Summary

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.

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
• Education: 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
• License: 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
• Preferred Experience: ABPN board eligible - within 5 years of completion of residency
• Current experience treating Veterans with a breadth of DMS-5 disorders (i.e
• general psychiatry experience)
• Experience providing care via telehealth
• ABPN Board Certification current or participating in MOC
• Job history reflecting employment lasting greater than one year per position
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position may require potentially long periods of continued Light lifting under 15 pounds - Light carrying under 15 pounds - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Walking for 1 hour - Standing for 1 hour - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - Hearing (aid may be permitted) - Mental/emotional stability - Ability to perform privileges - Independently performs physical exam as appropriate to position - Cognitive stability.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until January 23 - 2026 or until positions are filled
• Eligible applications received will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• VHA Physician Total Rewards
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Learn more
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator 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 The Staff Psychiatrist conducts initial psychiatric evaluations - follow-up visits - consultations - group therapy/treatment - medication management - crisis assessment and intervention to Veterans
• Modalities of care include face-to-face interventions and Telemental health (TMH)
• The incumbent may provide cross coverage to other clinical sites throughout VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) via Telemental health as needed
• The Staff Psychiatrist is responsible for providing psychiatric care in an outpatient setting - identifying Veterans' mental and medical health needs and designing diagnostic and therapeutic plans to meet these needs
• He/she serves as the medical subject matter expert within their assigned team and may be responsible for coordinating activities of other health service personnel - resolving problems affecting Veteran care - and providing appropriate education for the Veteran and/or family members regarding the Veteran's care - condition - and its management
• Approximately 95% of the Psychiatrist's time will be devoted to patient care
• Depending on other activities - sufficient time will be allotted to teaching - research - and administrative duties - as appropriate
• In addition - Psychiatrists are responsible for: adhering to all applicable VACO - VISN and VATVCBHCS policies - rules and regulations and to the VATVCBHCS Medical Staff Bylaws
• to provide team-based leadership in the application of clinical practice to organizational processes and/or systems improving outcomes at the service level
• to achieve excellent customer satisfaction
• to assure compliance with clinical practice guidelines and to work collaboratively with others
• to foster systems that promote state-of-the-art acute - chronic and preventive Mental Health care
• for performance improvement process
• to keep abreast of changes as appropriate
• and to serve on committees as assigned
• Psychiatrists who are involved in teaching programs and research are responsible to provide an environment supportive of education - training - and research
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm