Summary The VAMC Memphis is a very large facility serving over 69,000 Veterans. Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr., VAMC provides extensive primary, secondary, and tertiary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr., VAMC is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Memphis and nine Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr., VAMC is an academic medical facility with teaching and research programs. Responsibilities This vacancy will remain open until filled. The Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine position at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA will encompass the breadth of clinical care, including inpatient consultation, outpatient clinic and management of the Service in addition to supervision of other LIP's, staff and trainees assigned to the Service. Duties may include but are not limited to: Ensures clinical care is delivered in accordance with hospital and VHA policy, meeting or exceeding community standards and VHA national benchmarks. Having primary responsibility for supervising other LIP's and staff in the Service, and for ensuring that staff are performing to the highest standards of clinical care excellence, time, efficiency, professional and ethical behavior. Ensures care of patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings are smooth, patient centric and safe. This includes, but is not limited to, collaboration and good communication with the Emergency Department, Subspecialty Services and/or Clinics admitting patients to the hospital and transitions to outpatient care. Supervises all operational aspects of the Service, including establishment of the highest clinical care standards, operations, and quality. Develops strong, collegial working relationships with other Service and Section Chiefs within the medical center (both clinical and administrative). Oversees the development and implementation of systems redesigns projects and quality improvements programs within the Service. Champions initiatives designed to improve overall quality using evidence-based medicine and peer review. Participates in clinical review process such as tort claims, peer reviews, management reviews and administrative activities, as directed by the Chief of Staff or designee. Participates as a Chief in the organization's continued accreditation readiness activities. Fosters a culture of transparency, communication, collegiality and patient centered interdisciplinary team work. Uses astute business acumen to optimally utilize resources and adapt to changes, exercising leadership and flexibility. Maintains current medical knowledge and technical skills and provides both leadership and documentation that all LIP's within the Service are competent with respect to current privileging within the Service. He/she is expected to maintain excellent diagnostic, judgmental, and therapeutic acumen in the care of Veterans receiving interventions. Promote the expansion of non-traditional care such as (but not limited to) CVT, electronic consultation (e-consult), group clinics, telephone clinics, secure messaging to improve access to care. Obtain credentialing and privileging for admission, evaluation, treatment, consultation, telehealth, ordering of diagnostic studies and procedures as well as performing common procedures (except as specifically excluded from practice), on patients of all ages with symptoms of dysfunction. Required to be eligible for a Faculty of appointment at UTHSC. Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VAMC is integrally involved in all teaching and research activities at the University. Teaching responsibilities may include resident mentorship during their inpatient rotations at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA as well as outpatient clinic precepting, and other duties as assigned. Recommending appointment and clinical privileges for each member of the division and others requesting privileges within the division as well as assuring that individuals with privileges competently provide services. Overseeing professional and administrative activities within the assigned division including selection, orientation and continuing education of staff in collaboration with other Physician leaders. Other duties as assigned. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be eligible for highly qualified applicants. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be eligible for highly qualified applicants. 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 8:00AM - 4:30PM 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. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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 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 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), b) OR [(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR (3) 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. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Additional Requirement: BLS and/or ACLS Certification as determined by MCM. Board Eligible or Board Certified. Preferred Experience: Leadership at the section Chief level or above, experience with an academic affiliate. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting (15-25 lbs); Moderate Carrying (15-25 lbs); Straight Pulling {up to 2-3 hours); Pushing (up to 2-3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Walking (up to 1-2 hours); Kneeling (up to 1 -2 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 to 2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable; Far vision correctable; Depth perception; 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 During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (or the Act) prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requesting applicant criminal history record information before extending a conditional or tentative offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S.C § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance to VA at vacofairchanceact@va.gov. Applicant written complaints should include the following: Administration name: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office name, employee name and contact information or contractor who made contact (if known). Date of contact. Details regarding the job opportunity announcement applied to, and copies of any documents or other evidence related to the complaint. Visit Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) for more information.