Chief of Anesthesiology

Full Job Description

The position provides executive leadership and oversight for all aspects of Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS), including direct supervision of anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), anesthesia technicians, and administrative staff.

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: Board Certification Preferred Experience: Leadership and Strategic Program Management Quality Management, Patient Safety and Compliance Supervisory and Personnel Management Clinical Excellence in Anesthesiology Program Development and Operational Oversight Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 4 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted).

Major Duties:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

The Chief ensures anesthesia services meet VHA National Anesthesia Program standards, emphasizing patient safety, evidence-based practice, and continuous quality improvement.

This includes oversight of pre-anesthesia evaluation, intraoperative management, post-anesthesia care, acute pain services, and emergency airway management.

The position requires demonstrated expertise in anesthesiology, health care management, regulatory compliance, and leadership, with responsibility for program administration, quality assurance, staff development, and fiscal stewardship.

Major Duties and Responsibilities to include but not be limited to: Program development, operational effectiveness, and clinical excellence in anesthesia care delivery across CVHCS sites, including operating rooms, procedural areas (endoscopy, Cath lab, interventional radiology), and outpatient settings requiring sedation or anesthesia.

Provide executive oversight and strategic direction for all anesthesia programs and clinical teams.

Collaborate with executive, surgical, and procedural leadership to formulate policies, best practices, and resource planning for staffing, equipment, and space.

Identify long- and short-range organizational needs and develop proposals for executive-level consideration.

Actively participate in facility, VISN, and national committees related to perioperative governance, sedation policy, and patient safety.

Ensure anesthesia services comply with VHA directives, Joint Commission standards, and other accrediting requirements.

Foster a culture of continuous quality improvement through systematic monitoring and evaluation of anesthesia outcomes.

Oversee implementation of quality improvement programs, including morbidity and mortality reviews, peer review, FPPE/OPPE, and patient safety initiatives.

Provide direct supervision and mentorship to anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and anesthesia support staff.

Oversee recruitment, credentialing, privileging, and performance management for anesthesia personnel.

Ensure comprehensive onboarding and ongoing education in anesthesia safety, airway management, and crisis resource management.

Serve as a clinical resource for anesthesia-related consultations and participate in on-call coverage as needed.

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, 0800 - 1630