Physician - Deputy Chief of Surgery

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off 50-55 days/year

CME reimbursement $1,000–$2,500/year

Federal pension & 401K

Health/vision/dental/long-term care

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Phoenix, AZ seeks a Deputy Chief of Surgery to monitor quality of care and supervise Advanced Practice Providers within the Surgical Care Service. The role includes educational leadership and trainee supervision across the Department of Surgery.

The incumbent will balance clinical duties with program oversight, participate in committees, and lead data-driven quality initiatives to improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• MD degree from an accreditation body recognized by VA.
• Current, full and unrestricted medical license in the U.S.
• Board certification in general surgery or related subspecialty.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and treat surgical disorders using appropriate techniques to provide quality care.
• Spends 70% of time managing Quality, Education/Training and APP programs within the Department of Surgery.
• Provide supervision of trainees conducting direct surgical care.
• Consult with Medical Center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
• Maintain full clinical privileges as a member of the Medical Staff.
• Serve on committees or task forces and contribute to data-driven quality assurance.
• Lead program monitors and outcomes measurements; oversee related staff and administrative roles.

Skills

General Surgery

Board Certification

Education

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Job description

Summary

Join a dedicated team within the Surgical Care Service at the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) in Phoenix - AZ. The Deputy Chief of Surgery is responsible for monitoring the quality of care provided by providers - overseeing the Advanced Practice Providers (APP) and the educational program for the Trainees assigned to the Department of Surgery.

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: At least 5 years of experience in the practice of General Surgery or a related subspecialty and board certified by the American Board of Surgery or equivalent for a surgical subspecialty
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 18 - 2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be October 5th - 2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Position duties for the Deputy Chief of Surgery at VA Phoenix include but are not limited to the following: Diagnose and treat Surgical disorders using the most appropriate techniques in providing quality care
• 30% of time will be spent with clinical responsibilities
• Provide supervision - as appropriate - of trainees conducting direct Surgical care
• Consult with Medical Center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues
• Remain involved in program evaluation
• Maintain full clinical privileges as a member of the Medical Staff
• Spends 70% of time managing the Quality - Education/Training and APP programs within the Department of Surgery
• This includes but is not limited to supervising a variety of positions including administrative positions and providers
• Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff
• Serves on Medical Center and VISN committees or task forces as needed
• Oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs using data-driven quality assurance processes
• Has programmatic oversight and shared responsibility
• Other duties as assigned
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be approved for eligible candidates
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not 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-$2 -500 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
• 7:00am-3:30pm