Physician - Chief Surgical Service

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Jackson, MS seeks a physician leader to direct the Surgical Service, overseeing clinical and administrative operations. This role drives comprehensive patient care across inpatient and outpatient settings with a focus on safety, efficiency, and high-quality outcomes.

The position requires board-certified surgeons with unrestricted US licensure, proven leadership, and ability to coordinate OR scheduling, staffing, and multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• MD or DO degree with full, unrestricted medical license in the US.
• Board certification in a surgical specialty and eligibility for privileges.
• Residency training approved by ACGME/AOA in core surgical specialties.
• Ability to obtain VA clinical privileges and lead multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for all clinical and administrative aspects of Surgery.
• Ensure appropriate surgical coverage, staffing, and call schedules.
• Promote multidisciplinary pre-operative optimization and post-operative care.
• Lead quality, safety, and performance improvement activities for surgical care.
• Collaborate with other services to ensure integrated surgical care across the continuum.

Skills

Leadership

English proficiency

OR scheduling

Team coordination

Education

MD/DO degree

Unrestricted medical license

Residency training (ACGME/AOA)

Board certification in surgical specialty

Job description

Summary

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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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 one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Current - full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training - approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification
• (NOTE: VA physicians 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 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - in the list published for the year the residency - or fellowship if applicable - was completed
• OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship - first year of residency - or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States
• OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the Physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences
• Exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. - not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged
• rather - they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
• Additionally - surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• In rare and unusual circumstances - the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer - who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience - accomplishments - performance - and qualifications warrant such action
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Preferred Experience/Characteristics: Board certification in a surgical specialty - with an active - unrestricted medical license Prior experience as divisional chief - section chief - medical director - or chief of surgery
• Demonstrated success in prior leadership roles (chair - division chief - program director - or medical director) - including evaluation of physicians and clinical performance
• Demonstrated experience with OR scheduling and block management - case prioritization for Veterans - coordination with nursing/sterile processing - and ensuring coverage across regular and off-tour hours
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Functional Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds - Light carrying - under 15 pounds - Both hands required - Walking (1 hours) -Standing (3 hours) - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental Factors: Working closely with others - Working alone - Protracted or irregular hours of work

Duties

• 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