Deputy Chief PM&RS (Physician)

The Deputy Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight across multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs, supporting the mission to deliver high-quality, Veteran-centered care.

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

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

Clinical and Program Leadership
(1) Develop, implement, and review clinical protocols, policies, and standards that guide multidisciplinary rehabilitation services, ensuring evidence-based practices.
(2) Oversee delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care through direct supervision and oversight of clinical teams, ensuring adherence to VA standards, Joint Commission, and professional guidelines.
(3) Lead outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation programs, ensuring comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and interdisciplinary coordination.
(4) Maintain current clinical privileges appropriate for the discipline, demonstrating ongoing competency, and promoting recovery and functional independence for Veterans.
(5) Review clinical reports for quality, safety, and compliance; participate in incident reporting, safety initiatives, and continuous quality improvement.
(6) Support specialized interventions such as neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, neurological, amputee, and complex rehabilitation needs, integrating services across disciplines.

Administrative and Program Management
(1) Provide strategic oversight for program evaluation, resource allocation, and operational planning to optimize service delivery and efficiency.
(2) Lead efforts to maintain accreditation standards, ensuring compliance with VA, VHA, federal, state, and local regulations, and implement quality assurance initiatives.
(3) Develop and evaluate organizational structures, workflows, and management systems to enhance clinical operations and patient outcomes.
(4) Serve as a liaison to internal and external stakeholders, including community partners, academic institutions, and veteran organizations, to promote awareness and access to rehabilitation services.
(5) Lead community outreach, educational initiatives, and advocacy efforts to enhance veteran care and program visibility.

Staff Supervision and Development
(1) Directly supervise and provide leadership to frontline supervisors of multidisciplinary teams, including PT, OT, and administrative staff.
(2) Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, performance evaluations, and professional development initiatives for clinical staff, including Physician, Physiatrists, and Advanced Practice Providers.
(3) Foster a positive, collaborative work environment that encourages accountability, innovation, and staff growth.
(4) Address personnel issues, manage disciplinary actions, and support career advancement opportunities.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Education
(1) Facilitate interdisciplinary assessment, treatment planning, and case conferences to ensure integrated Veteran care.
(2) Support education and mentorship for residents, medical students, fellows, and clinical staff, fostering a learning environment emphasizing best practices and professional development.
(3) Promote a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation that addresses complex medical and functional needs.

Community Relations and Advocacy
(1) Establish and maintain partnerships with community organizations, academic institutions, and veteran advocacy groups.
(2) Promote awareness of VA rehabilitation programs and services, advocating for veteran access and engagement.
(3) Represent the department at internal and external meetings, conferences, and stakeholder events, supporting VA and community integration.

Perform additional duties as assigned to support the mission, strategic goals, and operational needs of CTVHCS, as directed by the Service Chief of PM&RS.

Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630

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 allopathic 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 accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR
  • (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR
  • (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), 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.
  • Exceptions:
    • 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 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.
    • In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Additional Requirement:
Current board certification in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Preferred Experience:
5 years of Leadership and/or Supervisory experience, preferably VA Knowledge of regulations and preparation for accreditation surveys, i.e. Joint Commission, OIG, etc.

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

Physical Requirements:
The position involves frequent physical activity, including bending, lifting (up to 50 pounds), and assisting with therapeutic activities.

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.
2. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted.
3. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year 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.