Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services

Full Job Description

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. 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.

Preferred Experience: Addiction Psychiatry Board Certified Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Major Duties:

The James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center is seeking a Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services to oversee the substance use disorder (SUD) / Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) program.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services is responsible for the clinical leadership and medical oversight of facility programs providing treatment for Veterans with substance use disorders.

The incumbent ensures delivery of evidence-based addiction treatment services consistent with VA policy, national clinical practice guidelines, and applicable federal and state regulatory standards.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services provides direct psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Clinical responsibilities include assessment of complex psychiatric and medical presentations, development of comprehensive treatment plans, and provision of pharmacologic and psychosocial treatment interventions.

The incumbent provides medical oversight of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including the prescribing and management of medications such as buprenorphine, methadone (in OTP settings), and naltrexone, ensuring adherence to federal regulatory requirements and VA clinical guidance.

The Medical Director monitors treatment outcomes, medication safety, and clinical quality indicators.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services provides clinical supervision and consultation to an interdisciplinary team that may include physicians, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists, and addiction counselors.

Responsibilities include case consultation, treatment planning guidance, and ensuring adherence to evidence-based addiction treatment practices.

Administrative responsibilities include development and implementation of program policies and procedures, monitoring program performance, ensuring regulatory and accreditation compliance, and participating in quality improvement initiatives.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services collaborates with facility leadership and other clinical services to ensure integrated care for Veterans with complex behavioral health and medical needs.

The incumbent participates in educational activities including supervision and teaching of trainees such as psychiatry residents, psychology trainees, and other learners as applicable.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services of Psychiatry participates in facility and service-level committees and contributes to program planning, clinical policy development, and initiatives aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of addiction treatment services.

The incumbent may participate in routine service responsibilities within the Psychiatry or Mental Health Service Line, including general clinical coverage and participation in on-call schedules as assigned.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@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 Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 800am-4:30pm