Physician (Chief of Surgery)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Lexington (KY)

On-site

USD 225,000 - 400,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Job summary

The Lexington VA Health Care System seeks an Associate Chief of Staff, Operative Care Line / Chief, Surgery Service to lead the Surgery Service and its clinics, oversee clinical operations, develop strategic plans, and ensure high-quality patient care for Veterans.

You will collaborate with other service chiefs, manage performance improvement programs, and align operations with VA directives while maintaining compliance with Joint Commission standards and advancing surgical care.

Qualifications

MD or DO degree from LCME/COCA accredited school.
US full, unrestricted medical license in any state/territory.
Board certification in surgery.

Responsibilities

Oversee all clinical aspects of the Surgery Service.
Lead administrative and clinical operations for the Operative Care Line.
Collaborate with service chiefs and program managers to align objectives.
Plan, implement, and manage Performance Improvement/QM programs.
Ensure care delivery meets VA and Joint Commission standards.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Healthcare administration

Team leadership

Education

MD or DO

Job description

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

The Associate Chief of Staff, Operative Care Line / Chief, Surgery Service provides administrative, programmatic, and clinic leadership for the Lexington VA Health Care System's Surgery Service. He/she oversees all clinical aspects of the Surgery Service and its system of clinics. He/she collaborates with other Service Chiefs and program managers, in fulfilling his/her responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Duties may include but are not limited to: The responsibilities include hands on clinical work, oversight, and administration of all aspects of health care delivery for the Surgery Service. Assume the responsibility for the overall clinical management of the Surgery Service. This includes the organization of the administrative day-to day activities of the Operative Care Line as well as all associated clinical departments.

Provide leadership and accountability for all aspects of the Operative Care Line operations, assuring support of the mission and values of the VHA, VISN 9, and the Lexington VA HCS. Assume responsibility for carrying out the goals, objectives, and plans and policies established by the Medical Center Director (MCD) and the Executive Leadership Team.

Ensure the service functions as an integrated care delivery system, providing a full continuum of patient-focused care for Veterans. Utilize data about providers and available resources, to formulate strategic short term and long-range plans and goals for clinical operations, and to address deficiencies. Plan, implement, and manage the Performance Improvement/QM programs within the Lexington VA HCS clinical operations.

Formulate and implement general policies, procedures, standards, and goals and objectives for the Operative Care Line that are consistent with, and supportive of, the mission of the Operative Care Line and the Lexington VA HCS. Oversees and responds to issues, concerns, and deficiencies in clinical outcomes, surgical standards of care, and coordination of surgical care within the Lexington VA HCS.

Assess, consult, and treat patients requiring opinion or intervention, in the outpatient and inpatient settings. The Associate Chief of Staff, Operative Care Line is responsible for diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients in both settings, as appropriate for care of those patients.

In some instances, the Associate Chief of Staff, Operative Care Line will assess, diagnose, and make recommendations to primary care or other specialty services regarding management and follow-up of the patient. It is the responsibility of the specialty practitioner to review and implement recommendations based on the primary care or specialty provider's clinical judgment.

Interpretation of the testing and other specialty imaging to establish diagnosis and assist in management of medical conditions. The Associate Chief of Staff, Operative Care Line will keep abreast of the recent advances in medical techniques and technological innovations as they become available. He/she will apply these techniques and innovations within the framework of the Veterans Administration's guidelines, directives, goals, and mission.

Provide quality clinical care and services about customer satisfaction, compliance with Joint Commission regulations and other relevant accrediting agencies as indicated and ensure efficiency of service delivery. 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 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Requirements & 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.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $225000 – $400000/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-03.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.