Summary The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System is seeking a Physician (Clinical Director-Austin VA Clinic) with leadership skills who can lead the current clinical services and team. This position is located in Austin, Texas. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). Responsibilities The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) is seeking a Supervisory Physician (Clinical Director) for the Primary Care Clinic at the Austin Outpatient Primary Care team (AOPC). The Austin Outpatient Clinic includes 20+ providers comprising as many Primary Care Aligned Teams (PACT) providing Primary Care services to approximately 30,000 veterans. The incumbent leads physicians and non-physician providers at this site and works in close collaboration with leaders of other clinical services to ensure timely and high-quality service to our veterans. The incumbent reports to the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Ambulatory Care and works very closely with the Deputy Chief of Staff for this facility. Timely access to care, including face-to-face appointments, is of prime importance and the successful implementation of the PACT model of care would be one of the major tasks of the incumbent. The incumbent will also provide comprehensive primary care for our veteran population including obtaining patients histories; performing physical exams; formulating a working diagnosis; and developing and implementing a treatment plan according to clinical guidelines. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring high quality care and is responsible for outpatient performance measures. Participates in top level decisions that impact functional areas under his/her oversight through collaborations with Executive leadership. Responsible for consulting with other health care providers to provide training and mentoring and to be directly involved with the evaluation medically complex patient care problems. Participates in the planning, budgeting, and evaluation of the primary care programs. Participates in administrative, management, quality assurance, and other requirements activities, meetings, or committees as necessary or assigned. Provides direct clinical care either in person or by Telehealth. The AOPC provides onsite teaching to students and residents (Categorical, Prelim and VA funded Primary care program) from Dell Medical School in both primary and specialty care areas. The academic program is managed in close collaboration with Dell Medical School. The incumbent providers on site teaching to medical residents and primary care. In addition to direct teaching responsibilities, as a leader of the physicians, the incumbent is expected to foster an academic environment and primary care. The curriculum for the residents involves an immersive experience in primary care to improve ambulatory medicine knowledge and skills to optimize their practice at the clinic site including utilization of co-located community services, improve efficiency and use of the EMR, and begin to engage in Quality improvement projects. Prior academic experience as well as VA experience would be preferred as would be board certification in internal medicine. The successful candidates should also be eligible for academic appointment at the Dell medical school at a rank commensurate with experience. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) and may require to work on weekends and holidays. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov and VISN17EDRP2@va.gov for questions/assistance. 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 Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications 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. 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. Licensure and Registration: 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: Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), 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. 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 or fee-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. Physical Requirements: See outlined below. English Language Proficiency. Physicians appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Board Certified In Internal Medicine or Subspecialty Three-five years of professional supervisory and leadership experience, preferably VA. Knowledge of regulations and preparation for accreditation surveys, i.e. Joint Commission, OIG, etc. Teaching experience. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-4 Podiatrist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Walking (4-6hours); Standing (4-6hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted). 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, or Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, facility officials must verify with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that the applicant has met requirements for certification, and must obtain a copy of the ECFMG certificate, if claimed by the applicant. [If the applicant does not claim an ECFMG certificate, facility officials must still confirm that the medical school meets (or met) ECFMG eligibility requirements for the year the candidate 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. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
