Physician - Chief Surgical Service

Veterans Health Administration; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 325,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, within the Department of Veterans Affairs, seeks a surgical service leader to oversee executive and clinical operations for all surgical services. The role covers inpatient and outpatient care, staff scheduling, and program development in a federally governed healthcare system.

Responsibilities include ensuring high-quality, safe surgical care, credentialing staff, and leading performance and quality improvement initiatives in collaboration with hospital

Qualifications

• MD or DO degree from LCME/COCA-accredited institution or equivalent.
• Full and unrestricted medical license from a US state or territory.
• CME: possible $1,000/year reimbursement if board certified.

Responsibilities

• Provides executive leadership and oversight for all clinical and administrative aspects of the Surgical Service.
• Ensures appropriate surgical coverage, staffing models, and coordination across inpatient, outpatient, and procedural settings.
• Leads quality improvement, patient safety, and performance initiatives within surgical care.
• Collaborates with multiple departments (Anesthesiology, Medicine, Radiology, Pharmacy, Nursing) to ensure integrated surgical care.

Education

Doctor of Medicine (MD) or equivalent

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This is an Open Continuous Announcement and may be extended beyond the current closing date until the positions are filled. Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals, as additional vacancies occur and/or on an as-needed basis during the duration of the announcement. Once a selection is made and offer is accepted the announcement may close pending no additional vacancies.

Key Responsibilities

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

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible to highly qualified applicants Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): PCS 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 Major Duties/Responsibilities: The Chief Surgical Service provides executive leadership and oversight for all clinical and administrative aspects, ensuring high-quality, compliant, Veteran-centered surgical care.

Clinical and Operational Leadership Provides leadership and management for all surgical specialties and subspecialties within the Surgical Service, including inpatient, outpatient, and procedural settings. Ensures appropriate surgical coverage and staffing models, including call schedules and contingency plans for urgent and emergent cases. Promotes coordinated, multidisciplinary pre-operative optimization and post-operative management to support safe transitions of care.

Quality, Safety, and Performance Improvement Leads quality improvement and patient safety activities for surgical care, including monitoring and improving key performance indicators (e.g., complications, readmissions, surgical site infections, return to OR, mortality, timeliness of care). Establishes and sustains data-driven performance improvement programs and reviews trends from national and local surgical quality initiatives (e.g., NSQIP or equivalent).

Supports a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous learning, including reporting and analysis of adverse events and close calls. Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Systems Integration Collaborates closely with Perioperative leadership, Anesthesiology, Medicine, Primary Care, Rehabilitation, Radiology, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Sterile Processing, and Nursing leadership to ensure integrated surgical care across the continuum.

Provides expert input to facility committees on surgical program development, technology acquisition, capital planning, and high-reliability organization efforts. Coordinates with other VA facilities and community partners as needed for surgical referrals, shared care, and programmatic collaborations approved by leadership.

Human Resources Management and Education Ensures providers are appropriately credentialed and privileged in accordance with VHA policy and medical staff bylaws, rules, and regulations. Recruits, selects, and retains qualified surgeons, advanced practice providers, and other assigned staff in collaboration with service and facility leadership.

Conducts or oversees performance appraisals, ongoing and focused professional practice evaluations, competency assessments, and professional development plans for Surgical Service staff. Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, and Preparedness Ensures Surgical Service compliance with applicable VHA directives, national standards, and accreditation and regulatory requirements related to surgery, moderate/deep sedation, blood management, and sterile processing.

Oversees processes for informed consent, pre-procedure verification, surgical site marking, time-out procedures, and surgical safety checklists. Collaborates with infection prevention, risk management, and patient safety programs to address surgical adverse events and implement corrective actions.

Scope of Authority Exercises authority over clinical and administrative operations of the Surgical Service within the framework of VHA policy, facility bylaws, and delegated authority from the Chief of Staff. Makes recommendations regarding hiring, privileging, promotion, reassignment, and disciplinary actions for assigned Surgical Service staff.

Manages or co-manages resources related to surgical services, including allocation of surgical FTE, equipment, and programmatic funds in collaboration with facility leadership. 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 $325000 – $400000/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-30.

Who is eligible to apply?

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