Physician - Gastroenterology (Assistant Chief)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nashville VA campus seeks an Assistant Section Chief for Gastroenterology to lead both clinical and academic activities in collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The role emphasizes exemplary patient care, GI endoscopy oversight, and stewardship across the Gastroenterology Section.

Responsibilities include directing clinical operations, mentoring trainees, advancing quality initiatives, and coordinating with the Vanderbilt School of Medicine for education while maintaining

Qualifications

• Board certified in Internal Medicine and/or ABIM Specialty Board
• Documented experience supervising and teaching medical students, residents and fellows
• Board certification or eligibility for Gastroenterology and/or Hepatology
• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States
• Eligible for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine faculty appointment

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive internal medicine and gastroenterology care to Veterans in inpatient and outpatient settings
• Perform endoscopic procedures and oversee GI consultative services
• Lead and mentor physicians, advanced practice providers, and trainees
• Coordinate quality assurance and quality improvement within Gastroenterology
• Collaborate with Vanderbilt University Medical Center for resident and student education
• Oversee administrative duties and provide supervision in the Section Chief's absence
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and faculty development within Gastroenterology
• Coordinate interdisciplinary care with other clinical services
• 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, with potential ad hoc coverage

Skills

Leadership

Teaching

Clinical oversight

Endoscopy supervision

Quality improvement

Education

MD degree or equivalent

Job description

Summary

The Assistant Section Chief for Gastroenterology at the Nashville Campus holds a dual appointment with the VA TN Valley Health System and the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This physician leader supports both clinical excellence and administrative stewardship within the Gastroenterology Section - collaborating closely with the Section Chief and other clinical leaders.

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
• Additional - 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
• Additional Requirement: Successful applicants must: (a) be board certified in Internal Medicine and/or an ABIM Specialty Board (b) have documented experience supervising and teaching medical students - residents and fellows - and credentials to satisfy the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine faculty appointment requirements
• (c) qualify for an appointment as a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University at least the level of Assistant - Associate or Full Professor and have national stature in the field
• Preferred Experience: Experience in teaching and supervising residents - fellows - and other trainees
• prior experience in academic appointment and scholarly activity preferred
• Board eligibility/certification in Gastroenterology and/or Hepatology
• 5 + years of demonstrated competence in performing upper and lower GI endoscopic procedures
• Experience in quality improvement initiatives
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Administrative responsibilities are primarily sedentary with periodic walking and standing
• Clinical duties require regular walking and frequent standing associated with direct patient care and endoscopic procedures.

Duties

• 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
• 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
• DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: Provide comprehensive internal medicine and gastroenterology care to Veterans in both inpatient and outpatient settings
• Perform endoscopic procedures and oversee the full spectrum of GI consultative services
• Devote approximately 75% of time to direct clinical activities - including performing and supervising upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies - seeing referred patients in clinic - and managing inpatient GI consults
• Serve as preceptor for nurse practitioners - physician assistants - fellows - residents - and medical students as assigned - fostering an academic environment supporting both learning and clinical advancement
• Assist Section Chief in quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives within Gastroenterology - including oversight of service recovery and resolution of patient concerns
• Maintain robust communication with Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support collaborative physician staffing and optimize the resident/student education program
• Function in a leadership capacity when delegated - including overseeing assigned administrative matters and providing intermittent administrative coverage in the Section Chief's absence
• The Assistant Section Chief will assist with evaluating and supporting the attending physicians within the Gastroenterology Section as directed by the Section Chief
• Responsible for on boarding - mentoring - and evaluating advanced practice providers and trainees assigned to Gastroenterology
• Works with other clinical Service Chiefs to coordinate optimal interdisciplinary care
• Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m
• to 4:00 p.m. - Monday-Friday - ADHOC may be approved at discretion of supervisor