Psychiatrist: Are you interested in joining a pioneering VA initiative redefining Veteran recovery?

Be one of the first Psychiatrists in an Innovative Care Setting: This position is part of the newly developed National Center for Warrior Independence at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, combining medication management, supportive psychotherapy, and comprehensive evaluation within a multidisciplinary team.

Position Highlights

• Specialized SUD Psychiatric Care: Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for Veterans with substance use disorders, including co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Initiate and manage pharmacologic treatments, including buprenorphine and other MAT options, in line with VA policy and clinical guidelines
• Dual Diagnosis Expertise: Deliver integrated care for Veterans with co-occurring mood, anxiety, trauma-related, and psychotic disorders
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with the SUD team to coordinate individualized treatment planning and monitor patient progress
• Flexible Follow-Up Care: Engage in group or individual psychiatric follow-up as clinically indicated
• Consultative Role: Serve as a resource to other providers and teams on the diagnosis and management of substance use and co-occurring disorders
• Team-Based Practice: Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, case reviews, and clinical huddles supporting integrated treatment delivery
• Patient Safety Focus: Contribute to suicide prevention through risk assessments, safety planning, and coordinated care.

Why the National Center for Warrior Independence (NCWI)

• Ground-Floor Opportunity — Join a newly established, high-visibility national initiative on the West LA VA campus, built from the ground up as a flagship model for veteran care nationwide
• Mission-Driven Impact — The center is aimed at providing housing, substance-abuse treatment, and work support to up to 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028, giving SUD psychiatrists a direct role in one of VA’s largest addiction-and-recovery efforts.
• Integrated, Whole-Person Care Model — The center's design combines comprehensive care, including substance abuse treatment and mental health services, alongside job training and housing support, positioning psychiatry as a core part of an integrated recovery pathway rather than a siloed service.
• National Model, Local Practice — This is envisioned as a national model for other VA facilities to follow, so clinical approaches developed here have influenced well beyond Greater LA VA.
• Resourced for Growth — The campus is undergoing major redevelopment, including phased construction of new housing units, with more than 1,065 units expected by February 2028 and 630+ additional units in active development — signaling sustained investment and expansion of clinical capacity over time.
• Federal Interagency Collaboration — The initiative involves coordination with HUD and HHS, alongside VA, to build nationwide referral pathways and comprehensive wellness, job training, and addiction recovery programming, offering psychiatrists exposure to a broader systems-level approach to veteran homelessness and recovery.
• High-Need, High-Reward Population — Los Angeles has one of the highest concentrations of homeless veterans in the country, with about 3,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in LA as of 2024, meaning the clinical work here has an outsized impact on a population most in need of specialized SUD/dual-diagnosis care.

Work Schedule: Full-time / On-site

Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine
• Current, full, and unrestricted license
• Completion of residency in an accredited core specialty
• Board Certified or Board Eligible
• Addiction Medicine Fellowship or Trained
• Preferred: Addiction Board Certification

Benefits and Features: 

• Salary Range: $265,000-$310,000
• PTO: 50–55 days of PTO annually (26/13 days of annual/sick leave, 11 holidays,)
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided.
• Dental, Medical, Life Insurance, Pension, TSP (401K) with 5% match, Survivor Benefits 
• Up to $1,000 or more annually and up to 5 days paid absence for CME
• Recruitment Incentive
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) up to $200,000 in qualified loan reimbursement
• Service without strings: No employment contracts or restrictive covenants
• Opportunity for UCLA Geffen School of Medicine Faculty appointment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

This posting represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions.