Section Chief of  Mental Health – Primary Care Provider
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (Tucson, AZ)
Empower Change. Lead Innovation. Serve Those Who Served.

Are you an experienced physician leader seeking a mission-driven role at the intersection of medicine and mental health? The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) invites a talented Primary Care Physician to join us as Section Chief of Mental Health Primary Care—a unique opportunity to shape the future of care for our nation’s Veterans in beautiful Tucson, Arizona.

Why Join Our Team?

·         Transformative Leadership:
Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll guide a multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing life-changing, integrated primary care to Veterans facing serious mental illness and/or homelessness.

·         Collaboration and Innovation:
Work closely with mental health and primary care professionals in a progressive environment that values collaboration, evidence-based care, and continuous quality improvement.

·         Make a Lasting Difference:
Your expertise will directly influence the health, well-being, and dignity of Veterans—a population with complex and meaningful care needs.

Position Highlights:

·         Leadership & Impact:

o    Serve as Section Chief & Clinic Director for the Mental Health Primary Care section.

o    Directly supervise and mentor a team of 7 interdisciplinary healthcare professionals—cultivating a culture of excellence and compassion.

o    Oversee 4 specialized PACT teams (3 SMI-PACT, 1 H-PACT), championing integrated primary care for Veterans with co-existing mental health diagnoses.

·         Clinical Excellence:

o    Provide high-quality outpatient primary care within an innovative, co-located mental health setting.

o    Advice and consult with colleagues in both primary care and behavioral health—become a recognized leader and resource across the organization.

·         Professional Growth:

o    Shape program development, participate in teaching/mentorship, and affect system-wide best practices.

·         Work-Life Balance:

o    Enjoy a regular daytime schedule: M–F, 7:30am–4:00pm—promoting well-being in and out of the workplace.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

·         Board-certified/eligible in Family or Internal Medicine

·         Active, unrestricted US medical license

·         Demonstrated physician leadership experience

·         Deep commitment to Veteran-centered, team-based care

·         Passion for working with individuals living with mental illness and/or homelessness

·         Excellent interpersonal and teaching skills

Preferred: Mental health experience and interest in advancing integrated care.

Outstanding VA Benefits:

·         Competitive Compensation: $265,000–$290,000/yr, plus annual bonus and regular salary increases

·         Recruitment /Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Approved
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment Program)

·         Generous Paid-Time Off:
50–55 days annually including 26 vacation days, 13 sick days, 11 federal holidays, and up to 5 days CME leave

·         Comprehensive Federal Benefits:
Retirement pension (5 years vesting) + 401k (VA contributes up to 5%)
Health, vision, dental, life, and long-term care insurance (many benefits carry into retirement)

·         Professional Support:
$1,000/year CME reimbursement, malpractice insurance with tail coverage, and no physician employment contract
No significant restrictions on moonlighting

·         Relocation Assistance Possible

·         Live and Work in Sunny Tucson:
Enjoy an affordable, vibrant city rich in culture, arts, outdoor recreation, and year-round sunshine.

Join Arizona’s flagship VA health system and lead a team at the forefront of caring for America’s heroes.

Ready to make a powerful impact?
Apply today and discover the professional fulfillment and personal growth you seek—while serving those who have served.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2025, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $23,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $31,000.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service