Summary This is a licensed independent practitioner with both clinical and administrative duties. The Chief of Pain Medicine is responsible for the overall operation of the Pain Management Program within VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS). Responsibilities The Chief of Pain Medicine provides comprehensive administrative oversight of the service, including fiscal stewardship, human resources management, employee relations, performance management, strategic planning, and program development. The incumbent ensures integration of clinical and administrative functions to optimize the utilization of personnel, facilities, and resources while maintaining high standards of access, quality, safety, customer service, and regulatory compliance. The Pain Medicine Service is an interdisciplinary program composed of interventional and non-interventional pain specialists, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation providers, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic services, and Orthotist/Prosthetist staff, with matrixed support from Pain Psychology and Clinical Pharmacy Specialists. The Chief of Pain Medicine is responsible for coordinating these disciplines into a unified, collaborative service line that functions as an integrated system of care. The incumbent develops, implements, and maintains a comprehensive biopsychosocial model of integrated pain care for Veterans residing within the VATVCBHCS catchment area. Care delivery is accomplished through a hybrid model utilizing both face-to-face and telehealth modalities to ensure access to evidence-based pain management services across a large and geographically dispersed service area. The Chief of Pain Medicine ensures the quality, timeliness, and appropriateness of services provided and maintains accountability for clinical outcomes and service performance. The incumbent also functions as a clinical provider within his/her specialty and maintains responsibility for the overall clinical care delivered within the Pain Medicine Service. The incumbent supports the Department of Veterans Affairs health care mission recognizing that the services provided are subject to oversight and scrutiny by Congressional stakeholders, Veterans Service Organizations, accrediting and regulatory agencies, the public, and the media. The incumbent independently exercises clinical and administrative judgment in managing complex patient care issues and operational challenges within the Pain Medicine Service. The Chief ensures that all service personnel understand and comply with local VATVCBHCS policies and procedures, VHA Directives, Joint Commission standards, State licensure requirements, accreditation standards, and VA Office of Inspector General expectations. The incumbent conducts ongoing reviews, performance monitoring, and quality assessments to ensure achievement of service objectives and adherence to regulatory and professional standards. The Chief of Pain Medicine advises executive leadership regarding clinical policy implications, operational issues, and program development, and recommends appropriate courses of action. The incumbent collaborates with other clinical and administrative services to achieve medical center goals and maintain continuity of patient care across service lines. The Chief coordinates and negotiates resolution of complex interdisciplinary issues and prepares special reports, official correspondence, and responses, including those related to oversight inquiries and Congressional requests. The incumbent coordinates care across disciplines using professional expertise and knowledge of pain management principles and integrated care practices. The Chief ensures effective collaboration among interventional and non-interventional providers and rehabilitation disciplines and facilitates coordination with matrixed pain psychology and clinical pharmacy services to support comprehensive patient care. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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 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, 08:00am - 04:30pm Telework Eligible: Ad-hoc Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. 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. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Podiatrist Basic Requirements Degree as a doctor of podiatric medicine, or its equivalent, from a school of podiatric medicine approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Approved schools are United States schools of podiatric medicine approved by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association in the year in which the degree was granted. ~AND~ Completed, or currently completing, residency training, or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. VA Podiatrists 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 Council on Podiatric Medical Education, in the list published for the year the residency was completed, or (2) Other residencies and training experiences, or their equivalents, which the local Professional Standards Board determines to have provided an applicant with appropriate professional training. ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice Podiatry in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Preferred Experience: Completion of three year residency program 2+ years of experience Pain Medicine Rehabilitation/Pain Management experience Active DEA and State Substance License Grade Determinations: Service Chief, Section Chief or Line Manager: A service chief or line manager podiatrist must demonstrate the following: 1. Outstanding professional ability in the practice of medicine or a medical specialty; and 2. Ability to guide the development and implementation of programs, within their respective domain. These programs would include, but are not limited to, medical practice, professional standards, personnel issues, and quality and performance improvement. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.
