Physician-Psychiatrist

The VA Hilo Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Mental Health Service Line provides care in outpatient programs. Psychiatrists assigned to the Mental Health Service Line provide psychiatric care for outpatients. The Mental Health Service Line has one full-time psychiatrist position that reports to the VA Hilo CBOC Chief/Mental Health Supervisor who is responsible for the overall clinical and administrative function of the Mental Health Service.

**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCMENT and will remain open until July 01, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 08, 2026, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.

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

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 4:00pm
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

Duties including providing a full range of psychiatric care, but primarily psychopharmacotherapy with some psychotherapy, for Veteran patients consistent with clinical privileges in psychiatry.
Incumbent will provide psychiatrist services as part of a multidisciplinary mental health team.
Incumbent will provide the full range of outpatient psychiatry services to patients who primarily receive services through the Hilo COBC, consistent with psychiatric privileges.
Incumbent will participate in team meetings, committees, and other assigned duties as a member of the VAPIHCS medical staff. Incumbent may be required to provide cross coverage for other VAPIHCS mental health CBOC sites

Clinical Care:

• Provide a full range of psychiatric services with a primary focus on psychopharmacotherapy and some psychotherapy for Veteran patients.
• Deliver outpatient psychiatry services to patients primarily at the Hilo CBOC, consistent with psychiatric privileges.
• Participate in team meetings, committees, and other duties as a member of the VAPIHCS (Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System) medical staff.
• Provide cross coverage for other VAPIHCS mental health CBOC sites as needed.

Diagnostic Services:

• Conduct general psychiatric evaluations for assessing cognitive function, emotional status, and personality structure.
• Provide evaluations for specific areas such as risk of harm to self or others and substance use/chemical dependency.

Medication and Crisis Management:

• Perform medication evaluations and management, especially for veterans new to mental health treatment, in crisis, or with a dual diagnosis, including substance use disorders.
• Screen and diagnose veterans with a spectrum of mental health disorders including psychotic, affective, anxiety (including PTSD), and substance use disorders.
• Assess for dangerousness and determine appropriate initial treatment.

Psychotherapy and Intervention Services:

• Provide psychotherapeutic services, crisis intervention, or psychological interventions based on training and experience.
• Offer Mental Health Triage coverage throughout normal working hours with other providers.

Integration with Primary Care:

• Provide psychiatric assessment in the Primary Care Clinic as needed and consult with Primary Care Clinic providers for veterans with psychiatric issues.

Collaboration and Consultation:

• Work collaboratively with other professionals on an interdisciplinary mental health team and participate in scheduled team meetings at the Hilo CBOC.
• Engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration with other providers across the VAPIHCS system to ensure comprehensive, integrated care for veterans.
• Interface with the Suicide Prevention Team/Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Emergency Response Teams to provide comprehensive care during, as well as after, life-threatening psychiatric acuity events.
• Promote out-of-the-box thinking by seeking innovative solutions and approaches to enhance patient care and address complex mental health challenges within the multidisciplinary team.

Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) Team Participation:

• Work collaboratively with the ICMHR team to develop and implement individualized treatment plans aimed at supporting recovery and improving the quality of life for veterans with chronic mental health issues.
• In addition to BHIP duties, be an active member of the ICMHR team, focusing on providing psychiatric medication management for Veterans enrolled in intensive community-based services for severe mental health conditions.

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 certified/Board Eligible in Psychiatry

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Applicants must meet physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. This is a designated drug testing position. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Requires lifting 15-44 pounds; pushing (approx. 2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers and both hands; walking and standing from 3-5 hours and kneeling. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Must have depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. Hearing aid is permitted.

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:

1. Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted, or
2. 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.
3. 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.