disorders.
• Perform history and physical examinations, including mental status and neurological assessments.
• Provide pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, and manage addiction treatment and related therapies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive patient care.

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a 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) & 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.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [e-mail], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

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

Contract Buy Out Program: This position may be eligible for the Physician / Provider Contract Buy Out Program (CBOP), which authorizes VHA to buy out service contracts (Locum agreements, loan repayments, sign-on bonus contracts, Physician-owned practices) in exchange for employment at certain rural or highly rural facilities for a period of obligated service (minimum 4 years). For additional information and eligibility requirements, contact the VHA Contract Buy Out Program Manager at [e-mail].

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

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Psychiatry:

Description: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the following types of disorders: mental, emotional, psychotic, mood, anxiety, sexual and gender identity, and adjustment. Biologic, psychological, and social components of illnesses are explored and understood in treatment of the whole person

• Perform history and physical examination, including mental status and neurological examination
• Evaluate, diagnose, provide care and consultation to adolescent and adult patients with mental, emotional and behavioral disorders including pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, behavior modification and biofeedback therapy.
• Sodium amytal interview (narcosynthesis)
• Obtain informed consent in conformance with organization policies and procedures.

Addiction Psychiatry:

Description: Evaluation and treatment of patients with substance-related disorders and dual diagnoses of addictive and psychiatric disorders.

• Perform history and physical examination, including mental status and neurological examination
• Evaluate, diagnose, provide care and consultation to psychiatric patients with chemical or alcohol dependency and co-morbid psychopathology. Including behavior modification, biofeedback, and specialized pharmacologic therapy.
• Management of detoxification and problems associated with substance withdrawal
• Use of the various psychotherapeutic modalities involved in the ongoing management of the chronic substance abusing patient, including individual psychotherapies (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy), couples therapy, family therapy, group therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and relapse prevention therapy.

Special Procedures: Criteria for special procedures: applicant must meet criteria for core privileges, outlined above. Providers who have been in practice must demonstrate adequate ongoing competence.

• Clozapine Therapy (Clozapine Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy certification required)
• Esk